Ghost Army Medal Designed by BYU Illustrator

Decades after their service on a top-secret World War II project, U.S. soldiers who deceived the Nazis as part of the "Ghost Army" were honored during a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Justin Kunz, a BYU associate professor of illustration, was selected by the U.S. Mint to design the Ghost Army Medal. (Video produced by BYU Video/BYU University Communications.)
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BYU professor’s designs featured on new Congressional Gold Medal
A new Congressional Gold Medal featuring the designs of BYU design professor Justin Kunz was unveiled recently at a ceremony held at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Kunz’s work adorns both sides of a new Congressional Gold Medal that was presented to living members of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133 Signal Service Company, known collectively as the “Ghost Army” for their remarkable contributions during World War II.
The Ghost Army, comprised of approximately 1,000 men, used innovative tactics like inflatable tanks, sound effects and radio trickery to mislead German troops on European battlefields during WWII. Their efforts preserved thousands of American lives and helped win the war.
Details regarding the Ghost Army and its tactics were classified for fifty years following the war but are now coming to light after Congress authorized the medal on February 1, 2022.
“It was a great honor to use my artwork to honor these people who really haven't had proper recognition, because their mission was secret, and it continued to be secret after World War II for decades,” said Kunz. “It’s wonderful to be able to be part of remembering them and giving the kind of honor that they deserve for their service.”
Kunz’s designs on the medal capture the essence of the Ghost Army’s deceptive tactics. On one side, soldiers engage in the craft of deception - tapping out Morse code and sewing fabricated patches onto uniforms. In the background, a soldier stands beside a half-track equipped with a loudspeaker, while others handle an inflatable tank, symbolizing the Ghost Army’s strategic prowess.
The reverse side features Kunz’s portrayal of the emblems of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133 Signal Service Company, with a memorial inscription listing the locations where they served.
“In honor of the 23rd Headquarter Special Troops and the 3133rd Signal Service Company - AKA the Ghost Army - for great courage, ingenuity - in Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes-Alsace, the Rhineland, Po Valley,” it reads.
It isn’t Kunz’s first venture into commemorative designs; his previous work includes designs for the Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame commemorative coins in 2020. As a long-standing member of the United States Mint artistic infusion program, his expertise is well-established. But his contribution holds special significance, marking the first time his designs have been featured on both sides of a Congressional Gold Medal.
Reflecting on his creative process, Kunz emphasized the importance of thorough research and understanding the subject matter before diving into sketches and illustrations. “The creative process really is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration because it takes hours and hours,” said Kunz, who noted he spent hours reading books about the Ghost Army and its members to represent its work in his designs.
“I was honored and thrilled to find out that the representatives of the Ghost Army were so happy with the designs that they recommended both of them,” said Kunz, who noted that the Secretary of Treasury ultimately selected the designs.
“It’s always fun to learn about these historical subjects, and I really related to the Ghost Army because so many of them were artists. They were creative people, and they went on to have careers in design and fashion. This is a great example of a real service that creative people performed to save lives during a war.” (Writer: Tyler Stahle, BYU University Communications)

[@bridgestohealth]

What an honor to be chosen to create the medal!! I'm honored to be a part of the medical team that is bringing 52 Normandy Vets back to Normandy this June 1-12! What an amazing time in history then and now! Thank you for your service Justin!

[@SarahLCookCEO]

It was inspiring to watch this short about Justin Kunz and see a glimpse of what the Ghost Army did to help procure freedom!

[@jjillrob]

Never heard of this group before. What they did seems unique. But I'm sure there have been other deceptive things in war and it would be interesting to read more about this group and other similar stories. And the medal design is fantastic.

[@BYU]

You can learn more about the Ghost Army at ghostarmy.org/

[@karenzmoos3286]

I just finished a book by Rick Byer and Elizabeth Sayles “ The Ghost Army of World War II” how one top-secret unit deceived the enemy within inflatable tanks, sound effects, and other audacious fakery. Highly recommend reading it.

[@chipkoop]

Interesting. I would like to know more about the design that is on the medal. Can we get a description of what is being represented?

[@BYU]

Visit the Ghost Army Legacy Project website to learn more about the heroic efforts of the Ghost Army: ghostarmy.org/

[@nealljones]

Well done, Justin!

[@lnwmelon]

So interesting!