Stephanie Czech Rader joined Willian Rader in Arlington’s Section 11, Grave 11-614-B. Photo by Michael McMorrow.
Many are the unseen heroes and heroines living among us, most masked by their own modesty. One died early this year: Stephanie Czech Rader.
Born to immigrants and living in New York State, she grew up submerged in the family’s Polish language and culture. She was “different” from most of her peers in Poughkeepsie, and it often showed. But something special drew the attention of a teacher who became a mentor and guided her into college. Then known as Stephanie Czech, she was a 1937 chemistry graduate of Cornell University.
Females in the workplace those days faced many hurdles. Those with a diploma in the sciences from a top-notch university were not spared. Stephanie Czech found jobs, not as a chemist but as a librarian and a researcher in a company to be renamed Texaco. At the outbreak of war, she was an early enlistee of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, which became the Women’s Army Corps. Personal traits and advanced education led to an officer’s commission and she rose to rank of captain as World War II was ending.
By then, however, the Office of Strategic Services, the OSS, had taken notice. The “hot” war closed, but the “Cold War” was beginning. The country’s former ally, the Soviet Union, was a growing adversary, especially in and for the string of countries forming Eastern Europe. One of those countries was Poland.
As predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, the OSS was in need of information about Soviet troops and Polish secret police activities. Fluent in Polish and in tune with all aspects of the culture, Stephanie Czech became a spy. She was the only person with the right skills at the right time in the right place. Duty called. She answered.
Working out of the U. S. Embassy in Warsaw, Stephanie Czech criss-crossed Poland and Germany using the cover story of a search for lost family members. She gathered vital information and carried intelligence documents and messages. Under suspicion only once, she never was caught by the Soviets or their eastern bloc partners. Upon discharge with rank of major, her personnel records were marked “secret” and filed away. They included her superiors’ recommendations for the Legion of Merit which had not been approved.
William Rader and Stephanie Czech married in 1946. He began service in the Army Air Corps and was recognized several times for bravery in action against Japan and Germany and for leadership during and after the war. William Rader continued serving in the Air Force during the era of the Strategic Air Command and retired a Brigadier General in 1968. Beside him all those years, Stephanie Rader, to all appearances, was the typical wife of a senior military officer. Upon his retirement, the couple made their home in Alexandria for the next four decades and William Rader became a businessman. He died in 2003 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Stephanie Rader remained in their home surrounded by friends accumulated over the years. They, and everyone else, were stunned when her military personnel file was declassified and reviewed by veterans in the OSS Society. The recommendations for award of the Legion of Merit that lay dormant for 70 years established that she truly earned the award based on “exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services.”
NEWSPAPER STORIES, personal interviews, photographs and other publicity followed the opening of her file. Stephanie Rader died in January of this year at age 100 and her story, to that point, has become common knowledge. Only the final chapter of events on Wednesday, June 1 of this year, need be added.
Moments before 0900 hours, a flag-draped casket was gently carried into the Old Post Chapel of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The service was a private time for family and close friends. After a while, the remains of Stephanie Czech Rader were brought out and taken in hand by a score or more of perfectly polished, uniformed personnel who would participate in the ceremonies underway.
The warm and windless day was perfect for bidding a final farewell to anyone, but somehow it seemed more than appropriate for the brave. At the waiting grave covered by green carpeting, no birdsong could be heard. It was as though the creatures had conspired not to sing on such a solemn occasion. Then, quietly at first but growing louder with each step, the beat of a single drum announced approach of the cortege. The United States Army Band, a firing team of seven enlisted members of “D” Company, 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), a color guard with the Army Flag capped by nearly 200 campaign streamers of wars old and on-going, six white horses carrying three side-riders and drawing a caisson bearing the flag-covered box with the remains of Stephanie Czech Rader drew nearer.
For the 60 people who gathered to pay respect, the formalities were over in minutes: A mournful hymn and “America the Beautiful” from the band, three sharp volleys by the firing team, “taps” by the bugler beside a tree some distance away, the military chaplain’s recitals echoing “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” and presentation of the tri-corned flag.
Soldiers left their positions and reformed to follow the single drumbeat that had heralded their arrival. One lonely bell sounded the hour of 10 from a carillon dedicated with the words “While these bells ring, safely rest. Freedom lives.”
William and Stephanie Rader had no children, and living relatives were quite distant. For that reason, the recipient of the folded flag that had covered her casket was a close friend, who also serves as executor of Stephanie Rader’s estate: Kenneth Elder. When asked about a repository for the flag, Elder’s daughter responded, “No decision has been made, yet.”
A presentation was made of the too-long deferred Legion of Merit awarded to Stephanie Rader posthumously.
Stephanie Czech Rader joined Willian Rader in Arlington’s Section 11, Grave 11-614-B. Their marker reflects a rare case of both spouses being highly honored for their independent acts of bravery. They are in the best of company. Beside nearby headstones lie the likes of “Delbert James 29th Division June 8, 1944 Normandy, France” and “Alan Bowen Grimes Ohio Philippine Scouts World War II November 6, 1942” and many more of the nation’s heroes and heroines, known and unknown.