Why Is William Donovan Be Admired

William Joseph Donovan (1883-1959) was a decorated World War 1 veteran, the head of the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S) during World War 2, and he was also a licensed lawyer with his firm before and in between the two world wars. He was known as the “Father of Central Intelligence” and “Father of American Intelligence.” Due to his courageousness in World War 1, his leadership in World War 2, and his work ethic, he should be admired.

One reason William J. Donovan should be admired is that of his courage in World War 1, where he served with the 165th Regiment and later the Fighting 69th. For example, he crossed the Ourcq Valley in July of 1918 to capture abandoned German artillery on Hill 152, and many of his friends died due to sniper

They never captured the hill and had to pull back, but he received the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions. In October of 1918, for a three-day operation, his unit was deployed again to capture Cote of Chatillon. He was wounded with a bullet through his left knee, yet even injured he refused to give up and continued his assault. His unit ended up capturing it, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor. (Wikipedia) Secondly, Donovan should be admired for his leadership in World War 2. For example, after ignoring orders from his superiors, he ended up on Utah Beach with Colonel David K. E. Bruce to meet with a French Resistance leader but ended up in close quarters to German soldiers. He told the colonel to take the cyanide capsule they were both carrying to prevent capture, as they both knew too much. He decided to have rather died than end up captured. It turns out that he had accidentally left the pills back in his hotel room in London.

After World War 1 he started a law firm called “Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irving.” They were an antitrust. Unfortunately, there are no notable cases that can be found before World War 2. Another example of his work ethic is his work in the O.S.S. He led countless attempts to assassinate Hitler. His work in the O.S.S had set the foundation for the C.I.A and the Navy Seals with his covert operations and espionage missions. After World War 2, when President Truman and J. Edgar Hoover (head of the FBI), and many others opposed the O.S.S and Donovan’s methods, the O.S.S was shut down, but a few years later the C.I.A was established, and President Eisenhower appointed Allen Dulles as the head. William Donovan had been consulted both by President Eisenhower and Director Dulles for advice because both of them admired Donovan for his heroic acts and decisions in both World War 1 and World War 2. Lastly, Donovan played a part in the Nuremberg Trials as the Special Assistant to Prosecutor Robert H.