[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 242 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 242
Designating August 16, 2002, as ``National Airborne Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 16, 2002
Mr. Thurmond (for himself, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Smith of New
Hampshire, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Reed, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Helms,
Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Reid, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Graham, Mr. Bunning, Mr.
Dodd, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Specter, Mr. Warner, Mr.
Hutchinson, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Domenici, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Sarbanes, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Miller,
Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Levin, and Mr.
Enzi) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
July 23, 2002
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating August 16, 2002, as ``National Airborne Day''.
Whereas the airborne forces of the United States Armed Forces have a long and
honorable history as units of adventuresome, hardy, and fierce warriors
who, for the national security of the United States and the defense of
freedom and peace, project effective ground combat power of the United
States by Air Force air transport to the far reaches of the battle area
and, indeed, to the far corners of the world;
Whereas August 16, 2002, marks the anniversary of the first official validation
of the innovative concept of inserting United States ground combat
forces behind battle lines by means of parachute;
Whereas the United States experiment of airborne infantry attack was begun on
June 25, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test Platoon was first authorized
by the United States Department of War, and was launched when 48
volunteers began training in July 1940;
Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon performed the first official Army parachute
jump on August 16, 1940;
Whereas the success of the Parachute Test Platoon in the days immediately
preceding the entry of the United States into World War II led to the
formation of a formidable force of airborne units that, since then, have
served with distinction and repeated success in armed hostilities;
Whereas among those units are the former 11th, 13th, and 17th Airborne
Divisions, the venerable 82nd Airborne Division, the versatile 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the airborne regiments and
battalions (some as components of those divisions, some as separate
units) that achieved distinction as the elite 75th Infantry (Ranger)
regiment, the 173rd, 187th, 503rd, 507th, 508th, 517th, 541st, and 542nd
airborne infantry regiments, the 88th Glider Infantry Battalion, and the
509th, 550th, 551st, and 555th airborne infantry battalions;
Whereas the achievements of the airborne forces during World War II provided a
basis for evolution into a diversified force of parachute and air
assault units that, over the years, have fought in Korea, Vietnam,
Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf region, and Somalia, and have engaged
in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, the
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo;
Whereas the modern-day airborne force that has evolved from those World War II
beginnings is an agile, powerful force that, in large part, is composed
of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), and the 75th Infantry (Ranger) regiment which, together with
other units, comprise the quick reaction force of the Army's XVIIIth
Airborne Corps when not operating separately under the command of a
Commander in Chief of one of the regional unified combatant commands;
Whereas that modern-day airborne force also includes other elite forces composed
entirely of airborne trained and qualified special operations warriors,
including Army Special Forces, Marine Corps Reconnaissance, Navy SEALs,
Air Force Combat Control Teams, Air Sea Rescue, and Airborne Engineer
Aviation Battalions, all or most of which comprise the forces of the
United States Special Operations Command;
Whereas, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on
September 11, 2001, the 75th Infantry (Ranger) regiment, Special Forces
units, and units of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), together
with other units of the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war
against terrorism, carrying out combat operations in Afghanistan,
training operations in the Philippines, and other operations elsewhere;
Whereas, of the members and former members of the Nation's combat airborne
forces, all have achieved distinction by earning the right to wear the
airborne's ``Silver Wings of Courage'', thousands have achieved the
distinction of making combat jumps, 69 have earned the Medal of Honor,
and hundreds have earned the Distinguished-Service Cross, Silver Star,
or other decorations and awards for displays of such traits as heroism,
gallantry, intrepidity, and valor;
Whereas, the members and former members of the Nation's combat airborne forces
are members of a proud and honorable fraternity of the profession of
arms that is made exclusive by those distinctions which, together with
their special skills and achievements, distinguish them as intrepid
combat parachutists, special operations forces, and (in former days)
glider troops; and
Whereas the history and achievements of the members and former members of the
airborne forces of the United States Armed Forces warrant special
expressions of the gratitude of the American people as the airborne
community celebrates August 16, 2002, as the 62nd anniversary of the
first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate requests and urges the President to issue
a proclamation--
(1) designating August 16, 2002, as ``National Airborne
Day''; and
(2) calling on Federal, State, and local administrators and
the people of the United States to observe ``National Airborne
Day'' with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
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