Honoring America's World War II Ghost Army with Congressional Gold Medals

The Ghost Army, a secret WWII unit, used decoys and sound tricks to save lives. 

The courageous members of the Ghost Army, a covert military unit renowned for safeguarding thousands of American lives during World War II through diversionary tactics, are to be presented with Congressional Gold Medals on Thursday. This historic recognition highlights their remarkable efforts in outwitting the Germans, ultimately leading to an estimated 30,000 American lives being spared.

The Ingenious Deception

The Ghost Army's mission involved the deployment of phony tanks, artillery, and sound effects to deceive enemy forces into believing that Allied troops were stationed in one area while actual advances were made elsewhere. Comprising a specialized team of artists, designers, and audio technicians, their clandestine operations remained classified for numerous decades following the war's conclusion.

Prestigious Acknowledgment

President Biden, in 2022, enacted legislation in tribute to these unsung heroes, emphasizing their unique and exceptional services in executing deceptive maneuvers during the European theater of World War II.

Congressional Tribute

The presentation ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, will include tributes from prominent figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, culminating with the bestowal of Congress' highest honor.

Commendable Attendance

Three of the seven surviving Ghost Army members, namely Bernard Bluestein, John Christman, and Seymour Nussenbaum, are expected to be in attendance. Additionally, family members of the deceased members will also be present to witness this long-overdue recognition.

Decades of Concealment

Owing to the clandestine nature of their operations, the valiant efforts of the Ghost Army remained unrecognized for almost fifty years. Rep. Ann Kuster, the Democratic sponsor of the 2021 legislation, expressed, "Members of the Ghost Army made tremendous contributions to the Allied Powers during World War II but were tragically never properly recognized in order to protect the tactics they developed."

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