1970 Office of Strategic Services Society William J. Donovan Award. Cast Bronze. Awarded to Colonel Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. Mint State. 118 mm. <strong>Obv</strong>: GENL WILLIAM J. DONOVAN around, Left facing bust of General Donovan in his military dress uniform at center; signed G. PROCTOR at 4:30 on the periphery. <strong>Rev</strong>: AWARDED / TO / COLONEL / EDWIN . E. ALDRIN . JR. / APOLLO 11 ASTRONAUT / 1970 / BY THE / VETERANS OF OSS / circle enclosing an eagle and VETERANS / OSS below. <strong>Edge</strong>: plain. Lovely chocolate brown surfaces with good luster and an impressively artistic high relief obverse. Housed in a black leather case with two functional closures to keep the substantially heavy medal securely enclosed. The interior is plush black and black silk with COL. EDWIN E. ALDRIN JR. printed in silver letting on the silk. A sticker atop the case reads LOT NO. / AD0070 / PIECE NO. / 098 indicating it was once in another auction. The Donovan Award was created by the OSS Society, which was founded by Donovan in 1947. The award is presented to "someone who has exemplified the distinguishing features that characterized General Donovans lifetime of public service to the United of States of America as a citizen and a soldier". OSS records online indicate that each of the Apollo 11 crew members were awarded a medal in 1970. Other awardees over the years include Margaret Thatcher and multiple U.S. Presidents. From the Wendy and Harris Lefkon Collection.
