this one hour and 15 minutes.

>> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our honored guest senators from the headquarters special tribute 3133 signal company, john chrisman and seymour nissen. [applause]

accompanied by speaker mike johnson leader mitch mcconnell, jeffries, senator susan collins, senator edward markey, representative koster, former representative stuart, deputy secretary of veterans affairs tonya, secretary of the army christine marman, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general charles junior, chief of staff to the army general randy george and president of the ghost army legacy project,

mr. rick buyer. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable mike johnson, speaker of the united states house of representatives. [applause] >> thank you all so much. we are proud to welcome you here to the capital. it's a good to see you all this morning and i want to just thank you so much of the many important folks that are here gathering. my colleagues and congress and of course the secretary and general brown and general george and mr. rick buyer who you will hear in a little while. our friends and family and of course the veterans of the ghost army we are so delighted to have you gentlemen here. the congressional gold medal is the highest honor that this body can bestowpodividual and today o

s1404 we are here to a word that metal to the headquarters special troops services company otherwise known as the ghost army. a round of applause for that. [applause] to give you a little historical context although i know most of the members in the audience already know this the previously classified units were instrumental in helping american troops achieve key victories in italy and germany during world war ii. they included technicians and artists around the country and used their talent to deceive and deliver to the nazis and used inflatable tanks, artillery and flames to confuse our enemy and protect our fellow infantrymen. some of them landed on d-day and some ultimate

price. but because of the work of the group it is estimated that 15 to 30,000 lives were saved. thanks for that. [applause] i want to share one quick example of that. march, 1945, under the direction of general eisenhower, 1100 members of special groups using sound engineering, fake radio transmissions and even phony airfields made to the forces think there was a group of 30 times their size planning an attack 10 miles to the south along the river. at the illusion successfully diverted the germans and allowed of the 79th divisions of the army to cross the river. from there, americans and british charged into the interior of germany and within two months, the third reich had surrendered. today we have the privilege of honoring three of those men in

the 23rd who helped in that critical historic mission. private bernie bluestein, john chrisman, and private seymour newson bomb are here with us in person. [applause] i brought along a little visual aid i want show you here. in my hand i hold the army is now declassified report detailing the contributions of the ghost army. this is a recommended reading if you can get your hands on it. it's normally housed at fort leavenworth. it was published 30 years after the end of world war ii. and here's an operative line on page 51 that sort of summarizes what this lays out. rarely, if ever, has there existed a group of such few men which have so great an influence on the outcome of a major military campaign. that's really something, really

something. .. i want to thank you all for your extraordinary work in your advocacy on behalf of these fake great veterans who certainly deserve this honor. thank you so much for being here. [applause]sc clicks ladies and gentlemen please stand for the presentation of the colors by the united states army color guard from the third united sates infantry the old guard and the performance of our national anthem by the united states army band brass quintet and the retiring of the colors.

[silence] [silence] present

arms. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪nd bright stars ♪ ♪ through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ o'er the ramparts we walked were so gallantly streaming. and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ that our flag was still there

♪ oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ o'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ and the h of the brave. ♪ march.

[silence] ladies and gentlemen please remain standing by■ invot veteran fox. >> oh god we give you thanks here in this historic call. we borrow words from the traditional jewish prayer and we thank you for bringing us to this day. here we are around the statue of freedom. it is surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. native americans, inventors, leaders in peace and war and civil rights. we thank you, god it demanded the ghost army are being

recognized as soldiers who made a huge contribution in world war ii in without hardly ever firing a gun. we thank you for the way these 1100 individuals with their creative courage represent the best in our nation one god, "one nation" under god indivisible. we pause and wonder in humor as we wonder as we remember to gain their place in history by fooling, bite tricking their blood brother enemies the germans we are grateful for how the soldiers of the ghost armies saved the lives and change lives. one wrote in his memoirs frighten men and women can become heroes and heroines by

the grace of god. there is hope for the world would soldiers leave their storybooksnd climb out. fires have to be put out. even dead men treated as human beings. in the name of our paradoxical faith in you, lord god of hosts. and our god of peace. >> please be seate ladies and gentlemen the honorable chris stewart former united states representative ree from the second district of utah. [applause] >> what an honor to be with you today. what a beautiful event a beautiful occasion.

