I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10110 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 320th Barrage Balloon Bat-
talion, collectively, in recognition of their extraordinary heroism and 
life-saving actions during the D-Day invasion, and their significant con-
tributions 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. CAR-
SON, 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 consider-
ation 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 ex-
traordinary 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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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 cru-
cial role in protecting the Allied forces during the D- 
Day invasion by deploying barrage balloons to pre-
vent enemy aircraft from targeting the invasion 
forces directly. Their bravery and determination ex-
emplify 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 com-
bat unit to land in Normandy. 
(4) The brave men of the 320th Barrage Bal-
loon Battalion faced intense enemy fire during the 
D-Day invasion. Their mission was to raise flam-
mable hydrogen-filled barrage balloons to protect as-
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saulting 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 de-
fend 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 bal-
loons being shot down, the battalion successfully de-
ployed their balloons which were credited with pro-
tecting 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 
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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 inju-
ries, Woodson continued to perform his duties, con-
ducting 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 recogni-
tion 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 de-
fense 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 deterio-
rating weather prevented ships from landing. 
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(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 Com-
mander General Dwight D. Eisenhower cited the 
unit for conducting its mission with courage and de-
termination, proving to be an important element of 
the air defense team. Despite their significant con-
tributions, 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 sur-
viving 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 con-
tributions and sacrifices of African-American sol-
diers in World War II, whose patriotic commitment 
and perseverance in the face of adversity during D- 
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Day deserve national recognition and commemora-
tion. 
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 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 
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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 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 thereof, including labor, mate-
rials, 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 
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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 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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