male officers. (14) In 1948, all military branches were integrated and female doctors were finally admitted to the Army Medical Corps. (15) Although African-American Nurses were fully qualified and prepared to serve as nurses at the onset of World War II, racial segregation and discrimination made it difficult for Black women to join the ranks of the Army Nurse Corps (referred to in this Act as the ANC ). (16) As the ANC began expanding its recruiting process, thousands of Black nurses who wanted to serve their country filled out applications. (17) While the Army did eventually integrate African-American Nurses in 1941, it did so unwillingly and placed a quota on the number of African-American Nurses that they would accept, capping the number allowed to join at 56. (18) Many of them had hardship tours and were sent to segregated camps to take care of African-American Soldiers and would rotate and allow White nurses reprieve in taking care of German POWs. As the war progressed, the number of Black nurses allowed to enlist remained low, although the quota was officially lifted in July 1944. (19) The extraordinary efforts of these women are deserving of belated official recognition. (20) The United States is eternally grateful to the nurses of the Army and Navy Nurse Corps for their bravery and dedication to their patients through World War II, which saved lives and made significant contributions to the defeat of the Axis powers. 3. Congressional gold medal (a) Presentation authorized The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in honor of World War II Army and Navy Nurse Corps members, in recognition of the critical military service and devotion to duty of those nurses. (b) Design and striking For purposes of the presentation described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the Secretary ) shall strike a gold medal