IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1211 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2010 Ms. Watson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Expressing the appreciation of Congress for the service and sacrifice of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), United States Army, which was the first and only all-African-American Ranger Company in the Army.

Whereas the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) was the first and only all-African-American Ranger Company in the United States Army; Whereas, on July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which officially desegregated the United States Armed Forces; Whereas, on June 25, 1950, the North Korean Army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea; Whereas, on September 19, 1950, the 504th Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) was designated at Fort Benning, Georgia, and consisted of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Companies, which entered the Ranger Training Center; Whereas in November 1950, 4th Company was designated as the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne); Whereas personnel from the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) were taken from the 3rd Battalion, 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment and the 80th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division; Whereas the first company commander of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company was 1st Lieutenant Warren E. Allen of Los Angeles, California; Whereas, on December 9, 1950, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) left the United States en route to Korea; Whereas, on December 30, 1950, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) arrived at Taegu Air Force Base, Korea, and was assigned to the Eighth United States Army and attached to the 7th Infantry Division; Whereas, on January 5, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) arrived in Wonju via Tanyang with the mission of blocking enemy threats; Whereas, on January 7, 1951, outside the Tanyang Pass, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company saw its first combat action in Korea; Whereas the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) was assigned to protect an important rail line running through Central Korea at Tanyang Pass since the rail line allowed essential supplies to travel to the units further north fighting to halt the advance of Chinese Communist forces; Whereas during 2nd Ranger Infantry Company’s first combat operation, Sergeant First Class Isaac Baker was killed and Rangers Webb Paulding and Wheeler Small were wounded; Whereas, on January 14, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Company (Airborne) entered the village of Majori-ri with the mission of taking possession of the village and then continuing the assault with another unit, and in the action suffered 8 Rangers killed and 10 wounded; Whereas, on March 23, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) participated in the First United Nations Counteroffensive via airborne assault landing with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team at Munsan-ni, Korea; Whereas during the Counteroffensive, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), under the command of Captain Warren E. Allen, became the first all-African-American unit to make a parachute jump behind enemy lines; Whereas, in recognition of its service during the Counteroffensive, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) received the Bronze Arrowhead for Parachute Assault at Munsan-ni; Whereas in March 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) participated in an assault on enemy-held Hill 151, and during the attack Private First Class William Van Dunk was killed and Sergeant First Class Boatwright and Sergeant Robertson were wounded; Whereas, on May 20, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) led an assault on enemy-held Hill 581; Whereas 17 members of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) were wounded in the assault on Hill 581, and 7 Rangers were subsequently cited for bravery for their actions in the assault; Whereas, on June 11, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) occupied a position in what was known as the KANSAS Line in the vicinity of the Hwachon Reservoir; Whereas, on July 8, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) assaulted and occupied enemy-held Hill 545 in the vicinity of Yonochanga during the last engagement of the 1951 Spring Offensive; Whereas after the Hill 545 engagement, the members of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) were gradually reassigned to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th Ranger Companies; Whereas, on August 1, 1951, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) was officially inactivated; Whereas during the Korean War, the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) had 12 members killed in action; and Whereas during the Korean War, members of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) were awarded 9 Silver Stars, 11 Bronze Stars, and 103 Purple Hearts: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes the exemplary service and sacrifice of the members of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) during the Korean War and the support and sacrifice exhibited by their families; and (2)commends the members of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) and their families (and all of the other members of the Armed Forces who have served, or who are currently serving, in support of United States military contingency operations) for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States.