Skokie, IL – On June 16, 2022, the traveling exhibition Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II will begin its national tour at Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Produced by The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and exclusively sponsored by E. L. Wiegand Foundation, the exhibit tells the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops—the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in US Army history. The unit waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects and even phony generals, using imagination and illusion to trick the enemy while saving thousands of lives.
 
Recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the unique and top-secret “Ghost Army” unit—comprised of 82 officers and 1,023 men—was the brainchild of Colonel Billy Harris and Major Ralph Ingersoll. Activated on January 20, 1944, under the command of Army veteran Colonel Harry L. Reeder, the group was capable of simulating two whole divisions (approximately 30,000 troops) by using visual, sonic and radio deception to fool German forces during the final year of World War II. Armed with nothing heavier than .50-caliber machine guns, the 23rd took part in 22 large-scale deceptions in Europe from Normandy to the Rhine River, the bulk of the unit arriving in England in May 1944, shortly before D-Day.
 
“I’m so excited that this exhibit is coming to the Illinois Holocaust Museum,” says Rick Beyer, Ghost Army Legacy Project President and Exhibit Consultant. “The Ghost Army soldiers are really the unsung heroes of WWII, who in total secrecy did so much to help bring down Nazi tyranny. They used creativity, performance, illusion and pure bravura to confound Hitler’s legions and help bring about Allied victory. What a great thing to remember and celebrate!”

“Ghost Army explores the bravery, heroics, and creativity of this first-of-its kind military unit,” said Kelley Szany, Vice President of Education and Exhibitions at Illinois Holocaust Museum. “Although their efforts were classified for over 50 years, the Ghost Army saved thousands of lives, and played an important part in liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny. The Museum is proud to highlight their vital contributions that went unrecognized following the war.”
 
Ghost Army features inflatable military pieces, historical narrative text panels detailing unit operations, profiles of unit officers, archival photography and sketches and uniforms from unit officers. The exhibit presents exclusive, original content from The National WWII Museum archives along with a historical artifact collection curated and donated to them by Beyer. The exhibit debuted at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans in March 2020 before embarking on a national tour to share the story of the Ghost Army with communities across the country.
 
Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II will be on display through January 2, 2023. Throughout the exhibition’s run, the Museum will host a series of events, including book and author programs, Touch a Tank Day, Sip & Swing, and more.

National Exhibition Sponsor: E.L Wiegand Foundation

The presentation at Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is made possible by:
Supporters:

Larry and Carol Levy
 
Contributors:
David Hiller
Judith and William Rader & Family
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Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II was produced by The National World War II Museum.

Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Secretive WWII Units

​WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Biden today signed the bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the secretive WWII deception units known as The Ghost Army. 
 
“What an honor,” said 98-year-old Ghost Army veteran Bernie Bluestein, from his home in suburban Chicago. “I never in my lifetime expected anything like this, it completely blasts me. I’m just sorry that there are not more of my fellow soldiers still alive that can be enjoying this as much as I do.”
 
The medal goes to the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Company Special.
 
The existence of the Ghost Army was top secret for more than 50 years until it was declassified in 1996. That’s when the public first learned of the creative, daring techniques the Ghost Army employed to fool and distract the enemy about the strength and location of American troops, including the use of inflatable tanks, sound effects, radio trickery and impersonation.
 
The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops carried out more than 20 deception missions, often dangerously close to the front, in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. This “traveling road show of deception,” of only 1,100 troops appearing to be more than 20,000, are credited with saving an estimated 30,000 American lives. U.S. Army analyst Mark Kronman stated, “Rarely, if ever, has there been a group of such a few men which had so great an influence on the outcome of a major military campaign.”​ A sister unit the 3133rd Signal Company Special, carried out two deceptions in Italy in 1945.
 
The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress's utmost expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. Dating back to the American Revolution, The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest distinction Congress can bestow.
 
There are just nine surviving Ghost Army veterans scattered throughout the U.S., including:
 
Bill Anderson, 97, Kent, Ohio
 
Bernie Bluestein, 98, Schaumberg, Illinois
 
John Christman, 97, Leesburg, New Jersey
 
George Dramis, 97, Raleigh, North Carolina
 
Manny Frockt, 97, West Palm Beach, Florida
 
Nick Leo, 99, Brentwood, New York
 
Mark Mallardi, 98, Edgewater, Florida
 
Bill Nall, 97, Dunellon, Florida
 
Seymour Nussenbaum, 98, Monroe Township, New Jersey
 
“What made the Ghost Army special was not just their extraordinary courage, but their creativity,” said Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), the House sponsor of the bill, speaking on the floor of the House Wednesday. “Their story reminds us that listening to unconventional ideas, like using visual and sound deception, can help us solve existential challenges like defeating tyranny.”
 
Other primary bill sponsors include Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate.
 
“I am thrilled these deserving, brave and intrepid warriors of deception have at last been awarded this high honor,” said Ghost Army Legacy Project Rick Beyer president, who has worked for seven years to get this bill passed.  “Armed with their wits and guile these men saved lives and helped win the war. Their story is an inspiration to all of us!  So many have contributed to this moment — volunteers, members of the House and Senate from both parties, Ghost Army veterans and their families — with energy and devotion to seeing the valiant efforts of the Ghost Army properly honored.”
 
For photos and video of The Ghost Army, go here.
 
For more information see www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org
 
Contact:
Rick Beyer, President
Ghost Army Legacy Project
781-801-3261
rick@ghostarmy.org
 

Support to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Secretive Army Units Growing

June 6 exhibits in Branson and Jefferson City to honor secret WWII units
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