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[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>
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