[AIN] RE: PRESS RELEASE: CIA HOLDS ANNUAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY TO HONOR FALLEN COLLEAGUES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06767318
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2019
• Case Number: F-2017-01475
• Publication Date: May 22, 2012

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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED (b)(3)
Subject[AIN] Re: PRESS RELEASE: CIA Holds Annual Memorial Ceremony to Honor
Fallen Colleagues
To:
From:
Date: 05/22/2012 07:39 PM
From:
To: (b)(q)
Please respond to "(b)(6)
Thank you. For everything.
On May 22, 2012, at 4:37 PM,
wrote:
Here is the press release. We've also posted this on our website. I'll try to get the publications in
the mail tomorrow. It was lovely to see you all.
From:
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 11:40 AM
To: Media
Subject: PRESS RELEASE: CIA Holds Annual Memorial Ceremony to Honor Fallen Colleagues
PRESS RELEASE: CIA Holds Annual Memorial Ceremony to Honor Fallen Colleagues
May 22, 2012
The Central Intelligence Agency on Monday paid tribute to all of its exceptional men and
woman who have died in the line of duty. An additional star was carved on the Memorial
Wall this year, which now commemorates the lives of 103 courageous Americans who
made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country.
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Standing before the wall in the lobby of CIA headquarters, Director David H. Petraeus said:
"The 103 souls represented by the stars on the wall behind me all heard the same call to
duty and answered it without hesitation�never for acclaim, always for country. They
devoted their hearts and minds to a mission unlike any other, at an agency unlike any
other, serving on the world's most dangerous frontiers to defend our people, defeat our
adversaries, and advance our freedoms. Their words and deeds will inspire us forever, and
their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten."
The DCIA honored the memory of Jeffrey R. Patneau, a young can-do officer who was
killed in Yemen in September 2008. "Jeff proved that he had boundless talent, courage,
and innovativeness to offer to our country in its fight against terrorism," the Director said.
"Tested by adversity, Jeff had been more than equal to every task. He was taken from us
just as he had begun what promised to be a brilliant career and a life of great
consequence�one of faithful service to the people he loved and to the nation he
revered."
In total, fifteen names were inscribed in the CIA's Book of Honor this year, allowing Agency
officers to publicly acknowledge those who have been represented by stars and whom we
have silently mourned for years. Five of the names entered in the Book of Honor are those
of officers who perished on April 18, 1983 when a suicide bomber struck the US Embassy
in Beirut, killing 63 in the most destructive terrorist attack against a US official presence at
that time. Phyliss Nancy Faraci was one of the last four Americans evacuated from the
Mekong Delta when Saigon fell. She was an intensely devoted officer who volunteered to
work in Beirut. Deborah M. Nixon was a talented young officer fluent in French who
volunteered for a temporary posting in Beirut. Frank J. Johnston, a 25-year veteran
officer, couldn't resist the request of a superior who wanted him on his team in Beirut,
even though Frank's retirement was just around the corner. James F. Lewis joined the CIA
as a paramilitary officer�after a distinguished career in the US military�and his fluent
French and Arabic uniquely qualified him for service in Beirut. Jim's wife, Monique N.
Lewis, was only hours into her first day as an Agency officer when the bomber struck that
terrible day.
Speaking about the loss of these officers and the others who perished with them, Director
Petraeus said: "Beirut was not, of course, the CIA's first deadly encounter with terrorism,
but it was there that we first caught sight of the adversary we face today." Four other
Agency officers whose names were entered into the Book of Honor this year also lost their
lives to terrorist acts. Matthew K. Gannon, a talented young officer with an exceptionally
bright future, died in the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie,
Scotland. Veteran officer Molly N. Hardy, moments before she was killed in the August
1998 suicide bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi, used her keen situational awareness
to warn colleagues to take cover. Molly exemplified the valor and compassion that are
hallmarks of our finest officers. Leslianne Shedd was serving a highly successful tour in
Ethiopia when, in November 1996, hijackers forced down her plane over the Indian Ocean,
killing over 125 people. Survivors of that flight tell us that Leslianne�an outstanding
young woman�spent her final moments comforting those around her. In March
1995 Jacqueline K. Van Landingham, an accomplished officer known for her liveliness and
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humor, was on her fourth overseas tour when she was killed in Pakistan.
"We are reminded of the sheer sweep of our global mission by the stories of five other
officers honored today, whose experiences demonstrate the risks inherent to intelligence
work, as well as the bravery and integrity of those who perform it," the Director said. For
his heroism, Barry S. Castiglione earned the Agency's Intelligence Star for a successful July
1992 ocean rescue of a colleague in distress. Barry died in the effort, which took place in
El Salvador. Lawrence N. Freedman, a 25-year Army veteran when he joined the Agency in
1990, was performing work for a humanitarian aid mission when he was killed in Somalia
in December 1992. Larry also was awarded the Intelligence Star. Thomas M. Jennings, Jr.,
an accomplished veteran officer, lost his life in Bosnia in December 1997 after volunteering
for a temporary assignment there. Freddie R. Woodruff was a gifted linguist who had
mastered German, Turkish, Greek and Russian. He was killed in Georgia in August 1993
after volunteering for a temporary assignment. Robert W. Woods volunteered to
accompany former Congressman Mickey Leland on a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia and
died when their plane crashed in August 1989�yet another example of selfless service.
The memorial ceremony is attended each year by hundreds of employees, retirees, and
family members and friends of those who have died in service with CIA.
For more information, please contact CIA Media Spokesperson Todd D. Ebitz at
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