Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/2664

 124 STAT. 2638 PUBLIC LAW 111–254—OCT. 5, 2010 (9) Due to their bravery and valor, members of the Bat- talion were honored with 6 awards of the Distinguished Service Cross in the first 8 weeks of combat. (10) The 100th Battalion fought at Cassino, Italy in January 1944, and later accompanied the 34th Infantry Divi- sion to Anzio, Italy. (11) The 442nd Regimental Combat Team arrived in Civitavecchia, Italy on June 7, 1944, and on June 15 of the following week, the 100th Infantry Battalion was formally made an integral part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and fought for the last 11 months of the war with distinction in Italy, southern France, and Germany. (12) The battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Cita- tion for its actions in battle on June 26–27, 1944. (13) The 442nd Regimental became the most decorated unit in United States military history for its size and length of service. (14) The 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Com- bat Team, received 7 Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier’s Medals, and over 4,000 Purple Hearts, among numerous addi- tional distinctions. (15) The United States remains forever indebted to the bravery, valor, and dedication to country these men faced while fighting a 2-fronted battle of discrimination at home and fas- cism abroad. (16) Their commitment and sacrifice demonstrates a highly uncommon and commendable sense of patriotism and honor. (17) The Military Intelligence Service (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘MIS’’) was made up of about 6,000 Japanese American soldiers who conducted highly classified intelligence operations that proved to be vital to United States military successes in the Pacific Theatre. (18) As they were discharged from the Army, MIS soldiers were told not to discuss their wartime work, due to its sensitive nature, and their contributions were not known until passage of the Freedom of Information Act in 1974. (19) MIS soldiers were attached individually or in small groups to United States and Allied combat units, where they intercepted radio transmissions, translated enemy documents, interrogated enemy prisoners of war, volunteered for reconnais- sance and covert intelligence missions, and persuaded enemy combatants to surrender. (20) Their contributions continued during the Allied post- war occupation of Japan, and MIS linguistic skills and under- standing of Japanese customs were invaluable to occupation forces as they assisted Japan in a peaceful transition to a new, democratic form of government. SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. (a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the