'Agent Josephine' pays homage to legendary singer, spy

Josephine Baker was world-renowned from World War II and I had never heard of her.

Half-African American, Baker was a singer and dancer during the 1930s. In the United States, at that time, there was discrimination against Blacks so she saved enough money to go to Paris, where there she became very famous for singing and dancing with acrobatic moves.

Baker was known all over Europe and even in the United States. Then came World War II. She was against the Nazis and refused to perform in occupied France by the Germans.

She traveled a lot putting on performances and became a spy for England. She had a big home in Southern France which had other spies coming and going. Eventually, she went to Morocco to avoid the Nazis; there she got deathly sick and almost died. She was in and out of hospitals for over a year and a half. Her hospital room became a spy room where spies came and went preparing information for the Allies landing in North Africa.

She was so famous, she wasn’t even checked out as a spy in her luggage, trunks, or personally. After the war was over, she was awarded numerous medals for her bravery and her spy work. She is now buried in the Pantheon in Paris where less than 100 are entombed and she is one of only five women to receive the honor. Madame Curie is one of the others.

There is a book about her, "Agent Josephine, American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy" by Damien Lewis. It is a very good read.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran, serving in the 1st Infantry Division, and a veteran serving in France. He is a business owner in Priest River.