On 22 March 2024, a memorable page in US military history was celebrated with the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Phantom Army, a group of valiant American soldiers who, with ingenuity and courage, contributed significantly to the Allied victory during World War II. Their extraordinary mission, shrouded in secrecy for decades, used ingenious deception tactics to disorient enemy forces.
Armed with tanks, trucks and inflatable planes, as well as exploiting sophisticated sound effects and radio broadcasting techniquesThese specialised military units were crucial in confusing the Nazis by simulating the presence of Allied forces where there were none. The 23rd Special Troops Headquarters and the 3133rd Special Signal Company were the protagonists of this unusual but decisive wartime strategy, staging some twenty deception operations that spanned France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany, as well as two in Italy.
The award ceremony, held at the Capitol, saw the emotional participation of three of the seven surviving members of these special teams: Seymour Nussenbaum and Bernard Bluesteinboth centenarians, and John Christman99 years old. Their courage and skill in the art of masquerade were finally recognised with Congress' highest honour.
The story of the Ghost Army, which only emerged from the veil of secrecy after its declassification in 1996, was brought to light thanks to the efforts of veterans' relatives and the work of Rick Beyer, a filmmaker and author who has spent years collecting testimonies and documents. Beyer, who heads the Ghost Army Legacy Project, produced and directed the 2013 documentary 'The Ghost Army' and co-authored the book 'The Ghost Army of World War II' published in 2015, works that have helped popularise the exploits of these heroes of the shadows.
The award ceremony offered a living history lesson, demonstrating how ingenuity and creativity can play as crucial a role as brute force in times of war. The Ghost Army remains an inspiring symbol of how intelligence and daring can change the course of history.
