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Code Girls

the Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers OF World War II
Dec 05, 2018
My Mother, Velma Merrill McFadden was a Hillsboro High, Oregon graduate of 1928, although College would come at a later date, her ability as a trained professional musician and retail music store "musicologist" was a talent that she would soon be shocked to learn in 1943 was of imminent valuable assistance to the war effort against the AXIS. Not having read the new title, I hope there is mention of a small college in East Providence , Rhode Island where she received initial training in " Crypto". In early 1997, shortly before her passing, we were watching a NOVA special on code breaking during WW2. She raised her arm with difficulty, and pointed to an image on the screen stating: "...there is Mr. so and so, he was two offices down in our Division. Taken aback, I questioned her about why she had "gone east" during WW2, as no family or work was there, as far as her family thought. She stated, "...we were told that as long as we lived, if we ever spoke about what we did there, we could be hung...man or woman". Since her former boss was now being featured on this NOVA special documentary, I asked if now she would tell us what she did there in "Crypto". She refused, and although 86 and near death, kept the oath she swore to never divulge her work there. This is a good example of "The Greatest Generation", they took their oaths seriously.