William J. Donovan

Bill Donovan
United States Ambassador to Thailand
In office September 4, 1953 – August 21, 1954
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Edwin F. Stanton
Succeeded by	John Peurifoy
Director of the Office of Strategic Services
In office June 13, 1942 – October 1, 1945
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman
Deputy	John Magruder
Preceded by	Himself (as Coordinator of Information)
Succeeded by	John Magruder (as Director of the Strategic Services Unit)
Coordinator of Information
In office July 11, 1941 – June 13, 1942
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Himself (as Director of the Office of Strategic Services)
Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division
In office 1926–1927
President	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	John Lord O'Brian
Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
In office 1924–1925
President	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	Earl J. Davis
Succeeded by	Oscar Luhring
United States Attorney for the Western District of New York
In office 1922–1924
President	Warren G. Harding
Preceded by	Stephen T. Lockwood
Succeeded by	Thomas Penney Jr.
Personal details
Born	William Joseph Donovan (1883-01-01)January 1, 1883 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died	February 8, 1959(1959-02-08) (aged 76) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Education	Niagara University Columbia University (BA, LLB)
Civilian awards	National Security Medal Freedom Award
Nickname	"Wild Bill"[1]
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	New York National Guard United States Army United States Army Reserve
Years of service	1912–1917 (National Guard) 1917–1919 (active) 1919–1941 (reserve) 1941–1945 (active)
Rank	Major General
Commands	1st Battalion, 165th Infantry Regiment 165th Infantry Regiment Office of Strategic Services
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I Champagne-Marne Aisne-Marne St. Mihiel Meuse-Argonne Defensive Sector Russian Civil War World War II American Theater Asiatic-Pacific Theater European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
Military awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Purple Heart (3)

William Joseph "Wild Bill"^[1] Donovan KBE (January 1, 1883 – February 8, 1959) was an American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during World War II. He is regarded as the founding father of the CIA, and a statue of him stands in the lobby of the CIA headquarters building in Langley, Virginia.

A decorated veteran of World War I, Donovan is believed to be the only person to have been awarded all four of the following prestigious decorations: the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Security Medal.^[2] He is also a recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart, as well as decorations from a number of other nations for his service during both World Wars.