761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act

To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) The 761st Tank Battalion, known as the Black Panthers (2) Lieutenant Jackie Robinson, the first Black Major League baseball player, was among the few Black officers in the 761st, but he was court martialed before seeing combat for an act of civil disobedience in refusing to move to the back of a bus. (3) Despite resistance from many top-level American politicians and military officers, the 761st served valiantly under Lieutenant General George S. Patton. (4) In his welcoming speech, Patton said, I would never have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don't care what color you are as long as you go up there and kill those… (5) After entering combat in late fall 1944, the 761st lived up to their motto, Come Out Fighting (6) The 761st played a crucial role in numerous battles including the Battle of the Bulge and helped break out the encircled American paratroopers in the town of Bastogne. (7) During their time in combat, the 761st inflicted 130,000 casualties on the Germans while enduring a casualty rate of almost 50 percent with the loss of 71 tanks. (8) As the spearhead for several of Patton’s moves toward Germany, they were the first American unit to break through the Siegfried Line and they were one of the first American units to link up with the Russian Army at the Enns River at Steyr, Austria. (9) Sadly, like other Black soldiers in World War II, members of the 761st did not receive the recognition that was due them upon returning home, and instead faced prejudice at home after the war. (10) The accomplishments of the 761st were largely unrecognized until 1978 when, over three decades after the war, the battalion finally received a Presidential Unit Citation. (11) The citation acknowledges the extraordinary gallantry, courage, professionalism, and high esprit de corps displayed in the accomplishment of unusually difficult and hazardous operations in the European Theater of Operations (12) In addition to that citation, individual members of the 761st had earned the following: 1 Medal of Honor, 11 Silver Stars, and approximately 300 Purple Hearts. (13) The United States is eternally grateful to the soldiers of the 761st Tank Battalion for their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for helping ensure freedom around the globe. 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 gold medal of appropriate design to the 761st Tank Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit. (b) Design and striking For the purposes of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary (c) National Museum of African American History and Culture (1) In general Following the award of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where the medal shall be available for display as appropriate and available for research. (2) Sense of the Congress It is the sense of Congress that the National Museum of African American History and Culture should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated with the 761st Tank Battalion. 4. Duplicate medals The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 5. Status of medals (a) National medals The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 (b) Numismatic items For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

Summary: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion in recognition of their role in the success of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit. Following the award of the gold medal, the gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture where it shall be available for display and research.