I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8653 
To award a Congressional gold medal to Major Thomas D. Howie, in recogni-
tion of his bravery and outstanding service during the Battle of Nor-
mandy. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 7, 2024 
Mr. DUNCAN (for himself, Mr. TIMMONS, Ms. MACE, Mr. FRY, Mr. WILSON 
of South Carolina, Mr. NORMAN, and Mr. CLYBURN) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional gold medal to Major Thomas 
D. Howie, in recognition of his bravery and outstanding 
service during the Battle of Normandy. 
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 ‘‘Major Thomas D. 
Howie Congressional Gold Medal’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Major Thomas D. Howie was born on April 
12, 1908, in Abbeville, South Carolina, and went on 
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to both a storied academic and athletic career at 
The Citadel as class president, a star football half-
back and captain of the baseball team. 
(2) Major Howie answered his nations call to 
service by accepting a commission as a Second Lieu-
tenant in the Officers Reserve Corps in the Virginia 
National Guard upon graduation from The Citadel. 
(3) Major Howie was commissioned into the 
U.S. Army Reserve and later transferred to the Vir-
ginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Regiment in 
Staunton, Virginia. 
(4) Major Thomas Howie valiantly served his 
country during the Battle of Normandy, dem-
onstrating exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and 
skill in battle after landing on Omaha Beach on 
June 6th, 1944. 
(5) Major Howie commanded 3rd Battalion, 
116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division on 
July 13th, 1944, and shortly thereafter was tasked 
with rescuing the encircled 2nd Battalion, 116th In-
fantry Regiment. 
(6) Major Howie was instructed by his com-
manding officer to take St. Lo on July 17th 1944, 
he decided to leave the battered 2nd Battalion be-
hind to recuperate and proceed with only the 3rd 
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Battalion. When questioned on this, he was over-
heard saying ‘‘See you in St. Lo’’ to Major General 
Charles Gerhardt, words which would serve as inspi-
ration for his men in the coming battle. 
(7) While giving his company commanders in-
structions for the attack, the unit came under fire 
from German mortars, and Major Howie was killed, 
a sacrifice for which he was posthumously awarded 
a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, French 
Legion of Honor, French Fourragere, and Combat 
Infantry Badge. 
(8) Major Howie’s men strapped his body to a 
stretcher, draped him with an American flag, and 
placed him on the hood of a Jeep so that he could 
be the first American to enter St. Lo. He was laid 
in the rubble of the St. Croix Cathedral, where fel-
low soldiers and French civilians paid their respects. 
From then on, he was known as ‘‘The Major of St. 
Lo’’. 
(9) Major Howie’s leadership and unwavering 
commitment to his soldiers inspired bravery and de-
termination among his troops, ultimately leading to 
the successful capture of St. Lo, a crucial strategic 
objective that directly led to Operation Cobra and 
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the Allied Liberation France, Belgium, and the 
Netherlands from Nazi Tyranny. 
(10) Though his command of the 116th Infan-
try Regiment was short-lived, Major Howie em-
bodied the extraordinary courage and valor that de-
fined American soldiers during the Battle of Nor-
mandy. His sacrifice echoes through the halls of his-
tory to inspire Americans to this day. 
(11) The character of Major Howie was used as 
inspiration for the role of Captain John Miller, por-
trayed by Tom Hanks in the movie ‘‘Saving Private 
Ryan’’. This brought attention to his remarkable 
leadership and sacrifice, thereby furthering public 
recognition of his valor. 
(12) Major Howie’s legacy extends beyond the 
silver screen. Monuments and markers commemo-
rating his valor and leadership stand in Abbeville, 
Greenwood, and Charleston, South Carolina; Staun-
ton, Virginia; Shelby, North Carolina; and Saint-Lo, 
Normandy, France. In 2003, South Carolina further 
honored him with a posthumous induction into the 
South Carolina Hall of Fame. 
(13) Major Howie’s sacrifice and exemplary 
service symbolize the highest ideals of patriotism, in-
tegrity, and dedication to duty. 
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(14) Major Thomas D. Howie’s legacy con-
tinues to inspire future generations to uphold the 
seven army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless 
service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. 
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 
posthumous award, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal 
of appropriate design to Major Thomas D. Howie, in rec-
ognition of his bravery and outstanding service during the 
Battle of Normandy. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose 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) PRESENTATION.—The gold medal referred to in 
subsection (a) shall be presented to— 
(1) the nephew of Thomas Howie, Tom Howie; 
or 
(2) if Tom Howie is unavailable, the next of kin 
of Thomas Howie. 
(d) AWARD OF MEDAL.—Following the presentation 
described in subsection (c), the gold medal shall be given 
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to The Citadel Museum, where it shall be displayed as ap-
propriate 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 
sufficient to cover the costs of such medals, including 
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead ex-
penses. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The 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 pursuant 
to this Act. 
(b) PROCEEDS
OF SALE.—The amounts received 
from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under 
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section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint 
Public Enterprise Fund. 
Æ 
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