WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson hosted a bipartisan Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony today to honor the courage and contributions of the Army Rangers of World War II. First activated in 1942, the Rangers formed the tip of the spear of the Army’s special operations in World War II. They fought heroically from North Africa to Europe to the Pacific, playing a pivotal role in some of the most consequential battles of the war, such as the Battle of El Guettar, the Battle of Cisterna, the assault on Pointe du Hoc, and the Philippines raid that liberated more than 500 prisoners of war from Japanese camps.
The ceremony was held in Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol and featured remarks from Speaker Johnson, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Collins, Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Leader Jeffries, Senator Duckworth, Senator Ernst, Rep. Miller-Meeks, Rep. Jason Crowe, and President of the Descendants of World War II Rangers, Inc., Dr. David Williams. Two Army Rangers who served in World War II, Sergeant Joseph Drake and Private First-Class John Wardell, accepted the medal on behalf of the living and deceased Army Rangers of that war.
Read Speaker Johnson’s remarks below:
Ladies and gentlemen, Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Collins, members of Congress, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, Dan Kaine, and honored guests, welcome to the United States Capitol. We’re so grateful to have you here today.
We gather on this momentous occasion to honor some of World War II’s greatest heroes, the United States Army Rangers. This band of brothers is so deserving, and this day, to be frank, is long overdue.
They formed the spearhead of America’s special operations in the Second World War, and today we express our most profound gratitude for their courage and contributions with the highest honor that this body can bestow. And that is the Congressional Gold Medal.
We are deeply honored to have here with us today, two of these ranger heroes. With us today is Sergeant Joe Drake, right here in front of me on the front row. Sergeant Drake faced down the frozen tundra of Ardennes, where the 6th Ranger Battalion helped to turn the tide at the Battle of the Bulge.
And from the legendary 2nd battalion, we have Private First-Class John Wardell also with us today. John deployed to Normandy just days after his battalion breached Hitler’s Atlantic wall at the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc. And I should also point out that in just two weeks, Mr. Wardell will celebrate his 100th birthday.
Also watching from home are three more of these American heroes and we honor today, Major General John Raaen Jr., Private Cecil Lisk. and Private First-Class Edward Stimer. We salute you all.
I would invite you all to take your seats if you’d like to do that, because we have really an incredible program for you today. It’s fitting for this great honor.
In 1942, under the command of Major William Darby, 473 men formed the first battalion of the US Army Rangers. The day these men arrived on the rocky shores of Northern Ireland, the fate of the free world was sealed.
The rangers came from every corner of American life. They were welders and waiters and factory hands and musicians. They were ordinary men called to extraordinary valor, who stared death in the face. And by the grace of God, achieved the incredible and defended freedom.
These were men of steel who with fighting knives tightly in hand, fought back with everything they had. They were America’s best.
From the first shots of Dieppe to the shores of Sicily, to the bloody waters of Omaha Beach. The Rangers led the way as America and the Allied powers clawed back the continent of Europe.
And in their courage, all Americans found something to be proud of and the free world found reason to hope. Today we take to heart the words of Calvin Coolidge when he said so well “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” We will not be guilty of that.
Today, we remember some of America’s fiercest defenders and we remember their service and sacrifice, and we remember that every day that we rise in a free nation, free to speak and to pray, and to live unafraid.
We enjoy the fruits of liberty paid for by men like these. God bless you all for that service. Thank you for being here and hope you all enjoy the ceremony. Thank you.