Sam Ewing (2nd from left)
(From his autobiography)
During the early two years of World War II I was stationed at the DIO in San Francisco, living in an apartment, until I was shipped via San Diego south to Dutch Harbor and Cold Bay, Alaska, north in the Aleutian Islands. Through a fluke I had been responsible for the capture of a German espionage agent in the Presidio of San Francisco.
In Alaska I became part of a special, select, seven-man intelligence unit headed by Navy Commander Seaman Gaddis, formerly of the DIO. Many years after the war, from the Commander I learned that he carried a letter from Admiral King, the Chief of Naval Operations and of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that gave him unlimited authority over all ranks. Gaddis was one of America's top intelligence agents. It was said that he broke a Japanese code.
In Dutch Harbor I had coffee with Dashiel Hammet, the famous writer. He was the sergeant editor of the Adak SUN, an Armed Forces daily. My duties in Alaska included editing a daily (coded) newspaper, THE HARBOR NEWS, announcing at the Armed Forces radio station WXLC, and directing a camera crew under the guise of a Navy War correspondent to film as many officers as possible of the 5,000 Russian navy contingent stationed at Cold Bay. Even as allies the Soviets were our sworn enemies. I received a commendation for these activities.
On V-J Day (the surrender of Japan), I was asked by Armed Forces Radio Services to broadcast from Dutch Harbor a "Report From The Aleutians". This broadcast was heard around the world. I read a script prepared, I imagine, by Intelligence.
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