Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. STEWART. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Hill, and my colleagues. I especially thank my cosponsor from New Hampshire for her support and her words today.

Madam Speaker, much has been said, so I will be brief.

I obviously stand before you in support of awarding the Ghost Army veterans the Congressional Gold Medal. For more than 40 years, this World War II unit of more than 1,000 soldiers was nothing more than a myth; a bit of a ghost, if you will. More than 20 years ago, their heroic actions were still classified until, finally, we could learn the things that they had done.

Today, I ask my colleagues again, both Democrat and Republican, to join me in giving these men and women the recognition that they really deserve.

During our Nation's darkest hour, the Ghost Army did not shy away from the fight. They saved thousands of lives. They stood eye-to-eye against the axis of evil. They defeated fascism in Europe. To do so, many of them made the ultimate sacrifice.

For those heroes who returned home, no one knew of their courage and sacrifice; neither did many of them know of the great success that the Ghost Army had had. They kept their top-secret mission and the operations they did even away from their friends and family.

But, still, they have not been yet recognized by the Army or by this Congressional body. We have the opportunity to right that wrong.

Today, there are only 11 members of more than 1,000 of the original Ghost Army who still remain alive. And to this day, they continue to embody the ideals that Americans strive for: Duty, honor, sacrifice, courage, service.

Let's pass this bill. Let's give the Ghost Army heroes the highest honor that we can.

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