Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act
PL 114-269 (S.2234), enacted 12/14/2016

130 STAT. 1391 
PUBLIC LAW 114–269—DEC. 14, 2016 
Public Law 114–269 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the members of the Office 
of Strategic Services (OSS) in recognition of their superior service and major 
contributions during World War II. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Office of Strategic Services 
Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was America’s 
first effort to implement a system of strategic intelligence 
during World War II and provided the basis for the modern- 
day American intelligence and special operations communities. 
The U.S. Special Operations Command and the National Clan-
destine Service chose the OSS spearhead as their insignias. 
(2) OSS founder General William J. Donovan is the only 
person in American history to receive our Nation’s four highest 
decorations, including the Medal of Honor. Upon learning of 
his death in 1959, President Eisenhower called General 
Donovan the ‘‘last hero’’. In addition to founding and leading 
the OSS, General Donovan was also selected by President Roo-
sevelt, who called him his ‘‘secret legs’’, as an emissary to 
Great Britain and continental Europe before the United States 
entered World War II. 
(3) All the military branches during World War II contrib-
uted personnel to the OSS. The present-day Special Operations 
Forces trace their lineage to the OSS. Its Maritime Unit was 
a precursor to the U.S. Navy SEALs. The OSS Operational 
Groups and Jedburghs were forerunners to U.S. Army Special 
Forces. The 801st/492nd Bombardment Group (‘‘Carpet-
baggers’’) were progenitors to the Air Force Special Operations 
Command. The Marines who served in the OSS, including 
the actor Sterling Hayden (a Silver Star recipient), Col. William 
Eddy (a Distinguished Service Cross recipient who was 
described as the ‘‘nearest thing the United States has had 
to a Lawrence of Arabia’’), and Col. Peter Ortiz (a two-time 
Navy Cross recipient), were predecessors to the Marine Special 
Operations Command. U.S. Coast Guard personnel were 
recruited for the Maritime Unit and its Operational Swimmer 
Group. 
31 USC 5111 
note. 
Office of 
Strategic 
Services 
Congressional 
Gold Medal Act. 
Dec. 14, 2016 
[S. 2234] 
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130 STAT. 1392 
PUBLIC LAW 114–269—DEC. 14, 2016 
(4) The OSS organized, trained, supplied, and fought with 
resistance organizations throughout Europe and Asia that 
played an important role in America’s victory during World 
War II. General Eisenhower credited the OSS’s covert contribu-
tion in France to the equivalent to having an extra military 
division. General Eisenhower told General Donovan that if 
it did nothing else, the photographic reconnaissance conducted 
by the OSS prior to the D-Day Invasion justified its creation. 
(5) Four future directors of central intelligence served as 
OSS officers: William Casey, William Colby, Allen Dulles, and 
Richard Helms. 
(6) Women comprised more than one-third of OSS personnel 
and played a critical role in the organization. They included 
Virginia Hall, the only civilian female to receive a Distinguished 
Service Cross in World War II, and Julia Child. 
(7) OSS recruited Fritz Kolbe, a German diplomat who 
became America’s most important spy against the Nazis in 
World War II. 
(8) America’s leading scientists and scholars served in the 
OSS Research and Analysis Branch, including Ralph Bunche, 
the first African-American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize; 
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.; 
Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg; Sherman Kent; John 
King Fairbank; and Walt Rostow. Its ranks included seven 
future presidents of the American Historical Association, five 
of the American Economic Association, and two Nobel laureates. 
(9) The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence 
and Research traces its creation to the OSS Research and 
Analysis Branch. 
(10) James Donovan, who was portrayed by Tom Hanks 
in the Steven Spielberg movie ‘‘Bridge of Spies’’ and negotiated 
the release of U–2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, served as General 
Counsel of the OSS. 
(11) The OSS invented and employed new technology 
through its Research and Development Branch, inventing new 
weapons and revolutionary communications equipment. Dr. 
Christian Lambertsen invented the first underwater re-
breathing apparatus that was first utilized by the OSS and 
is known today as SCUBA. 
(12) OSS Detachment 101 operated in Burma and pioneered 
the art of unconventional warfare. It was the first United 
States unit to deploy a large guerrilla army deep in enemy 
territory. It has been credited with the highest kill/loss ratio 
for any infantry-type unit in American military history and 
was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. 
(13) Its X–2 branch pioneered counterintelligence with the 
British and established the modern counterintelligence commu-
nity. The network of contacts built by the OSS with foreign 
intelligence services led to enduring Cold War alliances. 
(14) Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North 
Africa in November 1942, was aided by the networks estab-
lished and information acquired by the OSS to guide Allied 
landings. 
(15) OSS Operation Halyard rescued more than 500 downed 
airmen trapped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia, one of the 
most daring and successful rescue operations of World War 
II. 
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130 STAT. 1393 
PUBLIC LAW 114–269—DEC. 14, 2016 
(16) OSS ‘‘Mercy Missions’’ at the end of World War II 
saved the lives of thousands of Allied prisoners of war whom 
it was feared would be murdered by the Japanese. 
(17) The handful of surviving men and women of the OSS 
whom General Donovan said performed ‘‘some of the bravest 
acts of the war’’ are members of the ‘‘Greatest Generation’’. 
They have never been collectively recognized for their heroic 
and pioneering service in World War II. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the House 
of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate 
shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on 
behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in 
commemoration to the members of the Office of Strategic Services 
(OSS), in recognition of their superior service and major contribu-
tions during World War II. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the presentation 
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred 
to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall strike a gold medal with 
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by 
the Secretary. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the gold medal 
in commemoration to the members of the Office of Strategic 
Services under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given 
to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as 
appropriate and made available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, 
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the 
Office of Strategic Services. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the 
gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations 
as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the 
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursuant to this 
Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, 
United States Code. 
Determination. 
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130 STAT. 1394 
PUBLIC LAW 114–269—DEC. 14, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2234: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 
Feb. 22, considered and passed Senate. 
Nov. 30, considered and passed House. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5134 of title 
31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall 
be considered to be numismatic items. 
Approved December 14, 2016. 
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