Donovan of OSS Author:Corey Ford In his introduction author Cory Ford informs the readers that this book is not a history of the O.S.S. - Office of Strategic Services - but a story about William J. ("Wild Bill") Donovan. Ford was a colonel in the Air Force and served under Donovan at the O.S.S. The reader is left to surmise how objective the author will be concerning his subjec... more »t. Donovan is primarily known as the "Father of American Intelligence" and the "Father of Central Intelligence." This book does not provide any critical insites into the murky history of intelligence. Another factor to consider is that this book was written in 1969 and many archives were unavailable to authors doing research.
We are left with with an interesting story about a remarkable man. Donovan was able to marshall and direct the efforts of many individuals to create from the ground up an effective intelligence service under the intense pressures of wartime.
The aspect of this book that interested me was the details of Donovan's service during World War I. He organized and led a battalion of New York Volunteers, the "Fighting 69th" and for his service in France he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Ford brings to life the battles and heroism of that tragic, unnecessary war.
This book is recommend for readers interested in World War I and for a general discussions of intelligence services, there organization and methods.« less