May 28, 2021
For Immediate Release
 
Effort to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Secretive Army Units Follows House Passage
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the House’s overwhelming passage of H.R. 707 last month to award the WWII soldiers of The Ghost Army a Congressional Gold Medal, a companion bill (S. 1404) has been introduced in the Senate. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), includes both the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133 Signal Company Special. It brings the six-year effort to honor these top-secret deception units of the U.S. Army to its final stop before moving on to the President’s desk. Nineteen senators have already co-sponsored the bipartisan bill.
 
“The brave and spirited ‘Ghost Army’ veterans made critical contributions to American victories and successes during World War II,” said Senator Markey. “To this day, the secrecy of their mission has meant a delay in formal recognition of their immense contributions. Their courage in secret missions saved the lives of U.S. soldiers, ensuring more were able to return home safely to their families at war’s end. This bill seeks to honor them for their courage, skill, and bravery, which successfully guided America towards the Allied victory in World War II.”
 
The Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, sound effects, radio trickery and impersonation to fool and divert the enemy away from advancing troops. Although they have been credited with saving an estimated 30,000 lives, the work of The Ghost Army was classified as top secret until 1996.
 
The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.  Dating back to the American Revolution, The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest civilian awards in the United States.
 
“The passing of the House’s bill and the introduction of the bill in the Senate around Memorial Day is very special because four of the Ghost Army’s soldiers died while serving in the war,” noted Rick Beyer, president of the citizen non-profit group Ghost Army Legacy Project. “These soldiers are all heroes; they drew fire to themselves in order to divert the enemy’s attention from American combat units. Only 11 of them are alive today. Now, 77 years later it’s time to recognize and honor them for their unique, distinguished service while some are still here.”
 
Graveside ceremonies will take place this Memorial Day at four cemeteries in three countries to commemorate the four Ghost Army soldiers who died while heroically serving in these legendary units.
 
Surviving Ghost Army veterans are scattered throughout the U.S. in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah. For more information see www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org
 
Contact:
Rick Beyer
President
Ghost Army Legacy Project
781-801-3261
rick@ghostarmy.org
 
 
 
 

Effort to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Secretive Army Units Moves Forward
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The six-year effort to honor the “Ghost Army” – the secret WWII military units that specialized in creative deceptions on the battlefields of Europe – moved forward Tuesday with the House voting overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 707, a bill to award the soldiers with the Congressional Gold Medal.
 
The bipartisan bill, first submitted in 2015, was introduced by Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), with Rep. Chris Stewart, (R-UT) as the Republican co-lead. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate. 
 
“The incredible story and contributions of the Ghost Army went unknown and unrecognized for far too long,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “During World War II, these brave men were on the frontlines conducting creative, innovative, and risky maneuvers to deceive the Nazis and draw forces away from allied troops. The Ghost Army saved thousands of Allied lives during humanity’s darkest hour, but because their missions were kept secret for decades, they were never recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments. I’m proud that my Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act has passed the House, and I hope that the Senate will pass this bipartisan legislation to award these brave Americans the Congressional Gold Medal and ensure they receive the long-overdue recognition they deserve.”
 
The Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, sound effects, radio trickery and impersonation to fool and divert the enemy away from advancing troops. Although they have been credited with saving an estimated 30,000 lives, the work of the Ghost Army was classified as top secret until 1996.
 
The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.  Dating back to the American Revolution, The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest civilian awards in the United States.
 
“For years, these soldiers and their families haven’t received the recognition they deserve,” said Rep. Stewart. “Three months ago, I was honored to introduce bipartisan legislation that seeks to right that wrong. Today, I couldn’t be more proud to see that legislation pass the House. To

my Democrat and Republican colleagues in the Senate: Let’s pass this bill and give the Ghost Army heroes the highest honor we can.”
 
Rick Beyer, president of the citizen non-profit group “Ghost Army Legacy Project,” sees Tuesday’s vote as a major milestone in the long effort to win recognition for the little-known military operation. “Now we turn to the Senate, he said, where the Gold Medal legislation, S. 1404, already has 16 co-sponsors, but needs 51 more to be considered. “There are only 11 surviving veterans of The Ghost Army,” Beyer said, “and we want to get this passed and signed into law while they are still with us. Their job was not to wage war but to deceive the enemy, but their contribution to the allied victory was just as important as the soldiers who fired their guns.”
 
Surviving Ghost Army veterans are scattered throughout the U.S., in Florida, Ohio, Utah, Illinois and New York. For more information see www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org
 
Contact:
Rick Beyer
President
Ghost Army Legacy Project
781-801-3261
rick@ghostarmy.org
 

​​BRANSON, MO – The Ghost Army, the highly secretive WWII Army units that specialized in creative deceptions on the battlefields of Europe, will get a long-overdue tribute as part of the official “Ghost Army Recognition Day” Sunday, June 6 in Branson.
 
Last year, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed into law legislation proposed by Rep. Dean Dohrman designating June 6 as “Ghost Army Recognition Day” to honor the units, which included 20 soldiers from Missouri. The Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, sound effects, radio trickery and impersonation to fool and divert the enemy away from advancing troops. Although they have been credited with saving an estimated 30,000 lives, the work of the Ghost Army was classified as top secret until 1996.
 
Now, the Ghost Army will be honored with a special screening of a documentary about their secret wartime mission at the Branson IMAX Entertainment Complex at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 6. There will be a short program with several guest speakers in advance of the screening, followed by a reception. The Ghost Army exhibit, which will be on display through June 6, features a replica of one of the inflatable tanks used on the battlefield. The IMAX Entertainment Complex is a partner with the Ghost Army Legacy Project for the event, and the exhibit and screening are free and open to the public. Registration is required for the screening.
 
At the same time, the Missouri State Museum in Jefferson City will exhibit an interpretive display of The Ghost Army in the museum’s Veterans Gallery. It will include an honor roll spotlighting Missourians who served with the unit. The museum also plans social media posts leading up to the remembrance day in June highlighting the unit's history and connections with Missouri. The museum’s exhibit will run until the end of June.
 
“It’s time we honored these brave, unsung heroes of World War Two,” said Ghost Army Legacy Project board member Carolyn Spence Cagle of Lampe, MO, whose father served in the unit. “The Ghost Army Recognition Day will give everyone a chance to see the important contribution these soldiers made to liberating Europe and securing our freedoms. And they will learn how many members of the Ghost Army went on to further creative endeavors in the arts and entertainment fields after serving their country.”
 
The Ghost Army Recognition Day events coincide with a big push to pass legislation in Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to The Ghost Army. “There are only 11 surviving veterans, and we want to get this done while they are still with us,” said Rick Beyer, president of the Ghost Army Legacy Project. The legislation recently achieved 290 co-sponsors in the House, including six of Missouri’s eight-member Congressional delegation, putting it on the path to a floor vote. A companion Senate bill, S 1404, has just been introduced. 
 
To register for the screening in Branson, go to https://ghostarmybranson.eventbrite.com.

Contact: Carolyn Spence Cagle, Lampe MO, Ghost Army Legacy Project
Phone: 682-552-2130 Email:  pokeberryprof@gmail.com
 
Tom Forster, Branson IMAX Entertainment Complex, tom@bransonimax.com
Phone: 417-335-3533  x135