Julia Child at 100

Julia Child would have been 100 years old today. Most are familiar with Julia as the culinary legend, but her WWII service is becoming more well known.  The 6 foot 2 inch Julia was too tall to be considered for the WAVES and WAC, and instead served her country with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). In April 1942, to be in the thick of things, Julia McWilliams moved from Los Angeles to Washington, the hive of governmental agencies. In 1944, she was assigned overseas and travelled to Southeast Asia. At her first post in Ceylon, McWilliams met Paul Child, also serving with the OSS. They would spend the remainder of the war together; in Kunming, China, they would experience the end of the war and delicious Chinese food. Julia married Paul Child in 1946. She passed away in 2004 at the age of 91.

Watch Julia talk about her wartime experience below.

Post by Curator Kimberly Guise.