1.Congress finds the following:
(1)The First Special
Service Force (in this Act referred to as the Force) was organized
as a joint American-Canadian unit activated in July 1942 at Fort Harrison near
Helena, Montana.
(2)The Force was
initially intended to target military and industrial installations that were
supporting the German war effort, including important hydroelectric plants,
which would severely limit the production of strategic materials used by the
Axis powers.
(3)From July 1942
through June 1943, volunteers of the Force trained in hazardous, arctic
conditions, in the mountains of western Montana, and the waterways of Camp
Bradford, Virginia.
(4)The combat echelon
of the Force totaled 1,800 soldiers—half American, half Canadian. There were
also 800 American members of the Service Battalion, which provided important
support for the combat troops.
(5)A
special bond developed between the Canadian and American soldiers. They were
not segregated by geography, although it was commanded by an American
colonel.
(6)The Force was
unique, as it was the only unit formed during World War II consisting of troops
from 2 different countries.
(7)In October 1943,
the Force went to Italy, where it fought in battles south of Cassino, including
Monte La Difensa and Monte Majo.
(8)These mountain
peaks were a critical anchor of the German defense line, and on December 3,
1943, the Force’s units ascended to the top of La Difensa’s precipitous face.
Climbing through the night, the battalion suffered heavy casualties and
overcame fierce resistance to overtake the German line.
(9)After La Difensa,
the Force continued to fight tough battles at high altitudes, in rugged
terrain, and in severe weather. After battles on the strongly defended Italian
peaks of Sammucro, Vischiataro, and Remetanea, the Force’s combat units had
been reduced from 1,800 to fewer than 500.
(10)In 1944, the
Force went to the Anzio Beachhead for 4 months, engaging in raids and
aggressive patrols. On June 4, 1944, members of the Force were the first Allied
troops to liberate Rome.
(11)After Rome, the
Force moved to southern Italy, where it prepared to assist in the liberation of
France.
(12)During the early
morning of August 15, 1944, the Force made silent landings on Les Iles
D’Hyeres, small islands in the Mediterranean Sea along the southern coast of
France. They faced a sustained and withering assault from the German garrisons,
as the Force progressed from the islands to the Franco-Italian border.
(13)After securing
the Franco-Italian border, the United States Army ordered the disbandment of
the First Special Service Force on December 5, 1944, in Nice, France.
(14)In 251 days of
combat, the Force suffered 2,314 casualties, or 134 percent of its combat
strength. It captured more than 30,000 prisoners, won 5 United States campaign
stars, and 8 Canadian battle honors. It never failed a mission.
(15)The United States
is forever indebted to the acts of bravery and selflessness of these troops,
risking their lives in covert missions for the cause of freedom.
(16)The unparalleled
work of the Force along the seas and skies of Europe were critical in repelling
the Nazi advance and liberating numerous French and Italian communities.
(17)The bond between
the American and Canadian service members has endured over the decades, as they
continue to meet every year for reunions, alternating between Canada and the
United States.
(18)The traditions
and honors exhibited by the First Special Service Force are carried forward
with its lineage embracing outstanding active units of 2 great democracies in
the Special Forces of the United States, the Canadian Airborne Regiment, and
the Canadian Special Operations Regiment.
2.
(a)The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the
award, on behalf of the Congress, of 2 gold medals of appropriate design to the
First Special Service Force, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated
service during World War II.
(b)For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection
(a), the Secretary of the Treasury (in this Act referred to as the
Secretary) shall strike the gold medals with suitable emblems,
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c)Award to
Smithsonian and First Special Service Force Association
(1)Following the award of the gold medals in honor of the
First Special Service Force, under subsection (a)—
(A)one gold medal
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as
appropriate and made available for research; and
(B)one gold medal
shall be given to the First Special Service Force Association in Helena,
Montana.
(2)It is the sense of the Congress that the Smithsonian
Institution and the First Special Service Force Association should make the
gold medals received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the First Special
Service Force, including Fort William Henry Harrison in Helena, Montana.
3.The Secretary may
strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals struck under section 2,
at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
4.Medals struck pursuant
to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United
States Code.
5.Authority to use
funds; proceeds of sale
(a)There is authorized to be charged against the United States
Mint Public Enterprise Fund, an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the
cost of the medals authorized under section 2.
(b)Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals
under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund.