[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 322 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 322

       Designating August 16, 2004, as ``National Airborne Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 22, 2004

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Designating August 16, 2004, 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 the 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, 2004, marks the anniversary of the first official validation 
        of the innovative concept of inserting United States ground combat 
        forces behind the battle line by means of a parachute;
Whereas the United States experiment of airborne infantry attack began 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 of 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 Ranger Regiment, the 
        173rd Airborne Brigade, the 187th Infantry (Airborne) Regiment, the 
        503rd, 507th, 508th, 517th, 541st, and 542nd Parachute Infantry 
        Regiments, the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment, the 509th, 551st, and 
        555th Parachute Infantry Batallions, and the 550th Airborne Infantry 
        Battalion;
Whereas the achievements of the airborne forces during World War II provided a 
        basis of 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 Ranger Regiment which, together with other units, 
        comprise the quick reaction force of the Army's XVIII Airborne Corps 
        when not operating separately under a regional combatant commander;
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 Force Reconnaissance units, 
        Navy SEALs, and Air Force combat control teams, 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 Ranger Regiment, special forces units, and 
        units of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air 
        Assault), together with other units of the Armed Forces, have been 
        prosecuting the war against terrorism by carrying out combat operations 
        in Afghanistan, training operations in the Philippines, and other 
        operations elsewhere;
Whereas in the aftermath of the President's announcement of Operation Iraqi 
        Freedom in March 2003, the 75th Ranger Regiment, special forces units, 
        and units of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division 
        (Air Assault), and the 173rd Airborne Brigade, together with other units 
        of the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war against terrorism, 
        carrying out combat operations, conducting civil affair missions, and 
        assisting in establishing democracy in Iraq;
Whereas the airborne forces are and will continue to be at the ready and the 
        forefront until the Global War on Terrorism is concluded;
Whereas of the members and former members of the United States 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 United States 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, 2004, as the 64th anniversary of the 
        first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates August 16, 2004, as ``National Airborne 
        Day''; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        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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