I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6559 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the fallen patriots of Thiokol, 
in recognition of their sacrifice and contribution to the Nation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 10, 2025 
Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself, Mr. MCCORMICK, Mr. BISHOP, and Mrs. 
MCBATH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the fallen patriots 
of Thiokol, in recognition of their sacrifice and contribu-
tion to the Nation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Thiokol Memorial Gold 
Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) On February 3, 1971, a catastrophic explo-
sion occurred at the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, 
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Georgia, during trip flare manufacturing operations 
in Building—132. 
(2) The blast tragically claimed the lives of 29 
people, many of whom were African American 
women, and injured over 50 others. 
(3) In May 1973, another worker, a 2-tour 
Vietnam veteran, died in a separate mortar shell ex-
plosion at the same facility. 
(4) These individuals served the United States 
in accordance with article I, section 8, clauses 12 
and 16 of the Constitution, manufacturing essential 
munitions as civilian contractors during the Vietnam 
War. 
(5) The 30 fallen patriots of Thiokol include— 
(A) Celia A. Alberta (Woodbine, GA); 
(B) Ethel L. Banks (Woodbine, GA); 
(C) Annie C. Booth (Kingsland, GA); 
(D) Gloria W. Booth (Kingsland, GA); 
(E) Bertha Walker Brunswick (Woodbine, 
GA); 
(F) Bettie Dawson Burch (Kingsland, 
GA); 
(G) Charles Burch (Kingsland, GA); 
(H) James L. Chapman (Marshall, TX); 
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(I) Yvonne Marie Connelly (Kingsland, 
GA); 
(J) Jack Cox (Longview, TX); 
(K) Mae Hazel Davis (St. Marys, GA); 
(L) Mildred Davis (Blackshear, GA); 
(M) Howard Ellis, Sr. (Woodbine, GA); 
(N) Willie Mae Austell-Fuller (Kingsland, 
GA); 
(O) Pearlie Mae Young-Hutchinson (White 
Oak, GA); 
(P) 
Annie 
Mae 
Hutchinson-James 
(Woodbine, GA); 
(Q) Mack Kennedy (White Oak, GA); 
(R) Essie Diana Green-King (Kingsland, 
GA); 
(S) Gracie Mae Small-Life (White Oak, 
GA); 
(T) Bertha Mae Hill (Woodbine, GA); 
(U) Charles T. Monak (Montgomery, AL); 
(V) James Parland (Woodbine, GA); 
(W) Sandra Regina Rauls (Kingsland, 
GA); 
(X) Cyrus Emory Roberson (Nahunta, 
GA); 
(Y) Betty Jean Roberts (Yulee, FL); 
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(Z) Lillie Bell Spells (St. Marys, GA); 
(AA) Cheryl N. Sullivan (Woodbine, GA); 
(BB) Mae Alice Taylor (Yulee, FL); 
(CC) Annie Loise Williams (St. Marys, 
GA); and 
(DD) Joseph Eugene Wainwright (White 
Oak, GA). 
(6) In the early 1960s, Camden County in 
southeast Georgia was chosen as the primary loca-
tion for the Thiokol Chemical Corporation’s produc-
tion of solid propellant rocket motors, in line with 
President John F. Kennedy’s vision of sending an 
American to the moon by the end of the century. 
(7) By 1965, the facility successfully test-fired 
what was then considered the most powerful rocket 
in the United States. America realized this vision in 
1969. 
(8) After halting rocket motor production, the 
Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant shifted its focus 
to manufacturing pesticides, trip flares, CS–2 gas, 
81 mm munitions, and other military supplies dur-
ing the Vietnam War. 
(9) The tragic explosion at the Thiokol Plant 
remains the worst industrial accident in southeast 
Georgia and ranks among the 10 deadliest in United 
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States history over the past century. The blast 
sparked a fire that consumed approximately 200 
acres of surrounding forest and destroyed several 
buildings. 
