nurses took part in the Anzio campaign, caring for 
more than 33,000 patients behind enemy lines. 
(7) Enlisted nurses acclimated quickly to dif-
ficult and dangerous conditions with a minimum of 
complaints, and were essential members of the field 
armies. 
(8) The presence of nurses at the front im-
proved morale because soldiers realized that they 
would receive skilled care in the event they were 
wounded. 
(9) Thanks largely to the efforts of these 
nurses, fewer than 4 percent of the American sol-
diers who received medical care in the field or under-
went evacuation died from wounds or disease. 
(10) After the war, broad public health mis-
sions required that enlisted nurses supervise commu-
nicable disease measures as former enemy countries 
were reorganized. In Hiroshima, these officers cared 
for victims of the atomic bombs. In Munich, they 
prevented mass epidemic in refugee camps. Enlisted 
nurses even provided prenatal, infant, and mental 
health care in other former-enemy territories. 
(11) Nurses received 1,619 medals, citations, 
and commendations during the war, reflecting the 
courage and dedication of all who served. Sixteen 
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medals were awarded posthumously to nurses who 
died as a result of enemy fire, including 6 nurses 
who died at Anzio, 6 who died when the Hospital 
Ship Comfort was attacked by a Japanese suicide 
plane, and 4 flight nurses. Thirteen other flight 
nurses died in weather-related crashes while on duty. 
(12) In 1944, Congress passed a bill that 
granted Army and Navy Nurses actual military rank 
and benefits, approved for the duration of the war 
plus 6 months. 
(13) In 1947, Congress passed legislation estab-
lishing a permanent Army and Navy Nursing Corps 
and gave members permanent officer status with 
equal pay and the same benefits as those given to 
male officers. 
(14) In 1948, all military branches were inte-
grated and female doctors were finally admitted to 
the Army Medical Corps. 
(15) Although African-American Nurses were 
fully qualified and prepared to serve as nurses at the 
onset of World War II, racial segregation and dis-
crimination made it difficult for Black women to join 
the ranks of the Army Nurse Corps (referred to in 
this Act as the ‘‘ANC’’). 
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(16) As the ANC began expanding its recruit-
ing process, thousands of Black nurses who wanted 
to serve their country filled out applications. 
(17) While the Army did eventually integrate 
African-American Nurses in 1941, it did so 
unwillingly and placed a quota on the number of Af-
rican-American Nurses that they would accept, cap-
ping the number allowed to join at 56. 
(18) Many of them had hardship tours and 
were sent to segregated camps to take care of Afri-
can-American Soldiers and would rotate and allow 
White nurses reprieve in taking care of German 
POWs. As the war progressed, the number of Black 
nurses allowed to enlist remained low, although the 
quota was officially lifted in July 1944. 
(19) The extraordinary efforts of these women 
are deserving of belated official recognition. 
(20) The United States is eternally grateful to 
the nurses of the Army and Navy Nurse Corps for 
their bravery and dedication to their patients 
through World War II, which saved lives and made 
significant contributions to the defeat of the Axis 
powers. 
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SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and the President pro tem-
pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 
for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold 
medal of appropriate design in honor of World War II 
Army and Navy Nurse Corps members, in recognition of 
the critical military service and devotion to duty of those 
nurses. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the 
presentation described 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) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where 
it shall be available for display as appropriate and 
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 for display elsewhere, particularly at— 
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(A) appropriate locations associated with 
the Army and Navy Nurse Corps of World War 
II, including— 
(i) the U.S. Army Medical Center of 
Excellence; 
(ii) the Women in Military Service for 
America Memorial; 
(iii) the U.S. Army Women’s Museum; 
(iv) the National Naval Medical Cen-
ters; and 
(v) the National World War II Mu-
seum; and 
(B) any other location determined appro-
priate 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 of the medals, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck pursuant to 
this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 
of title 31, United States Code. 
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