Highest Trusted Civilian

When World War II broke out, Jean Trueblood was working at the Selective Service office in the old American bank building at Vincennes.  She felt she wanted to become more involved in the war effort when her twin brother John became active in the war period. John served in England, Hawaii, and Okinawa from April 1941 until August 1945. 

Jean applied for and was accepted as a clerk-typist in the public relations offices at George Field. It was an interesting place to work, she said, because she met writers, actors and professors who had been thrown together in public relations.

 In March1943 she became secretary to the post signal officer, First Lieutenant Stanley H Martz. The post commander, Edwin B Bobzien, called her into the office one day and asked if she would be willing to assume the duties of assistant cryptographer. Anxious to do anything she could, Jean agreed. However, the extensive character and background investigation of her life, family and context was a great surprise to her.  It extended even back as far as her grandparents.

Her clearance was approved, and she was placed in Classified Documents, and held the distinction of being the highest trusted civilian at the post. As custodian she encoded and decoded top secret, secret confidential, and restricted messages. George Field’s signal office was a message center for other branches of the service, not just for the George Field Command. She worked six days a week and was on call 24 hours a day.

Security was tight and sentries were posted at all gates to the field. Everyone entering had to stop and show a pass.

The people working at the field took the war seriously and kept secure the war secrets entrusted to them. The building where she worked contained the telephone section, the public relations office, message center, signal center and sealed code room.