(10) In the immediate aftermath of the dis-
aster, the City of Jacksonville’s Emergency Control 
Center intercepted a distress message, leading to an 
unprecedented response. Emergency personnel from 
16 cities and 14 hospitals, including the United 
States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, civilian helicopter 
pilots, police officers, firefighters, nurses, and doc-
tors, mobilized to provide rescue and medical care. 
On February 10, 1971, the Honorable Charles Ben-
nett, a member of the United States House of Rep-
resentatives, recognized the United States Navy for 
their humanitarian efforts in response to the South-
east Georgia disaster; ‘‘Navy Heroes Assist in Hu-
manitarian Work in Southeast Georgia Disaster’’. 
(11) As a result of the emergency and tragic 
loss of life, America eliminated accepted practices 
like hospital segregated patient rooms (SPR) and 
segregated funeral home-operated ambulatory serv-
ices. Congress established the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration (OSHA) in April 1971, 
and OSHA swiftly implemented workplace stand-
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ards. In the aftermath, the lack of interstate trans-
portation from Savannah, Georgia, to the Georgia- 
Florida State line prompted the immediate construc-
tion and completion of Interstate 95 through that 
area. 
(12) During the civil case Flossie Marie Massey 
vs. The United States of America, the Justice De-
partment reformed mass tort litigation, leading to 
the formula used today to assess the value of a 
human life lost. 
(13) Taking inspiration from the words of the 
late President Jimmy Carter, ‘‘the workers must be 
recognized for their contribution to the Nation’’, the 
State of Georgia declared a Day of Remembrance 
for the Thiokol Plant Workers in 2015. The work-
ers, members of the United Chemical Workers 
Union 832, were pioneers of a racially integrated 
workforce. The manufacturers of the trip flares were 
females, earning equal hourly wages and helping to 
shape the modern American workplace. These wom-
en’s contribution came before Congress enacted 
ERA in 1972. Their efforts not only supported the 
liberation of South Vietnam, but also, saved the lives 
of thousands of American soldiers. 
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(14) In August 2019, the Harrietts Bluff Inter-
change at Interstate 95, exit 7, was dedicated and 
memorialized as the ‘‘Patriots of Thiokol’’ Inter-
change in honor of the workers’ dedication, resil-
ience, and embrace of American ingenuity. Their 
contributions transformed the southeast Georgia 
economy and established a workplace rooted in dig-
nity, diversity, and equality. Daily, they traveled 
along Harrietts Bluff Road, commonly known as 
‘‘Thiokol Road’’, fulfilling a mission that changed 
lives and shaped history. 
(15) On February 3, 2023, the State of Georgia 
formally recognized the 30 fallen munition manufac-
turers from the plant as distinguished citizens. Their 
sacrifice led to significant improvements in transpor-
tation, emergency medical services, mass tort litiga-
tion, and industrial safety standards. The State of 
Georgia honored the 30 patriots who lost their lives 
at the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant and com-
mended the courage of the first responders and sur-
vivors. 
(16) The legacy of these 30 fallen patriots con-
tinues through the efforts of the Thiokol Memorial 
Project and the documentary ‘‘The Day That Shook 
Georgia’’. This film pays tribute to survivors and 
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first responders, winning the Southeast Chapter 
Emmy® in Historical/Cultural—Long-form Content. 
(17) To join the State of Georgia in recognizing 
these patriots, Congress posthumously bestows the 
Congressional Gold Medal upon the 30 Fallen Patri-
ots of Thiokol. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD
AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the 
award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of 
appropriate design to the fallen patriots of Thiokol, in rec-
ognition of their sacrifice and contribution to the Nation. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
Treasury (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 
inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary. 
(c) DISPOSITION OF MEDAL.—Following the award 
of the gold medal under subsection (a), the medal shall 
be given to the Thiokol Memorial Museum, where it shall 
be available for display and made available for research. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price 
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sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, mate-
rials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck under 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; PROCEEDS 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 nec-
essary 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. 
Æ 
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