“IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY”

Memorial at the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia

“Gregg was born on the 18th, this event in his honor is on the 18th and the number of his star on the Memorial Wall at the CIA in Langley is 81, which, in reverse, is also Chai. Gregg lived life to the fullest.”

Mitchell Wenzel (Father of Gregg) — May 18 2015

June 3 2019 — Currently, there are 133 stars carved into the marble of the CIA Memorial Wall: 93 are unclassified. Who are those men and women? When did they die? Why are they honoured by a star? Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

RELATED POST: The CIA Book of Honor — Star 80 : Helge Philipp Boes

RELATED POST: The CIA Book of Honor — Star 79 : Johnny Micheal Spann

RELATED POST: The CIA Book of Honor — Star 78 : Tucker Gougelmann

RELATED POST: CIA Honors its Fallen in Annual Memorial Ceremony [May 21 2019]

RELATED POST: CIA Memorial Wall — The Mysterious Star : Ranya Abdelsayed (April 28 1979 – August 28 2013)

In 1974,  the CIA dedicated the Memorial Wall with 31 stars in 1974 to honor those who had fallen since the Agency’s founding in 1947.

On June 8 2001, the CIA formally commemorated the 78th star on its Memorial Wall, honoring former Agency officer Tucker Gougelmann, who died in Vietnam in the summer of 1976 after 11 months of torture.

Since the attacks of September 11 2001, 55 stars have been added to the Book of Honor and the Memorial Wall.

Gregg Wenzel (November 18, 1969 – July 9, 2003)

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Gregg Wenzel decided to serve his country and became a member of the CIA in the first post-9/11 recruitment class.

At the age of 33, Gregg Wenzel was killed in a car accident on a dark, two-lane road in Addis Ababa [Ethiopia] on July 9, 2003.

In 2004, three stars were added to the wall, bringing the total number to 83. Two of these new stars honor Christopher Glenn Mueller and William “Chief” Carlson, two civilian contractors killed in an ambush in Afghanistan in the Fall of 2003.

At the time, Gregg Wenzel’s identity was not publicly acknowledged. However, on June 1 2009 the CIA uncovered Gregg’s identity as a clandestine services officer.

TIMELINE

July 1974 — The Memorial Wall is created; 31 stars chiseled into the marble.

1987 —  First Memorial Ceremony is held with Deputy Director Robert M. Gates presiding;  number of stars on the wall has grown to 50.

1997 — 70 stars, 29 of which had names

2002 — 79 stars

2004 — 83  stars

2009 — 90  stars

2013 — 107  stars

2014 — 111  stars

2016 — 117  stars

May 2017 — 8 new stars; 125 stars chiseled into the wall

May 2018 — 4 new stars; 129 stars

May 2019 — 4 new stars; 133 stars

REFERENCES

At Last: Fallen CIA Officer Honored — COLLIVE

Gregg Wenzel – Wikipedia

CIA Remembers Employees Killed in the Line of Duty  (May 21 2004) — CIA Website

=

The CIA Book of Honor — Star 81 : Gregg Wenzel