CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL FOR MATTHEW B. RIDGWAY

SEC. 1491. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL FOR MATTHEW B. RIDGWAY (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) General Matthew B. Ridgway, United States Army (Retired), served his country with great honor and distinction for more than 40 years; (2) during World War II, General Ridgway commanded the 82nd Airborne Division and later the XVIII Airborne Corps, leading his soldiers in some of the most difficult fighting of the European theater to achieve Allied victories in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, the Normandy invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Pocket, and the crossing of the Rhine and Elbe Rivers. (3) in Korea, during the depths of the bitter winter of 1950, General Ridgway took command of the seriously demoralized Eighth Army, motivated and inspired it to “Stand and Fight”, and led it on the offensive again; (4) under his leadership, the military forces of the United Nations Command in Korea recaptured territory that had been lost earlier to overwhelming enemy forces and forced the onset of armistice negotiations; and (5) after his commands in the Korean war, General Ridgway continued his outstanding service to his country by serving in the positions of Supreme Commander of Allied Powers in Europe and Chief of Staff of the United States Army. (b) Presentation Authorized.— The President is authorized to present, on behalf of the Congress, to General Matthew B. Ridgway, United States Army (Retired) a gold medal of appropriate design, in recognition of his distinguished service to the Nation. (c) Design and Striking.— For purposes of the presentation referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary. (d) Authorization of Appropriation.— There is authorized to be appropriated an amount not to exceed $25,000 to carry out this section. (e) Duplicate Medals.— (1) The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to subsection (c) under such regulations as the Secretary may104 STAT. 1721 prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. (2) The appropriation used to carry out subsection (c) shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of sales under paragraph (1).