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Oath of Secrecy Letter

Specifications

Oath of Secrecy Letter

Category

Military

Classification

CHENHALL - Communication Objects - Documentary Objects - Other Documents - Correspondence - Letter

Object Origin
Signee:

Cozens, Mr. Roger

Date Original document:

June 8, 1944

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Paper typed letter with blank line areas to fill in specific handwritten information and signatures. Page has two holes at the top. Pencil marks and discoloration on page.

Materials:

paper

Marks: "TOP SECRET/June 8, 1944 Signatures: Roger W. Cozens, Lt. M.L. Lowrey

Measurements: Object:
    Height: 8 in, Length: 10 in

Credit

Gift of Roger Cozens, 2005.5.2

Display Status

On Exhibit

Oath of Secrecy Letter

About: Oath of Secrecy Letter

About: Oath of Secrecy Letter

TOP SECRET U.S.S. FLAHERTY c/o FLEET POST OFFICE NEW YORK, N.Y. 8 JUNE, 1944


I, ROGER W. COZENS (SIGNED) HAVING HAD THE NECESSITY EXPLAINED TO ME FOR MAINTAINING ABSOLUTE SECRECY REGARDING THE CAPTURE OF THE GERMAN SUBMARINE U-505, DO HEREBY SWEAR THAT I WILL REVEAL THIS INFORMATION TO NO ONE UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR UNLESS SOONER RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. (NO ONE" INCLUDES MY CLOSEST RELATIVES, FRIENDS, MILITARY OR NAVAL PERSONNEL - EVEN AN ADMIRAL UNLESS I AM DIRECTED BY MY COMMANDING OFFICER TO TELL HIM). I FULLY REALIZE THAT SHOULD GERMANY LEARN FROM ANY SOURCE OF THE CAPTURE OF THE U-505 THAT THE TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE WHICH WE HAVE GAINED BY HER CAPTURE WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY NULLIFIED, RESULTING IN A GREAT LOSS TO THE UNITED STATES. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT SHOULD I BREAK THIS OATH, I WILL BE COMMITTING A GRAVE MILITARY OFFENSE, THEREBY SUBJECTING MYSELF TO A GENERAL COURT MARTIAL, WHICH COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY IN TIME OF WAR TO AWARD AS PUNISHMENT THE DEATH SENTENCE.

Additional information

Copyright information

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