119-hr4621

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4621 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4621

 To award a Congressional Gold Medal to 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 22, 2025

 Mr. Veasey (for himself, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Carson, Mr. 
 Khanna, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Carter of 
 Louisiana, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Ms. 
 Sherrill, and Mr. Lawler) 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 consideration 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 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.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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 formed on 
 September 21, 1942, just a year after the Coastal Artillery 
 Corps took over responsibility for barrage balloons from the 
 Army Air Corps. Their first combat assignment was at the Utah 
 and Omaha beaches in Normandy, France, for the D-Day invasion.

    (2) The Soldiers of the Battalion played a crucial role in 
 protecting the Allied forces during the D-Day invasion by 
 deploying barrage balloons to prevent enemy aircraft from 
 targeting the invasion forces directly. Their bravery and 
 determination exemplify 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 first and 
 only segregated unit of African-American Soldiers to land on 
 the beaches during D-Day.

    (4) The brave men of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion 
 faced intense enemy fire during the D-Day invasion. Their 
 mission was to raise hydrogen-filled barrage balloons to 
 protect assaulting infantry and armor from being strafed by 
 enemy aircraft. The balloons flew at an altitude of around 200 
 feet to defend 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 balloons being 
 shot down, the battalion successfully deployed their balloons 
 which resulted in the downing of a German JU-SS 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 after U.S. Army Corporal Waverly B. Woodson, Jr., 
 was among them.

    (8) Corporal Woodson was injured when his Landing Craft, 
 Tank (LCT 856) hit a sea mine and was, then, struck by an 
 artillery shell. Despite his injuries, Woodson continued to 
 perform his duties, conducting 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 saved 200 soldiers, and he was recommended for 
 the Medal of Honor by General John C.H. Lee, but never received 
 it.

    (9) The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion served 110 days in 
 France, providing vital air defense 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 deteriorating weather prevented ships 
 from landing.

    (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 Commander General 
 Dwight D. Eisenhower cited the unit for conducting its mission 
 with courage and determination, proving to be an important 
 element of the air defense team. Despite their significant 
 contributions, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion has not 
 received the recognition it deserves in the annals of World War 
 II history.

    (12) Henry Parham, the last surviving member of this unit, 
 died in July 2021. 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 contributions and 
 sacrifices of African-American soldiers in World War II, whose 
 patriotic commitment and perseverance in the face of adversity 
 during D-Day deserve national recognition and commemoration.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the President pro tempore 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 bravery 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 purposes of the presentation referred 
to in subsection

    (a) , the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in 
this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable 
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
            (c) Smithsonian Institution.--

    (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in 
 honor of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the gold medal 
 shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be 
 available for display as appropriate and available for 
 research.

    (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
 the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal awarded 
 pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, 
 particularly at appropriate locations associated with D-Day, 
 World War II, and African-American servicemembers.

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 cost 
thereof, including labor, materials, 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 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 necessary 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.
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