Virginia couldn’t take Foreign Service exam due to strict rules against employees w disabilities joining diplomatic corps at the time
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Over complex terrain, Virginia hiked as much as 50 miles through snow-covered mountains over 7,500’ in altitude w her prosthetic leg.
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Virginia was determined to return to France.
SOE refused, as she was too well-known to the Gestapo.
She was sent back to London.
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1944: Virginia joined #OSS.
Unable to parachute into France because of her artificial leg, she arrived by British torpedo boat.
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To avoid detection, Virginia dyed her hair grey & disguised herself as a milkmaid with a shuffling gait to hide her limp.
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By staying on the move, camping in barns & attics, Virginia was able to avoid Germans who were desperately tracking her radio signals
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Virginia organized 1000s of French Maquis, blew up bridges, & conducted other sabotage operations to support Allies’ D-Day invasion.
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For her courage & ingenuity, Virginia was the only civilian woman during #WWII to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
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At CIA, Virginia used her covert action expertise in range of activities & in support of resistance groups in Iron Curtain countries.
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Virginia was one of a few relatively senior women in ops until her mandatory retirement in 1966 at age 60.
http://1.usa.gov/1L2wUHw
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