“We gather here today in recognition of Women’s History Month. At this time, it seems only fitting that we remember our own.We honor today four of our women who made that supreme sacrifice: Barbara A. Robbins, Phyllis Nancy Faraci, Monique N. Lewis, and Deborah Marie Hixon.”
Tribute to Women Who Have Died (1989)
“They devoted their hearts and minds to a mission unlike any other, at an agency unlike any other, serving on the world’s most dangerous frontiers to defend our people, defeat our adversaries, and advance our freedoms. Their words and deeds will inspire us forever, and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
CIA Director David Petraeus (2012 Annual Memorial Ceremony)
The Memorial Wall is a memorial at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia. It honors CIA employees who died in the line of service. There are 129 stars carved into the white Alabama marble wall. Eleven represent women.
On April 18 1983, Deborah M. Hixon was killed when a car carrying a bomb crashed through the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
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In 2012, fifteen names were inscribed in the CIA’s Book of Honor this year, allowing Agency officers to publicly acknowledge those who have been represented by stars and whom we have silently mourned for years.
Five of the names entered in the Book of Honor are those of officers who perished on April 18, 1983 when a suicide bomber struck the US Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 in the most destructive terrorist attack against a US official presence at that time. Phyliss Nancy Faraci was one of the last four Americans evacuated from the Mekong Delta when Saigon fell. She was an intensely devoted officer who volunteered to work in Beirut. Deborah M. Hixon was a talented young officer fluent in French who volunteered for a temporary posting in Beirut. Frank J. Johnston, a 25-year veteran officer, couldn’t resist the request of a superior who wanted him on his team in Beirut, even though Frank’s retirement was just around the corner. James F. Lewis joined the CIA as a paramilitary officer—after a distinguished career in the US military—and his fluent French and Arabic uniquely qualified him for service in Beirut. Jim’s wife, Monique N. Lewis, was only hours into her first day as an Agency officer when the bomber struck that terrible day.
Deborah M. Hixon
Deborah M. Hixon was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1952. She graduated from the University of Colorado – Boulder and served as a foreign affairs analyst and undercover CIA agent at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
“On April 18 1983, she became one of 63 people (including 17 Americans) killed when a car carrying a bomb crashed through the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
She had been in Beirut for several weeks and had planned to return to Colorado on Sunday (24 April 1983) to visit her parents, James and Lois Hixon of Castle Rock.
Deborah M. Hixon was only acknowledged as a CIA employee in 2012.” [CIA Website]
PS: Did you know Deborah M. Hixon? Would you like to share a story? Just let us know.
BBC Documentary — 1983 Hezbollah bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut
REFERENCES
Women of the CIA — Newsweek
The Mystery of Jane Wallis Burrell: The First CIA Officer To Die in the Agency’s Service — CIA news & Information
Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Barbara A. Robbins — CIA Website
Barbara Robbins: A slain CIA secretary’s life and death — WP
Tribute to Women Who Have Died — STUDIES IN INTELLIGENCE
CIA discloses names of 15 killed in line of duty — LA Times
CIA Holds Annual Memorial Ceremony to Honor Fallen Colleagues — CIA Website
Phyllis (Nancy) Faraci — Human Rights & Democracy for Iran
REAGAN SAYS BLAST WON’T DETER PEACE EFFORTS — NYT 21 April 1983
Memorial Service 1983 — CIA Website
Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Jacqueline K. Van Landingham — CIA Website
U.S. Seeking 3 Gunmen In Karachi — NYT March 10 1995
Remembering CIA’s Heroes: Leslianne Shedd — CIA Website
Osama raid avenged CIA deaths, a secret until now — TODAY
CIA Adds Four Stars to Memorial Wall — CIA website May 21 2006
Khowst – 5 Years Later — Cia Website
Who was Elizabeth Hanson? — COLBY Magazine
Year Later, Some Details Emerge About CIA Officer Killed In Afghanistan — npr
Silent Stars — The Washingtonian
“Zero Dark Thirty” entertaining but inaccurate: ex-CIA agents — Reuters
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Remembering CIA Deborah M. Hixon (15 Sep 1952 – April 18 1983)
Remembering CIA Deborah M. Hixon (15 Sep 1952 – April 18 1983) — [2019]
