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Congressional Gold Medal for 'Ghost Army'

Discussion in 'WWII Today' started by GRW, Mar 21, 2024.

  1. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    "Nearly 80 years after World War Two, members of secretive US units have been honoured for the clever ruses they used to save tens of thousands of lives.
    Known as the "Ghost Army", the group used inflatable vehicles and Hollywood-level special effects to fool the Germans about Allied war plans.
    President Joe Biden signed a bill to award Congress' highest honour to the Ghost Army in 2022.
    Three ageing veterans were honoured at an event in Congress on Thursday.
    Seymour Nussenbaum,100, John Christman, 99, and Bernard Bluestein, 100, attended the ceremony on Capitol Hill. Four other members are still alive, but were unable to join the others.
    Speaking from his wheelchair, Mr Bluestein told the audience of lawmakers: "I am very proud and happy to be here."
    Like many of the group's members, Mr Nussenbaum came from art school. Others were drawn from advertising and public relations firms.
    His job included putting fake numbers on jeeps to confuse the enemy and dressing people up to impersonate US generals and have them walk around in order to be seen by spies.
    "Our job was to make whatever was necessary to deceive the enemy," he told BBC News."
    World War Two 'Ghost Army' troops receive Congressional Gold Medal - BBC News
     
  2. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Loved the footage where four GIs pick up a "tank" and walk away with it.
     
  3. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    Those weren't GIs, they were British - their version of the Ghost Army.
     
  4. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I don't differentiate between armies when it comes to the dog-faces. They could have a turban and beard.
     
  5. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    The Ghost Army was actually inspired by British effects at El Alamein-
    Operation Bertram - Wikipedia
     

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