Thanks to the efforts of a north Iowa teenager, members of the Ghost Army deceptive military unit has received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’s highest honor, for their unique and distinguished service in WWII.  

 The award was made possible Thursday (03.21) in Washington, DC, thanks to grassroots efforts, including those of Caleb Sinnwell of Nashua-Plainfield High School. It was the culmination of a project he began in middle school, winning first place in the National History Day (NHD) Project for his work to research and build a website on the Ghost Army. 

Senator Chuck Grassley, who attended Caleb’s NHD award ceremony in  Nashua in 2021, cosponsored legislation to honor the Ghost Army with the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act, and garnered congressional support for the bill until it was passed and signed into law in 2022. 

 During Thursday’s ceremony, Grassley said, “Today was a special opportunity to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the Ghost Army. Using innovative deception tactics, these soldiers played a vital role in the outcome of World War II. While the valiant efforts of the Ghost Army were kept secret for over 50 years, these brave veterans finally received the recognition they deserve. I give great credit to Caleb’s personal passion and hard work, and I appreciate his love for history. Caleb’s efforts show how one person can make a difference.”

Among the honorees was John Cantrell, an Iowa native and member of the Ghost Army, who was posthumously awarded his gold medal. 

*official press release below

Congress Honors the “Ghost Army” of WWII Thanks to Local Iowan’s Efforts

WASHINGTON – Members of the Ghost Army deceptive military unit today received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’s highest honor, in recognition of their unique and distinguished service in WWII. Among the honorees was John Cantrell, an Iowa native and member of the Ghost Army, who was posthumously awarded the medal.  

This distinguished award was made possible thanks to grassroots efforts, including those of Caleb Sinnwell of Nashua, Iowa. In middle school, Caleb won first place in the National History Day (NHD) Project for his work to research and build a website on the Ghost Army. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in 2021 attended Caleb’s NHD award ceremony at Nashua-Plainfield High School. Grassley cosponsored legislation to honor the Ghost Army with the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act, and worked to garner congressional support for the bill until it was passed and signed into law in 2022. 

“Today was a special opportunity to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the Ghost Army. Using innovative deception tactics, these soldiers played a vital role in the outcome of World War II. While the valiant efforts of the Ghost Army were kept secret for over 50 years, today these brave veterans finally received the recognition they deserve. I give great credit to Caleb’s personal passion and hard work, and I appreciate his love for history. Caleb’s efforts show how one person can make a difference. I’m grateful to Caleb, the Ghost Army Legacy Project and National History Day for working to recognize the Ghost Army’s legacy, as well as honor one of Iowa’s own, John Cantrell.” Grassley said. 

“Caleb’s work assisting the Ghost Army Legacy Project in gaining national recognition for the Ghost Army of WWII is a perfect example of why NHD matters,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “NHD empowers students to choose a project topic they care about, explore primary source materials from the selected time period, and create a project that lives on beyond the classroom. NHD is proud of Caleb and his advocacy, and Iowa is lucky to have him representing the state at these national events.”