A solid wood footlocker, measuring 38 in. long x 18 in. wide and 13 in. tall, belonging to Brigadier General WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883 - 1959) ‘Wild Bill’, American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert enemy Axis military operations. He is believed to be the only person 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. The locker is from Donovan’s service in World War II, bearing the designation in black paint on all four sides ‘Col. William J. Donovan Marine Trust Bldg. Buffalo N.Y.’. On one end is a rope handle, with one hinge on the back broken. The wood is expectedly a bit worn with some loss to the dark brown finish. The Interwar years saw Donovan laying the groundwork for his eventual title as intelligence officer and head of the OSS. He met with several world leaders, including: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Benito Mussolini, Winston Churchill, and King George VI, resulting in a staunch belief in Britain’s success and with high hopes for the future of American intelligence. A notable triumph for the OSS was the intelligence conveyed from southern France in the run-up to the Allied landing on the French Riviera on August 15, 1944, at which Donovan was present. Donovan was quite active during the war, participating in the Normandy landing on D-Day and the April 1944 invasion of Hollandia on the northern coast of New Guinea, and spending time the Balkans, Burma, and Moscow. This is a marvelous opportunity to connect with a highly decorated and respected man who served in both World Wars and continued to serve as an intelligence officer and ‘Founding Father’ of the CIA. Buyer will be responsible for setting up shipping of this item.