#aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbd ,,an ,,act ,to grant the ,congressional ,gold ,medal1 collectively1 to the ,first ,special ,service ,force1 in recognition of its superior service during ,world ,war ,,ii4 #a4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,first ,special ,service ,force 7the ,force71 a military unit composed of volunteers from the ,united ,states and ,canada1 was activated in ,july #aidb at ,fort ,harrison near ,helena1 ,montana4 7#b7 ,the ,force was initially intended to target military and industrial installations that were supporting the ,german war effort1 including important hydroelectric plants1 which would severely limit the production of strategic materials used by the ,axis powers4 7#c7 ,from ,july #aidb through ,june #aidc1 volunteers of the ,force trained in hazardous1 arctic conditions in the mountains of western ,montana1 and in the waterways of ,camp ,bradford1 ,virginia4 7#d7 ,the combat echelon of the ,force totaled #a1hjj soldiers1 half from the ,united ,states and half from ,canada4 7#e7 ,the ,force also contained a service battalion1 composed of #hjj members from the ,united ,states1 that provided important support for the combat troops4 7#f7 ,a special bond developed between the ,canadian and ,united ,states soldiers1 who were not segregated by country1 although the commander of the ,force was a ,united ,states colonel4 7#g7 ,the ,force was the only unit formed during ,world ,war ,,ii that consisted of troops from ,canada and the ,united ,states4 7#h7 ,in ,october #aidc1 the ,force went to ,italy1 where it fought in battles south of ,cassino1 including ,monte ,la ,difensa and ,monte ,majo1 two mountain peaks that were a critical anchor of the ,german defense line4 7#i7 ,during the night of ,december #c1 #aidc1 the ,force ascended to the top of the precipitous face of ,monte ,la ,difensa1 where the ,force suffered heavy casualties and overcame fierce resistance to overtake the ,german line4 7#aj7 ,after the battle for ,la ,difensa1 the ,force continued to fight tough battles at high altitudes1 in rugged terrain1 and in severe weather4 7#aa7 ,after battles on the strongly defended ,italian peaks of ,sammucro1 ,vischiataro1 and ,remetanea1 the size of the ,force had been reduced from #a1hjj soldiers to fewer than #ejj4 7#ab7 ,for #d months in #aidd1 the ,force engaged in raids and aggressive patrols at the ,anzio ,beachhead4 7#ac7 ,on ,june #d1 #aidd1 members of the ,force were among the first ,allied troops to liberate ,rome4 7#ad7 ,after liberating ,rome1 the ,force moved to southern ,italy and prepared to assist in the liberation of ,france4 7#ae7 ,during the early morning of ,august #ae1 #aidd1 members of the ,force made silent landings on ,les ,iles ,d',hyeres1 small islands in the ,mediterranean ,sea along the southern coast of ,france4 7#af7 ,the ,force faced a sustained and withering assault from the ,german garrisons as the ,force progressed from the islands to the ,franco-,italian border4 7#ag7 ,after the ,allied forces secured the ,franco-,italian border1 the ,united ,states ,army ordered the disbandment of the ,force on ,december #e1 #aidd1 in ,nice1 ,france4 7#ah7 ,during #bea days of combat1 the ,force suffered #b1cad casualties1 or #acd percent of its authorized strength1 captured thousands of prisoners1 won #e ,united ,states campaign stars and #h ,canadian battle honors1 and never failed a mission4 7#ai7 ,the ,united ,states is forever indebted to the acts of bravery and selflessness of the troops of the ,force1 who risked their lives for the cause of freedom4 7#bj7 ,the efforts of the ,force along the seas and skies of ,europe were critical in repelling the advance of ,nazi ,germany and liberating numerous communities in ,france and ,italy4 7#ba7 ,the bond between the members of the ,force from the ,united ,states and those from ,canada has endured over the decades1 as the members meet every year for a reunion1 alternating between the ,united ,states and ,canada4 7#bb7 ,the traditions and honors exhibited by the ,force are carried on by #b outstanding active units of #b great democracies1 the ,special ,forces of the ,united ,states and the ,canadian ,special ,operations ,regiment4 #b4 ,congressional gold medal 7a7 ,award authorized ,the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,president pro tempore of the ,senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award1 on behalf of the ,congress1 of a gold medal of appropriate design to the ,first ,special ,service ,force1 collectively1 in recognition of their dedicated service during ,world ,war ,,ii4 7b7 ,design and striking ,for the purposes of the award referred to in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of the ,treasury 7in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems1 devices1 and inscriptions1 to be determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,award of medal ,following the award of the gold medal in honor of the ,first ,special ,service ,force under subsection 7a71 the medal shall be given to the ,first ,special ,service ,force ,association in ,helena1 ,montana1 where it shall be available for display or temporary loan to be displayed elsewhere1 particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the ,first ,special ,service ,force1 including ,fort ,william ,henry ,harrison in ,helena1 ,montana4 #c4 ,duplicate medals ,the ,secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section #b1 at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medal1 including labor1 materials1 dies1 use of machinery1 and overhead expenses1 and amounts received from the sale of such duplicates shall be deposited in the ,united ,states ,mint ,public ,enterprise ,fund4 #d4 ,national medals ,medals struck pursuant to this ,act are national medals for purposes of chapter #ea of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,may #ba1 #bjac4;,clerk4