Odd Ball HCM2008 - 532R - H Ver of HCM2008

House Engrossed

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-third Legislature

Second Regular Session

2018

HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2008

A CONCURRENT memorial

urging the united states congress to honor the veterans of the ghost army of world war ii.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, during World War II in the European Theater of Operations, the American GIs of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company wielded creativity and illusion to fool the German Army on the battlefield; and

Whereas, using inflatable tanks and artillery, sound equipment and impersonation, Ghost Army soldiers contrived to confuse the enemy about where the real Allied fighting units were located; and

Whereas, in so doing, these unsung heroes risked their own lives to draw fire away from American troops on the battlefields of Europe; and

Whereas, these soldiers carried out more than 20 deception missions on or near the front lines in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Italy, which cost them dozens of casualties, including the loss of three lives; and

Whereas, the men of these United States Army units are credited with saving thousands of American GIs and helping win World War II; and

Whereas, their daring battlefield deceptions were kept secret for more than fifty years after the war, and, because of that secrecy, they never received public recognition for their valor; and

Whereas, the veterans of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company made significant contributions to our nation but never sought praise or honors for themselves for their wartime exploits; and

Whereas, these men literally serve as an inspiration to the latest generation of soldiers serving in intelligence roles as the United States Army uses the story of the Ghost Army in the Intelligence School at Fort Huachuca; and

Whereas, several soldiers who called Arizona home before or after the war served in these deception units, including Glenn Uhles, who is buried in the National Memorial Center of Arizona, and painter Hal Laynor; and

Whereas, this state is deeply grateful for the extraordinary courage and remarkable ingenuity of the Ghost Soldiers in facing the enemy, and the people of Arizona laud these veterans for their proficient use of innovative tactics during World War II, which saved lives and made significant contributions to the defeat of the Axis powers; and

Whereas, the extraordinary accomplishments of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company deserve belated official recognition now, while some of the soldiers are still living.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress award a Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company to honor their unique and distinguished service with the Ghost Army during World War II.

2. That the Members of the United States Congress enact H.R. 2701 and S. 1256 to honor the achievements of the Ghost Army in conducting deception operations in Europe during World War II.

3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.