some of you are saying who is this guy? he looks kind of familiar. i left congress several months ago because of the health of my wife. i want you to note mr. speaker and others there has not been ad thought men i wish i was back in congress. [laughter] but we are grateful for you. for your leadership. general brown, you will appreciate these are both air force pilots +-plus-minus-sign one second i will not take more than my time today. to the speaker and other leaders i want you to know from a different perspective now, i understand the american people are praying for you, for ever air force leaders and others but they are praying for our nation. and i hope you feel the strength of those prayers because it is sincere. it is a troubled 500 nation's history right now. i'm here to honor these three heroes. these are my father's air fourth wings he was a pilot in world

war ii as well. it is deep in our families dna i served in many and others and my brothers and children now. when they started this effort, as long as other leaders there■ç are eight surviving members of the ghost army. one from utah who passed away recently. he was 103. commemoration before he passed away. we were not able to do that but stanley nance is a member in fact it's his granddaughter who got me involved with this. i was watching to the capitol of utah wants and there's this cute little 14 year old growth year she had done a school project sorry that is my wife i should tell her i can't take this right now. [laughter] she had donen her grandfather who was one of the ghost army. i got to know her and i got to stanley, her grandfather and we became strong advocate. she, this young girl would come

out here more than once or twice. i think she was responsible herself forgetting more than 30 cosponsors of this effort. a good example of young people doing something good that she would be here today except she is serving in a mission and could not. but her parents, david and michelle are here. we welcome them. when you look at the soldiers, and you look in their faces you see their eyes you know there that our bodies get old burris versesouls do not harp spirits o not. in our heart they are young men there same young men are willing to sacrifice anything to serve their country. and as has already been said they are responsible for saving tens of thousands of lives. they're not just blowing up artificial tanks are artificial runways. many of them are covid operations behind enemy lines as they would plant themselves and have conversations in hotels or cafés to deceive the enemy.

it was an incredible psychological operation part one of the most successful counterintelligence operations in human history. to all of those who have been involved thank you. we honor and deserve to be honored into your families who have sacrificed as well we should recognize the spouses who were involved with that sacrifice. it is an honor to honor you. god bless you. thank you for your effort. god bless the united states of america. a thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen honorable and unites its representative from the second district of new hampshire. [applause] >> hello everyone. good morning. what an extraordinary morning to

celebrate america and freedom and democracy. it is such an honor to be with you especially with our veterans. thank you. we are recognizing veterans from the 23rd headquarters special troop and the 31 -- 33rd signal service company as we have come to kno them the ghost army. i should start by thanking my college classes work to bring te story to life. worked on the specials with the congressional gold medal. took turns out took seven years. 14-year-old from utah, thank you to all of the families and

advocates who are with us today. we did it. and i really appreciate the effort that it took. this extremely top secret group deceive the germans create opportunity for the allied forces to turn the tide. this required innovation, creativity, artistic talent and a very special kind of courage. using inflatable tanks and sonic deception sounds of thousands of troop trucks and tanks only dozens of troops the ghost army

made it appear at thousands of troops gathered in other parts of this theater. the secret soldiers were innovators they played a decisive role in turning the tide in winning the war. in thank you to their ingenuity and boldness the ghost army as you have heard and will hear over and over save tens of thousands of lives. i cannot help but think of my fi fighter pilot similar to chris's family. he flew over d-day. he flew 73 missions and was shot down in the battle of the bulge. in the very same theater our veterans here today were

