This is a part of our series about CIA employees who have made the
ultimate sacrifice. Here we will look at the lives of the men and women who
have died while serving their country.
Currently, there are 89 stars carved into the marble of the CIA Memorial
Wall. The wall stands as a silent, simple memorial to those employees “who gave
their lives in the service of their country.” The CIA has released the names of
54 employees; the names of the remaining 35 officers must remain secret, even
in death.
Chiyoki Ikeda
During his
six years working for the Central Intelligence Agency, Chiyoki “Chick” Ikeda
was known for his talent with languages. He was also known as a true patriot.
On March 17,
1960, Ikeda died in a plane crash near Tell City, Indiana, while on a temporary
duty assignment.
From Star Student to True Patriot
Ikeda was
born in 1920 in Honolulu after his parents emigrated from Japan. At McKinley
High School, Ikeda served as an active member of the student body in the
National Honor Society. He graduated in 1938.
In 1941,
Ikeda went to the University of Hawaii to study engineering, where he excelled
in both his studies and in athletics. He played intramural football, basketball
and baseball; he also enjoyed volleyball, tennis and golf, and was a two-year
letterman in college track.
With the
bombing of Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into World War II, Ikeda’s world
changed completely. In March 1943, he joined the U.S. Army as an officer at the
rank of second lieutenant. During the next several months, Ikeda completed
military training.
World War II through the Cold War
In January
1944, the Army assigned Ikeda to serve in the Office of Strategic Services (the
forerunner of today’s CIA). In addition to his military training, Ikeda was
fluent in Japanese and English, and he had a basic proficiency in French and
Chinese, which made him an attractive recruit for the OSS.
He received
training in radio communications, weapons use and agent handling, and took a
refresher course in Japanese. After completing his training requirements, Ikeda
was assigned to the OSS unit in India, and later transferred to the unit in
China. In the spring of 1945, Ikeda was promoted to captain and served as chief
of an OSS field unit in China. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service
there.
After the
war, Ikeda enrolled in an agent operations course at the Army’s
Counterintelligence Corps Training School in Tokyo. During the next two years,
he served as an Army intelligence officer, recruiting and handling agents.
Ikeda also
helped screen returning Japanese POWs who had been held by the Soviets in
Siberian camps since the end of the war. Ikeda managed the screening process
that identified POWs who were trained by the Soviets to act as spies.
He trained
and supervised the interrogators and organized teams to review the results of
the screenings. Because of the program Ikeda managed, many Soviet agents were
identified, helping thwart Moscow’s efforts to conduct espionage against U.S.
interests in postwar Japan.
Joining the Agency
With the end
of World War II in 1945, President Harry Truman disbanded the OSS. Two years
later, President Truman signed the National Security of Act of 1947, which
established the CIA. The fledgling Agency began to seek out talented
individuals who were dedicated to protecting the nation.
Ikeda’s
experience from the war and superb language skills made him an ideal candidate
for a job with the CIA. In 1950, the CIA tried to have Ikeda released from the
military or detailed to the Agency. But, the start of the Korean War further
delayed Ikeda’s release.
After the end
of that war, Ikeda was discharged from the Army. The Agency immediately offered
him a position as an operations officer in the Directorate of Plans (now the
National Clandestine Service) in the Far East Division. In October 1954, Ikeda
officially joined the CIA. During the next six years, Ikeda became a key player
in his division and made many contributions to important operations.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
On March 17,
1960, Ikeda was on a temporary duty assignment in the United States. That day,
he was a passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 710, which was leaving Chicago.
The plane, carrying 63 passengers, crashed near Tell City, Indiana. Everyone
aboard the plane was killed.
Ikeda
received a star on the Agency’s Memorial Wall on March 14, 1997. Then DCI
George Tenet paid tribute to his accomplishments and sacrifices.
“Chick Ikeda
knew the price of patriotism,” Tenet said. “He paid it willingly and dearly.”
Ikeda is
survived by his wife Maggie, two sons, and two grandchildren.
Related Stories and Links:
