Oct 23 2024 41 mins 3
Inflatable tanks. Phony uniforms. Fake radio traffic. In early 1944, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army,” was founded, and its ragtag collection of artists, Soldiers and engineers oversaw almost two-dozen “deception missions” that saved the lives of an estimated 30,000 Soldiers. In March of this year, their work was recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with author and historian Rick Beyer to discuss the story and exploits of the Ghost Army and his decade-long journey to see that the unit received the Gold Medal—and then they are joined by a surviving Ghost Army Soldier, PVT (Ret.) Seymour Nussenbaum. Sadly, Mr. Nussenbaum passed away shortly after our recording. He died on October 5, 2024, at the age of 101.
Guests:
- Rick Beyer, Author, The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery
- PVT (Ret.) Seymour Nussenbaum, Surviving Ghost Army Soldier and Congressional Gold Medal Recipient
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