COMMISSIONING OF SERGEANT LANG

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005309800
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2009
• Case Number: F-2008-01895
• Publication Date: November 1, 1943

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
TO: Lt. Colonel Bigelow
FROM: Lt. Colonel Lowman
SUBJECT: Commissioning of Sergeant Lang
DATE: November 1, 1943
1. Relative. to the discussion which you held with our
Branch in connection with the.dire.ctive.of the.Secretary of War of
October 15., 1943, we would like....to place before the Officers' Board
again the reconsideration_of.thecoamiss.ioning of Sergeant Lang.
2. It is the belief of this Branch that there is
full justification for this reconsideration.and approval by your
board of his application-fora oommission._owing to the following
extenuating circumstances.
A. Colonel Lawman checked with the Signal Corps
and was told that they have no officer that they could
give us for this work.. They stated. that they themselves
were short and.that the best.that could be done would
be to train some.man...for us... The great urgency and
constant.. cabled.requests for this trained and experienced
man nullify the value..of such.. a proposal as the time
element alone pr.ecludes.._any.such..cour.se of. training.
B. We ours.elves,.in.this..B:ranch-,- are finding
it extremely difficult to.. procure. a replacement for
Sergeant Lang...pending his. departure for the field.
(Considering the responsibility of the . work .he should
rank as. a commissioned, officer.)
C?. This work entails..no.t._only a man of high
personal .charac.te.r..and integrity since it requires the
utmost secrecy and. a long trainingin.s.ecur.ity habits
and procedure, but, _a1.so . requires.. speed,. calmness and
judgment. in the execution.. of. its responsibilities.
D. There are.nolarge, .pools._.upon which to draw
for officer material, with this. experienced background
and training .and the .. immediiate_ pressure upon us for
this man makes .a Long.se.arch.:fcrthe right person
almost impos.sible...and. ..an_:endangering procedure for
our field operations if we..have..to continue further
the search for an. officer in this case.
APPROVED FOR RELEASED
DATE: 19-Aug-2009
 S. This particular position is probably the
most pressing cne in our North African communications
activities at the moment.
F. It is essential that the position be a
militarized one as the work in which he will be engaged
may carry him forward into advance message center
operations with tactical forces communications units
and he will be in direct charge of military men operat-
ing such message centers in the field.
G. The qualifications, training, experience,
character and personality of this-applicant, as well as
the responsibilities which he will be assuming, fully
entitle him to the rank of commissioned officer.
In view of the.above.considerations, it is earnestly
requested that immediate reconsideration_of Sergeant Lang'.s application
for a commission be carefully considered-andacted upon by the OSS
Board of Officers.
Lawrence W. Lowman
Lt. Colonel, Sig C
Chief, Communications Branch