fighting for freedom and in figg for their lives. he served for six months at the end of the war in a german pow camp. in down to 120 pounds. and when he came home he did not talk about the war. and i know from the family from the army who are with me today and many of you who are my age at this event today, our fathers did not talk about the war. but with the ghost army they particularly did not talk about e secret. what of my favorite lines was one gentleman who would only tell his family i blew up tanks. without saying they were inflatable tanks. as you heard only seven members of the ghost army are still alive. i want to take a moment as others have to recognize

private, private jon chrisman and she sank in their family members for getting them here today. [applause]p■■w seymour and bernie the visuals deception wing. and they were reunited at eight ghost army event after 75 years apart. i wish my father could have met you. he would be 100 this year as well. jon is 99 years old served the 406 combat engineers. the security and heavy equipment weighing. and as i just learned before the ceremony, jon can still recall guarding the sonic trucks as

they drew enemy fire. thank you for your these brave y veterans and all of the loved ones gathered here today, thank you for your service. thank you for your sacrifice. it is appropriate we should be here with the statue of freedom. and thank you our country and our world would not be the same without your bravery. god bless you and your families. thank you. >> ladies and gentlemen the honorable edward market united states senator from massachusetts. [applause] >> i am immensely proud to speak today about those who serve in inthe u.s. army's 23rd special

headquarters troops. and the 3133rd signal service company. too many of these soldiers are better known as the ghost army. and after a decade of legislative efforts since their ified we are here to award these troops the congressional gold medal. they earned it. they deserve it. it is a remembered in the halls of congress. the partnershiph■ live to get te partnership passed. congressman stewart, the leaders in both chambers who supported our efforts, leader mcconnell leader schumer, speaker johnson, hakeem jeffries and congress mike caps on clark thank you for your leadership at rick thank

you for all of your great work. i know i join everyone here today to applaud the veterans of the ghost of family for their valiant efforts during world war ii. we can never repay them for their invaluable contribution for the allied victory. thank you forei today. as you heard and we heard from others today the ghost army tactics were meant to be disciplined but today their contributions will no longer remain unseen in the shadows. these brave soldiers embodied the bravery, skills, courage found in american years they can use their exceptional creatrcefe battlefields of europe to create complex solutions and impersonated other allied units to deceive military leaders of eight nazi/germany leadership and other access nations.

to achieve this the soldiers used inflatable tanks. bigot radio transmission, sounded trucks and stage intricate and cinematic battlefield situations that misled the army about the composition and disposition of american forces. enemy forces were convinced they were the ones that feel at a tactical disadvantage. the ghost army deceptions lead the army to adjust their battle plans paid without their heroism and estimated 15 -- 30,000 american soldiers would not have made it home from world war ii. the soldiers recruited for the ghost army or not only men of muscle, they were also men of the minds. they work creative, original thinkers, use engineering, art, architecture and advertising to wage a battle with the enemy.

their weapons were unconventional but their patriotism was unquestionable. and after the war it wasn't one veterans of the ghost army returned home use their undeniable talents to contribute to their communities. and to our country as public servants, authors, and engineers. one of those of veterans was my friend the late jack of today and his son. diane, dick, paula k bernadette, kevin and like all the other families are today just so proud of what their family members did during world war ii. jack served as a sergeant in the 3132nd signal company and was one of these soldiers who worked on innovative, industry changing technology that allowed the

battlefield deceptions to be successful. after returning from the war jack served as the mayor of medford as his son would follow him. he also served as a state representative and i got to serve with him and the massachusetts state legislature this great man. and, although jack passed away 2016 the first year i introduce the ghost army congressional gold medal legislation i am happy to report medford's elementary school is now named after jack. he gave us another great local leader as i said, his son. i am proud that he and his family are here they absolutely are so proud of their father. when his son asked his father and 1996 after all this information is declassified us s

father said to him in all of this people id his father a member of the greatest generation. that is who these men were and continue to be. c i to recognize and collect some both sides of the aisle in the chambers that same bipartisanship is here today. it is no small feat to get all these congressional leaders in this roo together. smiling in an agreement. [applause] it is like a political paly. we come together in celebration

