Senator Collins Honors Maine “Ghost Army” Veterans at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
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Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ full remarks, and HERE to download.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, held in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol. The event formally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the veterans of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company, known collectively as the “Ghost Army,” in recognition of their unique service during World War II. During the event, the families of three Ghost Army veterans with family currently residing in or from the State of Maine were honored, and their family members accepted the recognition on their behalf. The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian awards in the United States awarded by Congress, and only 184 people, events, or institutions have been awarded the distinction.
“The ingenuity and contributions of the ‘Ghost Army’ were classified for decades without its members receiving the recognition that they deserved. It was not until 1996 that their heroic actions were declassified, and the American public began to learn the full scope of their contributions to achieving our Allied victory,” said Senator Collins. “I was so proud to cosponsor in the Senate with Senator Markey, the bipartisan, bicameral legislation to honor these unsung heroes with Congress's highest civilian award. And today, finally, today, Congress will bestow this long-awaited honor on these deserving veterans.”
Maine families were present at the ceremony to receive awards on behalf of the following World War II “Ghost Army” veterans:
- Captain William Skelton – member of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, 603rd Camouflage Engineers’
- Captain Skelton’s daughter, Malinda Skelton McKinney of Windham attended the ceremony in his honor.
- Sergeant Donald Mead – member of the 3133rd Signal Service Company.
- Sergeant Mead’s son, Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Andrew Mead and his wife, Kelly, of Bangor attended the ceremony in his honor.
- Private First-Class Gardner Stone – member of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, 406th combat engineers’ unit.
- PFC Stone’s daughter, Carol Allen, her husband Clarence, and their son, Craig, of South Paris attended the ceremony in his honor.
In February of 2022, Senators Collins and Edward Markey (D-MA) announced that their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the top-secret U.S. Army units that served in World War II had been signed into law. The Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to members who served in the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Services Company, also known as the “Ghost Army.”
“Ghost Army” soldiers represent nearly every state in the nation, including eight from Maine, and the units were handpicked, top secret units containing some of America’s most promising artists, engineers, and signals professionals. The 23rd, composed of a mere 1,100 men, impersonated up to two divisions (30,000 men) physically, sonically, and radiographically to the enemy. The 23rd was so effective, they held a position in the middle of the line for eight days, allowing General George S. Patton to throw all the fighting forces at German defenses. Captured German officers and documents related to the operations of both units demonstrate that the Germans were utterly convinced by the units’ deceptions and redeployed units and assets in response.
The efforts and contributions of the “Ghost Army” were classified for over 40 years, until 1996, and therefore have not received formal recognition. Without the “Ghost Army,” an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 American soldiers and 10,000 German soldiers would not have made it home during World War II.
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