Before Julia Child Became a Chef, She Worked for a Wartime Intelligence Agency
Before Julia Child became a celebrated cooking teacher, she served in the Office of Strategic Services, the wartime predecessor of the CIA. Archival records show that Julia McWilliams worked in Washington, Ceylon, and China, handling sensitive communications and supporting emergency rescue research. Her section was connected with experiments on shark repellent, although she did not single-handedly invent it. The deeper surprise is how that chapter redirected her life: overseas service introduced her to new cuisines and to Paul Child, her future husband. The story offers a useful prompt for anyone preserving memories. An old job title often hides unexpected tasks, influential colleagues, meaningful objects, and turning points. Ask what happened before the chapter everyone knows—and save the answer while it can still be told....