know about all these extraordinary american soldiers. >> ladies and gentlemen the honorable susan collins united states senator from maine. thank you would extraordinary honor it is to participate in this congressional gold medal ceremony. long overdue recognition to the

extraordinary soldiers for their brave and resourceful service during world war ii. and isn't it wonderful that are here with us today. [applause] more than 1000 soldiers in the 23rd headquarters special troops and the 3133rd signal service company volunteered for a perilous submission to outwit the forces of nazi, germany. among these soldiers private first class gardner stone of poland, maine. i am delighted his daughter, her husband and their son are among

the families with us today for this much deserved and long overdue■ i also want to recognize the main supreme judicial court and his wife, kelly who have also traveled to washington to join us. i want to give full credit, he was the one who first contacted me and educated me about the ghost army. i am so grateful that he did. his father was a sophomore at the university of bain when he enlisted in the army at the maine.ting center and bangor, he was a member of the signal service company was deployed to italy in the early 1995.

also with us here today is who honored her father and the ghost army. william served as the captain of the camouflage engineer unit. he received the bronze star for meritorious service for five battle engagements. these veterans were among the hand-picked soldiers who volunteered for the ghost army's remarkable assignments on the front line to europe. using this deception lik inflatable tanks, aircraft and artillery's loudspeakers and fake radio transmissions. this unit outmaneuvered and deceived the nazis. at great risk, these

soldiers successfully diverted enemy resources. and as we have heard today, saved tens of thousands of american lives. the courage and ingenuity of these top-secret units were pivotal across the european theater in world war ii. and, like any my father also was a veter of the bulge where he was wounded twice and secured two purple hearts. the ingenuity and contributions of the ghost army were classified for decades without his members receiving the recognition that they deserved. it was not until 1996 that their

heroic actions for declassified began to learn the full scope of their contribution for cosponsoring the senate to honor the unsung heroes with congresses highest today i finally with long-awaited honor on these deserving veterans. may god bless the united states

of america. thank you. >> ladies and gentlemen performing the song american patrol is united states army band brass quintet. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen the honorable hakeem jeffries. democratic leader of the united states house of representatives. [applause] of the 23rd headquarters

special troops. families of the ghost army and all those assembled. good morning and thank you all for your presence here today. it is a high honor and distinct privilege to offer my heartfelt and deepest respect. on the house of house democrats to the ghost army of world war ii. they are presented with the congressional gold medal, congress is the highest honor. during world war ii winston churchill once observed that in wartime, truth is so precious she should always be attended by a bodyguard of deception. we gather today to pay homage■).

and to honor the legacy of a group of covid, creativear hero. who guarded troops and our precious troops with righteous deception. members of the ghost army were artists, architects, actors, radio broadcasters, fashion degners, engineers, lawyers, and more. above all else they were greatn patriots. they were daring, determined and devoted. the ghost army duped the nazis. save tens ofds of lives. helped america secure a decisive victory in world war ii to make sure freedom prevailed over fascism. the story was of course the classi secrets.

for half a century and many ghost army patriots took that secret to their grave. today's a ceremony and this congressional gold medal reaffirms our commitment to remembrance and reverence. as we honor all of these patriots. bernie bluestein, jon chrisman, and seymour who happens to be from brooklyn. [applause] somehow, someway brooklyn is always in the house. [laughter] it is an honor to be in your presence. there is no higher responsibility and no greater moral obligation that we have as public servants and to be there at all times for the brave men

and women who have been there for us in uniform. we salute the ingenuity of their spirits, creative brilliance, the bravery they display in risking their lives to confuse and deceive the nazis on the battlefield. president eisenhower once reflected when talking about world war ii, every war is going to astonish you in the way it occurred and in the way it is carried out. heroes and patriots we thank and honor at the members of the ghost army for their unique service to nation. as well as for their commitment to saving lives, defendant democracy in standing up for freedom in the face of tyranny.

