Book Rap tells tales of Ghost Army

A "Ghost Army" saved thousands of lives during World War II unbeknownst to other U.S. troops, historian Rick Beyer and artist Elizabeth Sayles told a Book Rap April 29.

The ghost army actually consisted of the 1,100 men of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, who created a false army of about 20,000 men to fool the Germans. Beyer said they were "putting on a show for the Germans."

It was a dangerous job as the troops had to set up only a quarter of a mile from the enemy. Three men were killed and 21 wounded. The troops also had to endure the worst winter in 100 years in 1944.

They saved thousands of lives, but "hardly anyone knew about it," he said.

Beyer and Sayles said legislation would be introduced in Congress to award the members of the ghost army with the Congressional Gold Medal.