Sully de Fontaine Receives OSS Congressional Gold Medal

Congressman Ruben J. Kihuen presented the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Congressional Gold Medal to Colonel Sully de Fontaine for his service to the United States. Colonel de Fontaine served in the OSS during World War II. The OSS is the organization which preceded the CIA and the United States Special Operations Command.

During the ceremony, Kihuen said, “We are here today to honor Colonel Sully de Fontaine (Retired) for his dedicated and distinguished service career, which has earned him the prestigious OSS Congressional Gold Medal.”

“In September 1944, Colonel de Fontaine bravely parachuted into occupied France to escort downed pilots to safety. In April 1957, Colonel de Fontaine completed his Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then spent the next two years giving special instruction on Soviet intelligence, escape and evasion and counter-guerilla warfare.”

During the course of his military career, Colonel de Fontaine was a member of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), as well as the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), which is one of the most decorated Army Special Forces Groups in all of the United States Armed Forces.

Some of his U.S. and foreign decorations include: the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Custer; Bronze Star with V Device; Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal with V Device; Army Commendation Medal with V Device; Air Medal with V Device; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; and British Special Air Service Parachutist Badge.

Kihuen said, “The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor which can be bestowed upon a civilian, so it is with great pleasure that I present Colonel Sully de Fontaine with this medal for his selfless, exemplary service to the United States. Thank you for your countless sacrifices and contributions to our great Nation.”