the ingenuity and valor of the ghost army has astonished a grateful■ nation. congratulations on this a well-deserved honor. may god bless all of you a may god continue to bless the united states of america. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen the honorable mitch mcconnell republican leader of the united states patent senate. >> good morning. it would be tough to find a story that better captures the

extraordinary breadth of our nations wartime experience. than the legend of the ghost army. the story of commitment and resolve. bravery and devotion. remarkable talent and ingenuity the crucible of the second world war demanded the best america had to offer on every single buy have been the only place in history where you could find a demolition specialist, a counterfeit patch designer like bernie bluestein and seymour all working toward the same goal, fooling enemy. it's the only place where a kid

from her hometown of louisville could find■bxo himself at the cr of some of the wars most sensitive, high-tech, breakthroughs. the sonic deception. a mission i am proud to say was forged in kentucky at fort knox. our nation has been slow to recognize these men's incredible achievements. and of course i was partly by design. they weren't helping to just win a world war whether they knew it or not they were developing top-secret ways to help preserve the peace of the cold war. but today the veil of secrecy is gone. i read incredible stories like jack's, bernie's, or seymour's i think about my own paths acrosps

a foot soldier in patton's army. i think about how he made it home to my mom and me after two thirds of his company was wiped out. and i think about how these stories are intertwined. how come as one ghost army mother one new bride the agony of putting a gold star in their front window was what his unit was all about. [applause] so, bernie andack into your comrades not with us today a grateful nation knows how you answer the call and it's time of

need. america will never forget your service. and i am so very proud to9l join in honoring you today. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen the honorable mike johnson, speaker of the nine states house of representatives. >> what a great event this has been. thank you leader mcconnell all my friends and colleagues here. today we honor those who passed and who have survived until this great tale of the ghost army. private loose and bomb it is a true privilege to meet you all for the bottom of our hearts all of the applause it is well-earned, well-deserved we thank you for serving our country as you have. taught all warfare in the final

years of the war at this group apply that principle to forced to release divert resources away from the real threat. when our troops were near this group made the enemy believe they were far away. we were small they made the enemy believe we are much larger. as has been noted here a total of 1100 men in the 23rd served in germany and france. 200 men and 3133rd served in italy. they gave their talents and their lives to defeat the nazis improve preserve freedom around the world and for that we are forever grateful. i came i wanted to raise you brooklyn and ray shoot louisiana. okay? [laughter] one more sto toighlights in don't you all wish we had time to highlight every one of the individuals who serve so valiantly. the type but jim was born in 19202. he was the middle child of five

children who grew up on a farm in rural louisiana but while he was enrolled in art school gym registered for the draft and went on to serve in the army's 23rd special troops. as part of her covid unit he made fake tire marks he punched a prerecorded audio cross enemy lines through camouflage speakers when he's not make inflatable artillery jim made portraits of his fellow soldiers and even a russian refugee his unit cared for. art shows in their tent sadly many jim painted did not live to see the end of the war. they serve as reminders of the freedom the devastating effects of tyranny over the course of the war regularly stole great masterpieces as anem consolidate power and crush the human spirit.

but here is the thing. just as the enemies of freedom are stealing and destroying the world's great works of art men like jim reasoner god-given talents creating new works of art to defeat our enemies and uplift the spirit of their fellow soldiers. after his time in the military jim moved to new orleans he became the city's most influential printmaker. he spent four decades teaching and mentored countless louisiana art students. those who knew jim remember him as a problem solver. talents foe good of his fellow soldiers and the good of our country for the good of all of his students and fellow man. jim has already passed his family as here's wife francis it's a great privilege to welcome you all here. would you raise your hands? i think they are somewhere. though they are here we are. thank you. [applause]

take that brooklyn i'm just saying, i am just saying. before it closed out of like to also honor rick a buyer you heard his name many times if you do not know rick you should he be in working on this project 19 years ago. he's working on getting the gold medal for nine years. rick your birthdate your 20 year mark on this project and it should come with a penchant my friend is taking a long, long time. in 2005 rick was introdudhe niea member of the ghost army her story sparked his interest and launch them on the journey of tone the story these brave men because of rick the ghost army has been recognizing websites and documentaries and books and museum exhibits of multiple monuments in europe. and now, finally with a congressional gold medal. on behalf of everyone here, thank you for all you've done to honor these men and their families. rick we owe you a great debt of gratitude. [applause]

