STATEMENT FOR MR. CHESTON IN THE MATTER OF ROBERT E. LANG

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005309952
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2009
• Case Number: F-2008-01895
• Publication Date: October 29, 1943

APPROVED FOR RELEASED
DATE: 19-Aug-2009 OF
FICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Oct. 29, 1943
STATEMENT FOR MR. CHESTON IN THE MATTER OF ROBERT E. LANG
The officer in charge of Cryptographic Security and
Message Center work for the North African Theatre has lost
his health and it is necessary that he be replaced. The
special reasons why it is desired that Sgt. Lang be commission-
ed.and sent to the North African Theatre for this job are as
follows:
The work to be done in North Africa from the
Message Center point of view is roughly as follows:k$ The main
Message Center at Algiers handles all the OSS classified
traffic to or from that point, whether to. Cairo, Washington,
London, and other bases or to agents and operators in the
field. It is now planned also to set up a Message Center
somewhere in Italy as well as several smaller units mobile
or otherwise in various advanced locations. The crypto-
graphic practises and systems to be used between all these
places are in a general way prescribed from Washington but
obviously many local adaptations and even new systems must
be set up and administered, perhaps on the spur of the moment,
as circumstances change. These systems must all be of a
type and of a degree of security sufficient to fit in with
the 0SS cryptographic network extending around the world.
Only a man trained in O3S systems and procedures can do the
Job.
From the point of view of cryptographic security it
is necessary that some person familiar with OSS cryptographic
systems and the dangers and advantages thereof be in charge.
Such person must have the character and authority to see to it
that proper precautions are taken not only in the various
Message Centers themselves, but also by the originators of the
messages. In other words, in OSS as distinguished from most
Army organizations, the Cryptographic Security Officer and
the Chief of the local Message Center are combined in the
same person. To enforce the security regulations a trained
officer is necessary.
The administrative job to be done in connection with
setting up the new center in Italy and the other minor bases,
the movement of personnel and equipment to these places is of
utmost importance. The handling of the personnel (all of which
have been chosen and sent out from here) and the pproper
assignment of the personnel best.suited to doing the various
 OFFICE OF,STRATEGIC SERVICES
WASH W GTON,.D. C.
cryptographic, machine, paraphrasing and other jobs calls for
a specially trained man--one who has both the ability and the
authority to handle the men and women stationed in the various
widely separated locations in w hick they are likely to be,
and who also knows the actual capabilities and weaknesses of
his personnel. It is not as though we were operating with a
large staff whose numbers could take the place of specialized
training or abilities. On the contrary whoever is in charge
will have to make the best of some 35 persons using each to
the limit of his or her capabilities. The man to do this lab
must not only be an officer but must also be someone who knows
his personnel and is a good executive.
Sgt. Lang, though not yet quite 28 has the education
and the ability for this job.. After graduation from Dartmouth
he was appointed Graduate Manager of Non-athletic activities.
In this position he was placed in the delicate position of
supervising and coordinating the work of some 15 faculty directors
of non-athletic organizations, all of whom were many years his
senior both in years and in term of service with the college.
The details of this work were carried out with the aid of
a constantly changing personnel chosen from among the members
of the undergraduate body. In this capacity he became involved
to a considerable extent in personnel work in keeping the boys
at their studies when other matters got to he too much for
them and in general as a younger member of the faculty,
sympathetic with the boys' viewpoint, in handling difficult
cases and cases where special treatment was needed.
This background of administrative and personnel
work has been of the greatest value here. Lang has handled
all the administrative and personnel work for the Washington
Message Center and has been in sole charge of the recruiting
campaign. He has interviewed and personnally selected all
the personnel now working'here as well as all those who have
gone to North Africa.
So far as his character is concerned Lang is
responsible, level-headed, excellent at the handling of
personnel and at getting the most from his workers in.a most
friendly way and an excellent morale builder. He has foresight.
Can take orders. Has an unusual ability to get along with
and for that matter get his way with his superiors when nec-
essary. This combination in a single man is in a certain.
sense unique and suggests that not many men from elsewhere
could be found with the same varying abilities.
 OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
WASHINGTON, D. C.
An officer is needed for the job in North Africa
if it is to be properly handled. It seems unlikely that a
man of similar background, capabilities, and knowledge can
be found in the Army. Sgt. Lang has grown up with our systems
having been with the OSS Message Center since March 1942,
either as a civilian or in the Army. During this period he
has grown up with the Message Center having at one time or
another held every supervisory position in the office until,
at the present time, he is working as Asst. Chief. OSS
systems by the nature of OSS work are not like most of the
Army systems which are used between fixed, secure bases.
Sgt. Lang knows these systems. It would take any other
persons weeks or months to acquire a-similar knowledge.
He has the ability to handle the complications of
of personnel and equipment to be used in the various places
in the Theater. He knows the personnel and what could and
can be gotten out of them as no stranger possibly could.
He has demonstrated his character and ability here.
For the above reasons I recommend that Sgt. Lang be
commissioned and sent to North Africa as head of Message
Center work and Cryptographic Security Officer for, the Theater.
W. Delafield