#aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ageg ,,an ,,act ,to award a ,congressional ,gold ,medal1 collectively1 to the ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veterans of ,world ,war ,,ii in recognition of their extraordinary service during ,world ,war ,,ii4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veterans of ,world ,war ,,ii ,congressional ,gold ,medal ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,treasury2 and 7#b7 the term ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veteran of ,world ,war ,,ii means any individual who-- 7,a7 served in the ,armed ,forces-- 7i7 honorably2 7ii7 in an active duty status2 and 7iii7 at any time during the period beginning on ,june #ai1 #aidb1 and ending on ,september #b1 #aide2 and 7,b7 was assigned to a ,ranger ,battalion of the ,army at any time during the period described in subparagraph 7,a77iii74 #c4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in ,world ,war ,,ii1 the ,army formed #f ,ranger ,battalions and #a provisional battalion4 ,all members of the ,ranger ,battalions were volunteers4 ,the initial concept of ,ranger units drew from the ,british method of using highly trained commando units and the military tradition of the ,united ,states of utilizing light infantry for scouting and raiding operations4 7#b7 ,the ,ranger ,battalions of ,world ,war ,,ii consisted of-- 7,a7 the #ast ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 which was activated on ,june #ai1 #aidb1 in ,northern ,ireland2 7,b7 the #b;d ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 which was activated on ,april #a1 #aidc1 at ,camp ,forrest1 ,tennessee2 7,c7 the #c;d ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 which was-- 7i7 activated as provisional on ,may #ba1 #aidc1 in ,north ,africa2 and 7ii7 constituted on ,july #ba1 #aidc1 and concurrently consolidated with the provisional unit described in clause 7i72 7,d7 the #dth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 which was-- 7i7 activated as provisional on ,may #bi1 #aidc1 in ,north ,africa2 and 7ii7 constituted on ,july #ba1 #aidc1 and concurrently consolidated with the provisional unit described in clause 7i72 7,e7 the #eth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 which was activated on ,september #a1 #aidc1 at ,camp ,forrest1 ,tennessee2 7,f7 the #fth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 which was-- 7i7 originally activated on ,january #bj1 #aida1 at ,fort ,lewis1 ,washington1 as the #ihth ,field ,artillery ,battalion2 and 7ii7 converted and redesignated on ,september #bf1 #aidd1 as the #fth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion2 and 7,g7 the #bith ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion1 a provisional ,army ,national ,guard unit that was-- 7i7 activated on ,december #bj1 #aidb1 at ,tidworth ,barracks1 ,england2 and 7ii7 disbanded on ,october #ah1 #aidc4 7#c7 ,the first combat operations of ,army ,rangers occurred on ,august #ai1 #aidb1 when #ej ,rangers took part in the ,british-,canadian raid on the ,french coastal town of ,dieppe4 7#d7 ,the #ast ,ranger ,battalion1 under the leadership of ,major ,william ,o4 ,darby1 was used in full strength during the landings at ,arsew1 ,algeria1 during the ,north ,african campaign4 ,due to the success of the ,rangers in several difficult battles1 particularly at ,el ,guettar in ,march and ,april of #aidc1 #b additional ,ranger ,battalions were organized in ,north ,africa4 7#e7 ,during the ,north ,african campaign1 the #ast ,ranger ,battalion was awarded battle honors for its actions in ,tunisia4 ,on ,march #bj1 #aidc1 the ,battalion penetrated enemy lines and captured the position ,djebel el ,ank in a nighttime attack1 taking more than #bjj prisoners4 ,three days later1 the battalion was attacked by the #ajth ,panzer division of the ,german ,afrika ,korps and1 despite heavy losses1 defended its position and inflicted considerable losses on the enemy4 ,this engagement constituted what ,general ,omar ,bradley labeled the first solid1 indisputable defeat we inflicted on the ,german army in the war4 ,these actions demonstrated the ability of the ,rangers to fight in difficult terrain and the courage to endure despite being outnumbered and exposed to heavy enemy fire4 7#f7 ,the #bith provisional ,ranger ,battalion was formed from volunteers drawn from the #bith ,infantry ,division stationed in ,england in the fall of #aidb4 ,the ,battalion was activated on ,december #bj1 #aidb1 and accompanied ,british commandos on #c small-scale raids in ,norway4 ,nineteen members of the #bith ,ranger ,battalion conducted a raid on a ,german radar site in ,france on the night of ,september #c1 #aidc4 ,after that raid1 the #bith ,ranger ,battalion was disbanded because new ,ranger