Although she originally wanted to become a math teacher, Genevieve Grotjan took an exam to be a government mathematician and was offered a job in the U.S. Army Signals Intelligence Service in 1939. She became a civilian cryptanalyst without knowing that she would soon influence outcomes of the Allied forces during World War II.
After studying and nitpicking various intercepted messages with a group of teammates for almost eighteen months, she made an important discovery. Within two years of working at this organization, Grotjan came across the beginning of a solution that would change history and she became a fundamental figure in breaking "Purple'', code name for the Japanese cipher machine. Used to send daily diplomatic messages, including the message that …show more content…
Once the wiring of "Purple" was understood, it turned out to be of mediocre security. The Japanese underestimated the Americans and also believed that their difference in language would create a barrier that we could not climb over. Because of Japanese doubt and Grotjan's discovery, our forces were in the loop of the enemy's strategic and operational activities-we were now enabled to anticipate enemy movements more accurately and to peer into their plans, which ultimately pushed the Allies in an advantageous position this far into the war. Grotjan laid down immense amounts of hard work and determination in such a complicated, unfamiliar field of professions and I cannot imagine what it takes to spend month after month trying to solve something so important without knowing if the result is correct
After studying and nitpicking various intercepted messages with a group of teammates for almost eighteen months, she made an important discovery. Within two years of working at this organization, Grotjan came across the beginning of a solution that would change history and she became a fundamental figure in breaking "Purple'', code name for the Japanese cipher machine. Used to send daily diplomatic messages, including the message that …show more content…
Once the wiring of "Purple" was understood, it turned out to be of mediocre security. The Japanese underestimated the Americans and also believed that their difference in language would create a barrier that we could not climb over. Because of Japanese doubt and Grotjan's discovery, our forces were in the loop of the enemy's strategic and operational activities-we were now enabled to anticipate enemy movements more accurately and to peer into their plans, which ultimately pushed the Allies in an advantageous position this far into the war. Grotjan laid down immense amounts of hard work and determination in such a complicated, unfamiliar field of professions and I cannot imagine what it takes to spend month after month trying to solve something so important without knowing if the result is correct