[applause] [cheering] it is not even age do you mu'v you're 10 years old, amazing. at this point i would like to invite, finally, we cannot honor them appropriately of the three veterans to the stage t accept this metal on behalf of all members of the ghost army. feel free to applaud her so i called her names. first mr. bernie bluestein. [applause] [applause]

[applause] second. [applause] finally mr. jon. [applause] if i could have here to the front mr. rick buyer leader mcconnell leader mcconnell, leader jeffries, senator collins and market represent as malloy,

custer, and stewart secretary warnock general brown and general george could you join us on the stage or in the front for the photo? yes. maybe on stage so we can get everybody. [background noises] [applause] [applause]

[inaudible] [background noises] ladies and gentlemen mr. bernie bluestein ca

camouflage. [applause] [applause] [background noises]

[background noises]& [background noises] [background noises]

>> is all of you know i am not a speaker. i came over not to make a speech but personally thank a few people who deserve my highest regards and thanks. one goes to byers rick started this whole thing. if it was not for rick i would not be up here along with my comrades here. he took the initiative when information was released from the government. and immediately decided to

notarize a little bit and let the world know we did exist. that was quite an undertaking. he did quite a successful job. it took a lot of hard work with a lot of hard-working people. canvassing congress and getting the proper vote and getting the president to sign it. i would also like to personally thank gary for personally's sponsoring might trip here. it was very generous of him and his foundation. and i want to personally thank him for that.■ç i want to thank everyone in my life that i have contacted. many of you -- mike you have all

contributed to my existence and being who i am. i'm very proud and happy to be here to receive this honor. thank you. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause]wp

mr. rick buyer president of the ghost army legacy project. [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> thank you very much i did not serve in the ghost army just to be clear on that. i am here for you guys. it has been 80 years since he ghost army landed in france , years since i came to the story. nine years i have been working on the gold medal. this is a day that has been a long time coming. but it has been a well worth the wait, right?

i our sponsors who have all spoken. senators ed markey, susan collins, representative chris dewar and andy custer. i saved annie for last because she is special. she and her aid who is also here with his dad today. where are you? stand up. [applause] they have been involved from the start. and he was the first introduces legislation and so she started the ball rolling. i also want to thank the 370 representatives and senators who signed onto this bill. mr. speaker, i know that you know how hard it is to get sff done in congress. [laughter] am i right? headnote build money and powerful interest behind it and yet 370 representatives and senators signed on as cosponsors simply because it was a good

idea. [applause] yes. [applause] and i want to thank the people who lobbied for this build. many of them are in this room. you fought for this in person, by e-mail, by zoom. you worked hard for years to make this happen and you d■kerve our deepest gratitude. [applause] and then yes, yes please. and then there are the veterans bernie, seamen who are here with us today. there are other veterans who are watching from home today, thank you. there are all of those who are no longer with us. when the gsty soldiers were landing at omaha beach, they were setting up inflatable's in the rain near the front.

when they were freezing in the snows outside or drawing fire on the light in italy, they would have been shocked by the idea that 80 years later a grateful nation with honor them in this■[ way. because no soldier who served in this unit considered himself a hero. i have talked to many veterans each told me the real heroes were the infantrymen and the tankers who bore the brunt of the fighting. it has always struck me the ghost army missions demanded a special kind of courage. to project strings when you have none. too purposefully draw enemy enemy fire to keep it from falling onthers. a dangerous business, not for the faint of heart. i note the presence in her audience today of many u.s. army officers for the rank of

sergeant a staff. particulate welt represent i should also mention chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is here. general brown particulate will represent u.s. army forces. ghost army accomplishes not trapped in the past it's an important inspiration for the army today. in january , 44 private harold dall of the 603 camouflage and juice wrote home learning for the firsthe deception can't tell you who else is wh what we will do when we start to do it on monday. but it promises to be very interesting. frankly we are at last going to play a real part in the war efforts. lieutenant himself described it more succinctly we all came to

the conclusion this was a suicide outfit. but they had a job to do. so they put themselves in harm', bravado, creativity and order of their soldiers might be able to fight and live. four men died carrying out these missions. but most of them came home and then kept quiet about it for decades. don't you think that is remarkable? [applause] yes. also that they recommended us for presidential citation. we are mighty proud of that little deal.

