Utah News Dispatch
Veterans of daring Ghost Army honored with Congressional Gold Medal
U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) presents the Congressional Gold Medal to veteran of the Ghost Army Bernie Bluestein as fellow Ghost Army veteran Seymour Nussenbaum (L) attends the event during a presentation ceremony at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center on March 21, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The Congressional Gold Medal ceremony was held to honor the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Services Company, known collectively as the Ghost Army. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
A group of World War II veterans whose pivotal role in allied victories was kept secret for 50 years received congressional recognition Thursday.
In a ceremony in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, surviving members of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and 3133rd Signal Company Special, known as the Ghost Army, were presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
The ceremony included remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The Ghost Army’s creative deployment of inflatable tanks, sound effects, fake radio transmissions, and even a fictitious headquarters fooled German forces into believing American forces were larger or in different locations than was actually the case.
The Ghost Army carried out 25 battlefield deceptions in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Italy, according to The Ghost Army Legacy Project. Their service — and their successes — remained top secret until 1996 when the missions were declassified. A documentary and a book now tell their story.
Five Utahns served in the group.
A resolution sponsored by Utah Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy and New Hampshire Democrat Rep. Annie Kuster and in concurrence with the U.S. Senate authorized holding the ceremony in Emancipation Hall so that the veterans could be honored for “unique and highly distinguished service during World War II.”
In 2022, Congress passed legislation sponsored by former Rep. Chris Stewart to honor the top-secret unit with the Congressional Gold Medal.
“The Ghost Army’s bravery and creativity saved countless lives during World War II. I’m proud to have worked on legislation with my former boss, former congressman Chris Stewart, to recognize them with the highest honor Congress can bestow. And I’m honored to be able to present them with this long overdue award,” said Maloy in a statement Thursday.
Three of the seven surviving Ghost Army veterans — John Christman, Seymour Nussenbaum and Bernie Bluestein — attended the ceremony, according to The Ghost Army Legacy Project.
The surviving members of the Ghost Army are:
- James “Tom” Anderson of Dover, Delaware
- Bernard Bluestein of Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- John Christman of Leesburg, New Jersey
- George Dramis of Raleigh, North Carolina
- William Nall of Dunnellon, Florida
- Seymour Nussenbaum of Monroe Township, New Jersey
- John Smith of Woodland, Michigan
High Honor
Watch as veterans of the “Ghost Army,” the top-secret World War II units that used creative deception to fool the enemy, receive the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of the unit’s unique and incredible #USArmy service. https://t.co/XdGL8s8Zde
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) March 21, 2024
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