[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8653 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8653
To award a Congressional gold medal to Major Thomas D. Howie, in
recognition of his bravery and outstanding service during the Battle of
Normandy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 7, 2024
Mr. Duncan (for himself, Mr. Timmons, Ms. Mace, Mr. Fry, Mr. Wilson of
South Carolina, Mr. Norman, and Mr. Clyburn) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional gold medal to Major Thomas D. Howie, in
recognition of his bravery and outstanding service during the Battle of
Normandy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Major Thomas D. Howie Congressional
Gold Medal''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Major Thomas D. Howie was born on April 12, 1908, in
Abbeville, South Carolina, and went on to both a storied
academic and athletic career at The Citadel as class president,
a star football halfback and captain of the baseball team.
(2) Major Howie answered his nations call to service by
accepting a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Officers
Reserve Corps in the Virginia National Guard upon graduation
from The Citadel.
(3) Major Howie was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserve
and later transferred to the Virginia National Guard's 116th
Infantry Regiment in Staunton, Virginia.
(4) Major Thomas Howie valiantly served his country during
the Battle of Normandy, demonstrating exceptional courage,
devotion to duty, and skill in battle after landing on Omaha
Beach on June 6th, 1944.
(5) Major Howie commanded 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry
Regiment, 29th Infantry Division on July 13th, 1944, and
shortly thereafter was tasked with rescuing the encircled 2nd
Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment.
(6) Major Howie was instructed by his commanding officer to
take St. Lo on July 17th 1944, he decided to leave the battered
2nd Battalion behind to recuperate and proceed with only the
3rd Battalion. When questioned on this, he was overheard saying
``See you in St. Lo'' to Major General Charles Gerhardt, words
which would serve as inspiration for his men in the coming
battle.
(7) While giving his company commanders instructions for
the attack, the unit came under fire from German mortars, and
Major Howie was killed, a sacrifice for which he was
posthumously awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart,
French Legion of Honor, French Fourragere, and Combat Infantry
Badge.
(8) Major Howie's men strapped his body to a stretcher,
draped him with an American flag, and placed him on the hood of
a Jeep so that he could be the first American to enter St. Lo.
He was laid in the rubble of the St. Croix Cathedral, where
fellow soldiers and French civilians paid their respects. From
then on, he was known as ``The Major of St. Lo''.
(9) Major Howie's leadership and unwavering commitment to
his soldiers inspired bravery and determination among his
troops, ultimately leading to the successful capture of St. Lo,
a crucial strategic objective that directly led to Operation
Cobra and the Allied Liberation France, Belgium, and the
Netherlands from Nazi Tyranny.
(10) Though his command of the 116th Infantry Regiment was
short-lived, Major Howie embodied the extraordinary courage and
valor that defined American soldiers during the Battle of
Normandy. His sacrifice echoes through the halls of history to
inspire Americans to this day.
(11) The character of Major Howie was used as inspiration
for the role of Captain John Miller, portrayed by Tom Hanks in
the movie ``Saving Private Ryan''. This brought attention to
his remarkable leadership and sacrifice, thereby furthering
public recognition of his valor.
(12) Major Howie's legacy extends beyond the silver screen.
Monuments and markers commemorating his valor and leadership
stand in Abbeville, Greenwood, and Charleston, South Carolina;
Staunton, Virginia; Shelby, North Carolina; and Saint-Lo,
Normandy, France. In 2003, South Carolina further honored him
with a posthumous induction into the South Carolina Hall of
Fame.
(13) Major Howie's sacrifice and exemplary service
symbolize the highest ideals of patriotism, integrity, and
dedication to duty.
(14) Major Thomas D. Howie's legacy continues to inspire
future generations to uphold the seven army values of loyalty,
duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal
courage.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the posthumous award, on behalf of Congress, of a gold
medal of appropriate design to Major Thomas D. Howie, in recognition of
his bravery and outstanding service during the Battle of Normandy.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Presentation.--The gold medal referred to in subsection (a)
shall be presented to--
(1) the nephew of Thomas Howie, Tom Howie; or
(2) if Tom Howie is unavailable, the next of kin of Thomas
Howie.
(d) Award of Medal.--Following the presentation described in
subsection (c), the gold medal shall be given to The Citadel Museum,
where it shall be displayed as appropriate and made available for
research.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
of such medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--The amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited
into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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