Call for Proposals | Fall 2026

Ghost Army Legacy Project Research and Creative Grant

The Ghost Army Legacy Project (GALP) is now accepting proposals for its 2026 Creative Grant cycle. This grant program supports original scholarship and creative projects that explore, interpret, or provide new insights to expand public understanding of the unique contributions and legacy of the US Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and 3133rd Signal Service Company—also known as the “Ghost Army.”

The 23^rd Headquarters Special Troops was an 1100-man unit that carried out 22 deceptions against the Germans on the battlefields of northern Europe, using inflatable tanks, sound effects, radio trickery and other forms of deception to mislead the enemy about the location of American troops. The 3133^rd Signal Company consisted of 200 men, and operated in conjunction with a British visual deception to carry out two 1945 deceptions in northern Italy.

The Ghost Army offers fertile ground for a wide range of research interests. During World War II, this unique US deception unit drew on state-of-the-art resources from diverse fields to create convincing illusions designed to influence enemy decision-making. The unit also contained many artists, some of whom became famous after the war.Because of this, the Ghost Army can be studied from multiple disciplinary perspectives.

We invite applications from graduate students, emerging scholars, museum professionals, early-career researchers, artists, writers, independent researchers, and educators working in any medium or discipline.

Grant Overview

Award Amount: Up to $4,000
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Notification of Awards: August 15, 2026
Project Completion Timeline: Within 12 months of award
Deliverables: Grantees will be expected to submit a final summary report and, where applicable, provide a version of their project suitable for public dissemination (e.g., presentation, article, web feature, or digital content).

Eligibility

Individuals affiliated with academic or cultural institutions, as well as independent researchers or creators.
U.S.-based applicants preferred, but international proposals will be considered if aligned with the mission.
Collaborative teams may apply with a designated project leader.

Possible Proposal Types

We encourage both traditional and non-traditional approaches. Proposals may include (but are not limited to):

Historical Research: Archival or oral history work focused on specific individuals, operations, or underexplored themes related to the Ghost Army.
Interpretive Projects: Public-facing essays, web features, short documentaries, or podcast episodes.
Creative Work: Artistic interpretations, graphic novels, short stories, visual art, or multimedia inspired by the Ghost Army’s mission and legacy.
Digital Tools or Resources: Interactive maps, data visualizations, or educational content for online use.
Educational Materials: Curriculum design, classroom toolkits, or lesson plans for middle school, high school, or college instruction.

Suggested Topics

As an overview, Ghost Army operations integrated visual portrayals, sonic and radio deception, traffic patterns, and a host of special effects. Research might focus not only on the forms of deception used, but also on reasons and processes developed and employed in Ghost Army operations. The unit’s artists, for example, applied psychological principles of perception in their work, while sonic deception relied on physics and acoustics carefully engineered to mislead. Scholars might explore how these different methods were integrated and balanced, or how the unit refined its techniques from one operation to the next.

Applicants are free to pursue any project that meaningfully contributes to understanding and interpreting the Ghost Army and its legacy, but we especially welcome submissions related to the following:

Descendant accounts of Ghost Army veterans not previously documented
Postwar influence of Ghost Army veterans in the arts or media
Ghost Army – Patton relationship influencing WWII operations
Effect of displaced persons’ repatriation on Ghost Army activity, etc.
Connections of various Ghost Army units to affect efficient and safe operations
Development of tools for classroom or public interpretation
The operations of the 3133rd Signal Service Company Special
The long-term impact of battlefield deception in WWII and postwar doctrine
The German perspective on the efficacy and impact of Ghost Army deception tactics

Proposal Requirements

Please submit the following materials in a single PDF file to [TBD]:

Project Proposal (max. 1,000 words), including:
1. Description of the project’s goals and relevance to the Ghost Army Legacy Project mission
2. Explanation of methodology, timeline, and intended outcome
Budget outlining how funds will be used; please exclude staff salaries
CV or Resume (max. 2 pages)
Work Sample (if applicable; links acceptable)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

Originality and creativity of approach
Alignment with the mission and values of the Ghost Army Legacy Project
Feasibility and clarity of scope
Potential impact on public understanding, education, or interpretation
Qualifications of the applicant(s)

Submission Requirements

Please submit using the "Apply" button below by midnight, May 15, 2026. Once received, a verification email be sent within 24 hours.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Apply

Applying for this grant does not require any fee or donation to GALP.