Gold medal awarded to Doolittle Raiders

The bravery of the Doolittle Raiders military service during World War II will be recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal. The medal recognizes the 80 men who volunteered for a…

The bravery of the Doolittle Raiders military service during World War II will be recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal.

The medal recognizes the 80 men who volunteered for a surprise air attack on Japan on April 18, 1942, four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

A B-25 bomber in the Doolittle Raid takes off from the deck of the USS Hornet

Sixteen B-25 bombers led by Col. Jimmy Doolittle took off from the deck of the USS Hornet. Their mission was to drop bombs on Japan and fly on to China where they would land.

One gold medal will be made, as the House bill states, and it will be given to the National Museum of the United States Air Force for display.

Bronze medals will also be minted and sold to the public.

President Obama signed H.R Bill 1209 into law in a ceremony in the Oval Office on May 23. In attendance were Brian Anderson, a Raider honoree; Raider Lt. Col. Dick Cole, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; and Rep. Madeline Bordallo, Guam.

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