[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 242 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







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 submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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.
                                 <all>