The CIA is the American Central Intelligence Agency. President Truman founded the CIA during the earliest stages of what would become the Cold War. The Office of Strategic Services, in which Virginia also served, was a predecessor of the CIA.

Cuthbert is the name Virginia gave to her prosthetic leg. In the book, the leg symbolizes Virginia’s resilience, self-reliance, and sense of humor, which often manifested as an utter lack of self-pity.

The Distinguished Service Cross is “America’s second-highest military honor” (269). Virginia was the only female civilian in World War II to receive the DSC. She kept the ceremony secret, allowing only her mother to attend.