the presidential unit citation never happened likely because of secrecy. yet today 1300 men of the gold star are getting their document on behalf of the veterans bern you bluestine and john,■< whose families are here today, on behalf of other veterans watching from home, on behalf of all their fellow soldiers, i thank congress and the president and everyone who helped make this happen for recognizing and honoring the laudable work time service. thank you so■g much.

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the honorable christine, secretary of the army. [applause] >> good afternoon, it's a privilege to be here today with my battle buddy to say a few words on behalf of the men and women serving in today's army who carry forward the legacy of the units that we are honoring today. as a whole bunch of speakers have said, this recognition is long overdue. the actions of the ghost army

help changed the course of the war for thousands of american and allied troops and contribute today the liberation of a continent from a terrible evil. so we owe the three of you and all of the soldiers of the ghosr your service. we teach our army planners that the cornerstone of what we now call military deception operations is the story and the ghost army were master storytellers, many techniques pioneered can still be found on the battlefield today. even though quite a bit since 1, our modern techniques built on what a lot the ghost army did and we are still learnin from your legacy. our experience observing the war in ukraine has shown us that even with increasingly eld military

deception can still have significant impact on military operations. and like so many soldiers serving today,he ghost army did not seek out credit for all that it had done. their dedication inact, to preserving the secrecy of the unit long after the war is a testament to their latey and commitment to the nation and it probably dt hurt that as mr. cry came home from the war, general eisenhower sent all of the soldiers from the ghost army a letter thanking them for what he had done but he had a ps, he said if you tell anyone i will see that you hang. [laughter] >> so that might have helped. we can recognize the 3 of you and the 1100 members of the ghost army. your story continues to inspire thousands of men and women in the army today and americans all

across the country, thank you for serving the nation and leading the way as masters of your craft. congratulations. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the benediction. 338 medical brigade, united states army reserve. >> good morning and blessing. i invite you to pray according to faith tradition or deeply held beliefs as i pray in mind. our body god in heaven and book of judges. we read of your divinely appointed servant, the judge gideon who with a small

physically and meantly rigorous selected elite band of 300 warriors, used the combination of audacity, skill, deception to sow confusion, fear and most importantly defeat into the hearts of the massive median knight athousands of years lateo elite and likewise small groups, the 23rd headquarter troops and 3,133rd signal service company, the ghost army. again used these attributes of audacity, skill, daring and deception to thr the evil that was hitler and his nazi armies in utter disarray. their efforts saved untold allied lies, help liberate a

continent and the unspeakable horror that was the holocaust and brought about the end the second world war. these soldiers help save the world and humanity itself. your beloved warrior servant david wrote. [speaking in native language] our american heritage is the ghost army and our freedom, our legacy to us. oh, god.d again you remind us remember, remember. as we depart from the and the st

ceremony today, let us all remember, remember the men and women who advocated tirelessly for these heros to receive the congressional gold metal, the members of the house of representatives and senate who used their offices to make sure that this recognition would come to pass and finally, most importantly the soldiers themselves of the ghost army may we never forget all that they did for us, may their story be told in this and every succeeding generation, may it be told in our cities and towns, in our schools and places worship, to our friends and neighbors and to our families. may their righteous deeds and heroic memory live with us and grateful nation forever and

ever. may god bless the ghost army, the u.s. army and the united states of america and let us say amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's ceremony. thank you for attending and enjoy the rest of your day.