units1 the #b;d and #eth ,battalions1 were being formed4 7#g7 ,during the summer and fall of #aidc1 the #ast1 #c;d1 and #dth ,ranger ,battalions were heavily involved in the campaign in ,sicily and the landings in ,italy4 ,the #ast and #dth ,ranger ,battalions conducted a night amphibious landing in ,sicily and secured the landing beaches for the main force4 ,the #c;d ,battalion landed separately at ,licata1 ,sicily1 and was able to silence gun positions on an #hb-;foot cliff overlooking the invasion beaches4 7#h7 ,during the invasion of ,italy1 the #ast1 #c;d1 and #dth ,ranger ,battalions landed at ,maiori with the mission of seizing the high ground and protecting the flank of the remainder of the main landing by the ,united ,states4 ,despite suffering from low ammunition and inadequate provisions and water1 the ,rangers fended off numerous enemy counterattacks against the mountain passes and via radio directed naval gunfire on the enemy forces approaching the beaches below4 7#i7 ,after the invasion of ,italy1 ,rangers continued to be used1 often in night attacks1 to seize key terrain ahead of the advancing ,allied forces4 ,at the ,anzio beachhead1 the majority of the #ast1 #c;d1 and #dth ,ranger ,battalions sustained heavy casualties after being cut off behind ,german lines4 ,the ,rangers had planned to infiltrate ,german positions under the cover of darkness and make a dawn attack on a critical road junction but were pinned down by enemy tanks and an elite ,german paratrooper unit4 ,after #ab hours of desperate fighting and a failed relief attempt1 the majority of the ,ranger force was killed1 wounded1 or captured4 ,only #f ,rangers from the #ast and #c;d ,battalions1 out of more than #gfg men1 returned to friendly lines4 ,the #dth ,battalion1 which had been in reserve1 also suffered #fj killed and #abj wounded out of #eej men4 ,these #c battalions were inactivated and the survivors were transferred to other units4 7#aj7 ,in the ,united ,states1 and later in ,scotland1 the #b;d and #eth ,ranger ,battalions were formed to undertake operations in ,western ,europe4 ,those ,battalions were engaged on ,d-,day1 assaulting ,german positions at the ,pointe du ,hoc coastal battery1 and remained in combat through ,september of #aidd4 ,specifically1 ,rangers in the #b;d ,battalion1 under the command of ,lieutenant ,colonel ,james ,e4 ,rudder-- 7,a7 overcame mines1 machine gun fire1 and enemy artillery while scaling the #ajj-;foot high cliffs at ,pointe du ,hoc2 7,b7 held against intense ,german efforts to retake the position2 and 7,c7 after reaching the top of the cliffs1 moved inland roughly #a mile and sustained heavy casualties while searching for1 and ultimately destroying1 a ,german heavy artillery battery4 7#aa7 ,during ,june1 ,july1 and ,august of #aidd1 the #b;d and #eth ,ranger ,battalions were engaged in the campaign in ,brest1 which included close-range fighting in hedgerows and numerous villages4 ,later1 in operations in ,western ,germany1 the ,battalions were frequently used to attack in darkness and gain vital positions to pave the way for the main ,army attacks4 7#ab7 ,during the final drive into ,germany in late ,february and early ,march #aide1 the #eth ,ranger ,battalion was cited for battle honors for outstanding performance4 ,under the cover of darkness the unit drove into ,german lines and secured the objective area blocking the main ,german supply route4 ,the ,germans attacked the position of the ,rangers from both sides1 resulting in heavy ,ranger casualties during #e days of fighting4 ,as a result of the actions of the ,rangers1 the main ,army attack was able to overcome ,german defenses more easily1 occupy the vital city of ,trier1 and reach the ,rhine ,river4 7#ac7 ,the #fth ,ranger ,battalion operated in the ,pacific4 ,in the most notable exploit of the #fth ,ranger ,battalion1 in ,january and ,february of #aide1 the ,battalion formed the nucleus of a rescue force that liberated more than #ejj ,allied prisoners1 including prisoners from the ,united ,states1 from the ,cabanatuan prisoner of war camp in the ,philippines4 ,with the help of local ,filipino guerillas1 the ,rangers1 led by ,lieutenant ,colonel ,henry ,a4 ,mucci1 demonstrated extraordinary heroism by infiltrating ,japanese-held territory to reach the prisoners of war and prevent them from being killed by the ,japanese4 ,after a #be-mile march at night through the jungle1 the unit killed all ,japanese sentries with no loss of life of the prisoners of war4 ,the unit successfully returned to ,american lines having lost only #b soldiers killed and having another #b wounded4 7#ad7 ,the #ast ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion-- 7,a7 participated in the campaigns of-- 7i7 ,algeria-,french ,morocco 7with arrowhead72 7ii7 ,tunisia2 7iii7 ,sicily 7with arrowhead72 7iv7 ,naples-,foggia 7with arrowhead72 7v7 ,anzio 7with arrowhead72 and 7vi7 ,rome-,arno2 and 7,b7 for its contributions1 received-- 7i7 the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,el ,,guettar2 and 7ii7 the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,salerno4 7#ae7 ,the #b;d ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion-- 7,a7 participated in the campaigns of-- 7i7 ,normandy 7with arrowhead72 7ii7 ,northern ,france2 7iii7 ,rhineland2 7iv7 ,ardennes-,alsace2 and 7v7 ,central ,europe2 and 7,b7 for its contributions1 received-- 7i7 the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,pointe ,,du ,,hoe2 and 7ii7 the ,french ,croix de ,guerre with ,silver-,gilt ,star1 ,world ,war ,,ii1 and streamer embroidered with ,,pointe ,,du ,,hoe4 7#af7 ,the #c;d ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion-- 7,a7 participated in the campaigns of-- 7i7 ,sicily 7with arrowhead72 7ii7 ,naples-,foggia 7with arrowhead72 7iii7 ,anzio 7with arrowhead72 and 7iv7 ,rome-,arno2 and 7,b7 for its contributions1 received the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,salerno4 7#ag7 ,the #dth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion-- 7,a7 participated in the campaigns of-- 7i7 ,sicily 7with arrowhead72 7ii7 ,naples-,foggia 7with arrowhead72 7iii7 ,anzio 7with arrowhead72 and 7iv7 ,rome-,arno2 and 7,b7 for its contributions1 received the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,salerno4 7#ah7 ,the #eth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion-- 7,a7 participated in the campaigns of-- 7i7 ,normandy 7with arrowhead72 7ii7 ,northern ,france2 7iii7 ,rhineland2 7iv7 ,ardennes-,alsace2 and 7v7 ,central ,europe2 and 7,b7 for its contributions1 received-- 7i7 the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,normandy ,,beachhead2 7ii7 the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,saar ,,river ,,area2 and 7iii7 the ,french ,croix de ,guerre with ,silver-,gilt ,star1 ,world ,war ,,ii1 and streamer embroidered with ,,normandy4 7#ai7 ,the #fth ,ranger ,infantry ,battalion-- 7,a7 participated in the campaigns of-- 7i7 ,new ,guinea2 7ii7 ,leyte 7with arrowhead72 and 7iii7 ,luzon2 and 7,b7 for its contributions1 received-- 7i7 the ,presidential ,unit ,citation 7,army7 and streamer embroidered with ,,cabu1 ,,luzon2 and 7ii7 the ,philippine ,presidential ,unit ,citation and streamer embroidered with #ag ,,october #aidd ,,to #d ,,july #aide4 7#bj7 ,the ,united ,states will be forever indebted to the ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veterans of ,world ,war ,,ii1 whose bravery and sacrifice in combat contributed greatly to the military success of the ,united ,states and the allies of the ,united ,states4 #d4 ,congressional gold medal 7a7 ,award authorized ,the ,president pro tempore of the ,senate and the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives shall make appropriate arrangements for the award1 on behalf of ,congress1 of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veterans of ,world ,war ,,ii1 in recognition of their dedicated service during ,world ,war ,,ii4 7b7 ,design and striking ,for the purposes of the award described in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems1 devices1 and inscriptions1 to be determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,smithsonian ,institution 7#a7 ,in general ,following the award of the gold medal in honor of the ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veterans of ,world ,war ,,ii1 the gold medal shall be given to the ,smithsonian ,institution1 where the medal shall be-- 7,a7 available for display1 as appropriate2 and 7,b7 made available for research4 7#b7 ,sense of congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,smithsonian ,institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph 7#a7 available for display elsewhere1 particularly at other locations associated with-- 7,a7 the ,united ,states ,army ,rangers ,veterans of ,world ,war ,,ii2 or 7,b7 ,world ,war ,,ii4 7d7 ,duplicate medals ,under regulations that the ,secretary may prescribe1 the ,secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under this section1 at a price sufficient to cover the cost of the medals1 including the cost of labor1 materials1 dies1 use of machinery1 and overhead expenses4 #e4 ,status of medal 7a7 ,national medal ,the gold medal struck under section #d shall be a national medal for the purposes of chapter #ea of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,numismatic items ,for the purposes of section #eacd of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 all medals struck under section #d shall be considered to be numismatic items4 ,passed the ,senate ,march #e1 #bjbj4,secretary