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Revision as of 14:48, 5 July 2024 editAndrew Davidson (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,496 edits re Mary Bowser + citation← Previous edit Revision as of 15:19, 5 July 2024 edit undoAndrew Davidson (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,496 edits 519 IB + citation &c.Next edit →
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| branch = {{army|USA}} | branch = ]{{r|NYT}}
| serviceyears = 1950–1980{{r|NYT}} | serviceyears = 1950–1980{{r|NYT}}
| servicenumber = | servicenumber =
| rank = ]{{r|NYT}} | rank = ]{{r|NYT}}
| unit = ]{{r|NYT}} | unit = ]{{r|WP}}
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'''Doris "Lucki" Ilda Allen''' (1927–2024) was a ] from ] who joined the US Army in its ] (WAC) in 1950. '''Doris "Lucki" Ilda Allen''' (1927–2024) was a ] from ] who joined the US Army in its ] (WAC) in 1950.


She was the youngest of five children of Richard and Stella Allen who worked as a barber and cook, respectively. She studied physical education at the ] and, after graduating, taught at a high school in ] for a year before enlisting.{{r|NYT}}
She auditioned for the WAC band, playing the trumpet but was not accepted. She served in a variety of specialities including entertainment, information and journalism. She then learnt French, ] and other ] skills and did three tours of duty in the ], starting in 1967. She gathered intelligence and wrote a report which correctly predicted the ] ahead of its start in 1968 but this warning was ignored. Her later warnings included an ambush, chemical weapons and rockets and these were so effective that the ] put a price on her head.{{r|NYT|VA}}

She auditioned for the WAC band, playing the trumpet but was not accepted. She served in a variety of specialities including entertainment, information and journalism. She then learnt French, ] and other ] skills and did three tours of duty in the ], starting in 1967.{{r|NYT}}

She gathered intelligence and wrote a report which correctly predicted the ] ahead of its start in 1968 but this warning was ignored. Her later warnings included an ambush, chemical weapons and rockets and these were more effective. On her third tour, she led a team of forty Vietnamese translators in Saigon that analysed enemy documents. Her name started to appear in the documents as a target for the ] and she then decided that it was time to return home.{{r|NYT|VA}}


She was awarded three ]s for her service in Vietnam. Back in the US, she became the first full-time female instructor of prisoner interrogation at the ] and then became a ] specialist. She retired from the military in 1980 and was inducted into the ] in 2009.{{r|M}} She was the second black woman to get this recognition, following ].{{r|BMW}} She was awarded three ]s for her service in Vietnam. Back in the US, she became the first full-time female instructor of prisoner interrogation at the ] and then became a ] specialist. She retired from the military in 1980 and was inducted into the ] in 2009.{{r|M}} She was the second black woman to get this recognition, following ].{{r|BMW}}
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<ref name=M>{{citation |url=https://www.military.com/history/military-intelligence-hall-of-famer-predicted-tet-offensive.html |title=This Military Intelligence Hall of Famer Predicted the Tet Offensive |date=16 November 2020 |author=Blake Stilwell |publisher=Military.com}}</ref> <ref name=M>{{citation |url=https://www.military.com/history/military-intelligence-hall-of-famer-predicted-tet-offensive.html |title=This Military Intelligence Hall of Famer Predicted the Tet Offensive |date=16 November 2020 |author=Blake Stilwell |publisher=Military.com}}</ref>
<ref name=VA>{{citation |url=https://news.va.gov/129770/honoring-veterans-army-veteran-doris-allen/ |title=Army Veteran Doris Allen |date=22 March 2024 |author=William Beterbide |publisher=]}}</ref> <ref name=VA>{{citation |url=https://news.va.gov/129770/honoring-veterans-army-veteran-doris-allen/ |title=Army Veteran Doris Allen |date=22 March 2024 |author=William Beterbide |publisher=]}}</ref>
<ref name=BMW>{{citation |url=https://www.nabmw.org/dr-doris-lucki-allen |title=Dr. Doris "Lucki" Allen |publisher=National Association of Black Military Women}}</ref> <ref name=BMW>{{citation |url=https://www.nabmw.org/dr-doris-lucki-allen |title=Dr. Doris "Lucki" Allen |publisher=National Association of Black Military Women}}</ref>
<ref name=WP>{{citation |url=https://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/too-blessed-to-be-stressed-a-women-s-army-corps-intelligence-analyst-puts-the-pieces-together?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3AfXW2BJHGPMyfRbXA1rsY03xMnQfEroYK_a7dPRzgSY5Pg1wwcyz7PuQ_aem_CfqMUCkSXNeWBf7HFGK8Dg |title=“Too Blessed To Be Stressed”: A Women's Army Corps Intelligence Analyst Puts The Pieces Together |author=David Siry |date=25 August 2016 |publisher=West Point Department of History}}</ref>

}} }}



Revision as of 15:19, 5 July 2024

Military intelligence specialist
Doris Ilda Allen
Arrival in Vietnam in 1967 (center)
Nickname(s)"Lucki"
Born(1927-05-09)May 9, 1927
El Paso
DiedJune 11, 2024(2024-06-11) (aged 97)
Oakland
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchWomen's Army Corps
Years of service1950–1980
Rankchief warrant officer
Unit519th Military Intelligence Battalion
Battles / wars
AwardsBronze Star Medal (3)

Doris "Lucki" Ilda Allen (1927–2024) was a PE teacher from El Paso who joined the US Army in its Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1950.

She was the youngest of five children of Richard and Stella Allen who worked as a barber and cook, respectively. She studied physical education at the Tuskegee Institute and, after graduating, taught at a high school in Greenwood, Mississippi for a year before enlisting.

She auditioned for the WAC band, playing the trumpet but was not accepted. She served in a variety of specialities including entertainment, information and journalism. She then learnt French, interrogation and other intelligence skills and did three tours of duty in the Vietnam War, starting in 1967.

She gathered intelligence and wrote a report which correctly predicted the Tet Offensive ahead of its start in 1968 but this warning was ignored. Her later warnings included an ambush, chemical weapons and rockets and these were more effective. On her third tour, she led a team of forty Vietnamese translators in Saigon that analysed enemy documents. Her name started to appear in the documents as a target for the Viet Cong and she then decided that it was time to return home.

She was awarded three Bronze Stars for her service in Vietnam. Back in the US, she became the first full-time female instructor of prisoner interrogation at the Army Intelligence Center and then became a counterintelligence specialist. She retired from the military in 1980 and was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 2009. She was the second black woman to get this recognition, following Mary Bowser.

After military service, she studied psychology, gaining a doctorate in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute in 1986. In 2014, she wrote her memoirs, Three Days Past Yesterday: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Incredibility. She died in an Oakland hospital on 11 June 2024 at the age of 97.

References

  1. ^ Richard Sandomir (28 June 2024), "Doris Allen, Analyst Who Saw the Tet Offensive Coming, Is Dead at 97", The New York Times
  2. David Siry (25 August 2016), “Too Blessed To Be Stressed”: A Women's Army Corps Intelligence Analyst Puts The Pieces Together, West Point Department of History
  3. William Beterbide (22 March 2024), Army Veteran Doris Allen, VA
  4. Blake Stilwell (16 November 2020), This Military Intelligence Hall of Famer Predicted the Tet Offensive, Military.com
  5. Dr. Doris "Lucki" Allen, National Association of Black Military Women
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