Judy Ikels, a native Texan and graduate of the University of Texas majoring in English and Spanish, completed a 28-year Civil Service career with the Department of State in 2018. She had accompanied her late husband Larry Ikels on his 31-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Information Agency serving in El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil and Greece. In 2018 Judy was the recipient of an award for support of Foreign Service family member employment and in 2019 she received the Director General’s Cup for Civil Service awarded annually to one employee in the Department of State whose work had “an enduring and positive impact on the Department as a whole.” Judy worked primarily on policy for employee well-being and in support of the Foreign Service Family. The story about her father’s heroism and sacrifice in WWII lingered in the back of her mind all her life. But a serendipitous encounter in 2015 led her to a meaningful trip to China to see first-hand a memorial erected to honor her father and Chinese-American friendship. Family archives, letters, photos, and research taught her more. Judy’s unique story first appeared in the May, 2016 edition of State Magazine, official publication of the Department of State, under the title “Discovering a Legacy.” This is a heartfelt memoir that throws a spotlight on a little- known theater of WWII and the brave young Americans who served there. It is a reminder that family history shapes us in ways large and small.
