The Ghost Army Legacy Project today published 52 wartime letters from Sergeant Harold J. Dahl on its website. These letters document his experiences from first joining the 603rd camouflage Engineers in 1942 until returning home in 1945. They cover such topics as  life in the Army, being called on to carry out a secret deception mission, heading overseases, confronting the horrors of war, and the celebration at war's end. A special postscript explores the story of a wartime romance and a search through historical archives for an answer to a 75-year old mystery.
 
“We are thrilled to offer more primary source materials to people researching the Ghost Army,” says Rick Beyer, President of the Ghost Army Legacy Project, “especially students doing National History Day projects.”
 
Harold Dahl enlisted in 1942 and rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 603rd Camouflage Engineers. The Dahl collection is one of the largest and most varied in the Ghost Army Legacy Project Archive.  There are five boxes containing 431 items. Donated by Dahl’s family.  The collection includes several hundred original wartime photos, and 225 letters that Dahl sent home over the course of the war. There are also a variety of other items including newspaper clippings, manuals, maps, a flattened C-Ration can, and more.
 
 
 

Great article in the venerable Jewish magazine "The Forward" about Ghost Army pals Seymour Nussenbaum and Bernie Bluestein.

This first day cover of Vnder Sluis's air mail stamp, signed by the artist, is part of the Ghost Army Legacy Project collection. 

Birds and Flowers of the 50 States - 1982 

​The Ghost Army and Chicago veteran Bernie Bluestein were featured in multiple media stories in Chicago this  Veterans Day weekend. Here are links:

The first ever Ghost Army historical marker was dedicated September 26, 2018, in Bettembourg, Luxembourg. The marker stands on the exact spot where the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops carried out Operation BETTEMBOURG, one of their longest and most important operations.  

The marker was unveiled by 95 year old Ghost Army veteran Bernie Bluestein, and Laurent Zeimet, mayor of Bettembourg.  

​The Ghost Army Legacy Project erected the marker with the help of grants from the US Embassy to Luxembourg and the PSYOP Regimental Association, as well as the assistance of the Commune of Bettembourg.

“We are grateful to these organizations,” said Rick Beyer, President of the Ghost Army Legacy Project,  “for enthusiastically stepping forward to help preserve the legacy of this remarkable unit. We could not be doing this without their support."
 
The historical marker was designed by Paul Singer, whose father, Arthur Singer, was one of the soldiers in the Ghost Army. It commemorates a mission carried out in September, 1944. For more than a week, the 23rd helped defend a dangerously undermanned section of the Third Army’s front line, stretching more than twenty miles. Ghost Army Operations Officer Col. Clifford Simenson considered it a turning point for the unit: “It was our first operation that was executed fully professionally and correctly.”

"The embassy is proud to support this historical marker" said U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg J. Randloph Evans. "With this marker, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops will never be forgotten. I look forward to the dedication." ​

The Arizona legislature has passed a concurrent resolution asking Congress award a Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops The resolution, HCM2008,  was introduced by State Representative Richard Andrade. 

Three Arizonians Albert Files, Glenn Uhles and Harold Laynor served in this unique unit.
 
Legislation is now pending in the US House (HR 2701) and US Senate (S 1256) to award this unit, and a sister unit that operated in Italy, a Congressional Gold Medal.  The resolution passed by the Arizona House and Senate urges the state’s Congressional Delegation to support this bill.
 
We are very excited that the Arizona has become the first state legislature to go on record supporting the Ghost Army Gold Medal bill. We hope it will help convince Arizona's congressional delegation to get on board and support this effort!