Vol. 65, No. 1 (January-February 2014) 29

and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland, hoping that Rey might be mentioned as having worked with the OSS.

Sure enough, he had a connection with the OSS, as proved by several letters and other correspondence contained in Record Group (RG) 226, Office of Strategic Services. A box labeled, “OSS Personnel Files, 1941-1945, Renehan, William S. to Reynolds, Frank Raymond,” contained a letter from Lieutenant Colonel David W. King, Headquarters, 2677th Regiment, Office of Strategic Services (Prov.), APO 512 (Figure 6). Dated April 23, 1945, the letter states:

It is recommended that the Bronze Star be awarded to Monsieur Jean Rene REY, civilian, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services.

Monsieur Jean Rene REY. Rue de la Boetie, Casablanca. Worked for the same Salvage Company as AILLET. Acted as liaison agent between Port Lyautey and Casablanca groups. Headed one of our small resistance groups in the port. Fulfilled countless missions such as reporting on possible landing beaches; obtaining coastal charts and coastal pilot guides. REY was dismissed from his job on account of his friendly relations with us and has now joined the Corps Franc.

Figure 6: Letter from Lieutenant Colonel David W. King.

30 JOMSA

This recommendation is based upon the personal knowledge of the undersigned and upon information contained in the files of the Office of Strategic Services.

The entire service of Monsieur REY since the performance of the acts or services set out above has been honorable.

The letter concludes by saying that the submission of the recommendation for the Bronze Star Medal is late (April 1945) because the original recommendation made in August 1943 was lost.

The OSS recommended that Rey receive the Bronze Star Medal with the following citation:

Jean Rene REY, of the S.C.R.A. Casablanca, having substantially contributed to the success of the United States landing operations by the exceptional courage and initiative with which he carried out many dangerous missions at the risk of his life and actual loss of his position, and in so doing having rendered exceptionally meritorious service to the United States and Allied Cause is awarded the …

A copy of the proposed citation, contained in the RG 226 box, is at Figure 7. The actual English and French citations for the BSM when awarded to Mr. Rey, however, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, are slightly different.

Figure 7: The citation proposed by the Office of Strategic Services.

Vol. 65, No. 1 (January-February 2014) 31

Interestingly, the OSS file on Jean Rene Rey also contains a letter, dated October 8, 1948, in which the Army Adjutant General asks the Adjutant for the “Strategic Services Unit, OUSA,” Washington, D.C., if the “Confidential” citation pertaining to the award of Rey’s BSM “may now be released in the clear.”

The Strategic Services Unit (SSU), which had been created by President Truman when he abolished the

OSS on October 1, 1945, obviously still had an interest in the operations of its predecessor. In any event, the reply of the SSU adjutant, Colonel Knox P. Pruden was as follows: “Under current disturbed political conditions, undesirable consequences might be occasioned the recipient if his active collaboration with the United States were publicized (emphasis supplied).” Pruden’s advice: “deliver the citation to Rey through the Military Attache in Casablanca, with instructions that no publicity be given

Figure 8: Letter from Colonel Knox P. Pruden.