320th Barrage Balloon Battalion Gold Medal Act
This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their extraordinary heroism and life-saving actions during the D-Day invasion and their significant contributions to the success of the Allied forces during World War II.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10110 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10110
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 320th Barrage Balloon
Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their extraordinary heroism
and life-saving actions during the D-Day invasion, and their
significant contributions to the success of the Allied forces during
World War II.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 8, 2024
Mr. Veasey (for himself, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Kustoff, Mr.
Carson, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Guest, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr.
Crawford, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Khanna, Mrs.
Bice, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Moylan, Mr. Davis of
North Carolina, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Smucker, Ms.
Garcia of Texas, and Ms. Strickland) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in
addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 320th Barrage Balloon
Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their extraordinary heroism
and life-saving actions during the D-Day invasion, and their
significant contributions to the success of the Allied forces during
World War II.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``320th Barrage Balloon Battalion Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion was activated on
December 10, 1942, and their first combat assignment took place
on the beaches of Utah and Omaha in Normandy, France, during
the D-Day invasion.
(2) The Soldiers of the Battalion played a crucial role in
protecting the Allied forces during the D-Day invasion by
deploying barrage balloons to prevent enemy aircraft from
targeting the invasion forces directly. Their bravery and
determination exemplify the valor and dedication of African-
American soldiers during World War II.
(3) The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion was unique at
Normandy for two reasons. First, it was the only American
barrage balloon unit in France and second, it was the only
African-American combat unit to land in Normandy.
(4) The brave men of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion
faced intense enemy fire during the D-Day invasion. Their
mission was to raise flammable hydrogen-filled barrage balloons
to protect assaulting infantry and armor from being strafed by
enemy aircraft. The balloons, armed with small bombs, flew at
an altitude of up to 2,000 feet to defend soldiers landing on
the beaches against strafing attacks by German aircraft.
(5) The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion came up with an
ingenious solution to one problem they had during the landing.
They refitted RL-31 Signal Corps field cable winches with
barrage balloon reels, which weighed only 35 pounds and were
mounted in the back of a jeep to deploy and control balloons on
D-Day.
(6) Despite the severe conditions and many balloons being
shot down, the battalion successfully deployed their balloons
which were credited with protecting incoming Allied ships,
troops, and crucial material from attack. The battalion was
credited with downing at least one, if not several, German Ju-
88 aircraft, significantly contributing to the overall security
and success of the invasion and the Allied victory.
(7) Additionally, at approximately 10:15 A.M. on June 6,
1944, five battalion medics with the 320th were the first to
land on Omaha Beach, with crews of three-to-four men joining
them shortly after. U.S. Army Corporal Waverly B. Woodson Jr.
was among them.
(8) Cpl Woodson was injured when his Landing Craft, Tank
(LCT 856) hit a sea mine and was, then, struck by an artillery
shell. Despite his injuries, Woodson continued to perform his
duties, conducting an amputation, setting limbs and removing
bullets over a 30-hour period. He even revived three men via
artificial respiration. His efforts on D-Day are believed to
have treated more than 200 wounded soldiers and saved countless
lives. On September 24, 2024, Cpl Woodson was posthumously
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross--the highest award the
Army can bestow on its own authority--in recognition of his
valor and heroism. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor by
Gen. John C.H. Lee, but never received it.
(9) The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion served 140 days in
France, providing vital air defense during the critical early
stages of the invasion. In late July 1944, Battery A of the
320th moved from Omaha Beach to the port city of Cherbourg,
while the remaining batteries stayed on Omaha and Utah Beaches
until early October, when deteriorating weather prevented ships
from landing.
(10) Following their service in the European Theater, the
320th underwent training at Camp Stewart, Georgia prior to
their deployment to the Pacific. On May 6, 1945, the 320th
arrived in Oahu, Hawaii, in support of the proposed Allied
invasion of Japan which never took place.
(11) A commendation by Supreme Allied Commander General
Dwight D. Eisenhower cited the unit for conducting its mission
with courage and determination, proving to be an important
element of the air defense team. Despite their significant
contributions, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion has not
received the recognition it deserves in the annals of World War
II history.
(12) Albert Grillette Wood Jr., the last surviving member
of this unit, died on June 2, 2024. His passing marked the end
of an era, marking it fitting to honor the memory and service
of these brave men.
(13) The story of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion
serves as a powerful reminder of the contributions and
sacrifices of African-American soldiers in World War II, whose
patriotic commitment and perseverance in the face of adversity
during D-Day deserve national recognition and commemoration.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress,
of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the 320th
Barrage Balloon Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their
extraordinary heroism and life-saving actions during the D-Day
invasion, and their significant contributions to the success of the
Allied forces during World War II.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award described
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike the gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--After the award of the gold medal under
subsection (a), the medal shall be given to the Smithsonian
Institution, where the medal shall be available for display, as
appropriate, and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received
under paragraph (1) available elsewhere, particularly at--
(A) appropriate locations associated with the 320th
Barrage Balloon Battalion, D-Day, World War II, and
African American service members;
(B) the National Museum of African American History
and Culture;
(C) the National World War II Museum in New
Orleans;
(D) the National Museum of the United States Army;
and
(E) any other location determined appropriate by
the Smithsonian Institution.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medal.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEED OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line