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    After decades of secrecy, the 'Ghost Army' is honored for saving U.S. lives in WWII

    The Ghost Army is credited with saving thousands of American lives and helping end WWII in Europe. But its contributions were kept secret for half a century. On Thursday, it won Congress' top honor.
    by Rachel Treisman Mar 21, 2024 5 minutes

    Members of the so-called "Ghost Army" used inflatable tanks, phony uniforms, fake rumors and special effects to deceive German forces during World War II, diverting attention from larger units and saving hundreds of thousands of American lives in the process.

    But their contributions remained classified for decades, with many veterans taking the secret to their graves.

    On Thursday, after many years of lobbying, they finally got public recognition — in the form of a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor the legislative body bestows.

    Three Ghost Army veterans came to the U.S. Capitol to accept the award, surrounded by military and congressional leaders, lawmakers from both parties and relatives of Ghost Army members.

    "It has been 80 years since the Ghost Army landed in France, 19 years since I came to this story, nine years

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