Whereas United States Navy divers have received seven
Medals of Honor for multiple acts of heroism dating back to 1915;
Whereas United States Navy divers received the only
peacetime Medals of Honor ever awarded;
Whereas United States Navy divers significantly
contributed to the salvage and restoration of Pearl Harbor after the Japanese
attack in 1941;
Whereas United States Navy divers addressed critical beach
and harbor clearances and recoveries in all United States wars since
WWI;
Whereas United States Navy divers significantly
contributed to the winning of the Cold War by diving on Soviet communications
cables at extreme depths;
Whereas United States Navy divers made critical recoveries
of Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia;
Whereas United States Army divers were instrumental in the
clearance of underwater munitions at ports and harbors in WWII;
Whereas United States Army divers were crucial to
maintenance and repair of vessels and aircraft recovery during the Vietnam
War;
Whereas United States Army divers salvaged vessels during
the first Gulf War, a Soviet vessel in Somalia, and numerous vessels during the
humanitarian operation in Haiti;
Whereas United States Army divers deployed to the Persian
Gulf region in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas United States Army divers have performed
humanitarian relief efforts to clear international ports and harbors after
natural disasters;
Whereas United States Army divers have performed hundreds
of missions for United States Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the dams,
locks and waterways of the United States;
Whereas United States Army divers have performed
lifesaving recompression treatments on injured military and civilian
personnel;
Whereas United States Marine Corps divers were essential
to the development of the buoyant ascent technique which allows forces to
deploy from submarines at depth and return to a submerged submarine allowing
for the completion of a range of covert missions;
Whereas United States Marine Corps divers were essential
to the testing and development of the Fulton Skyhook, intended for the
sophisticated snatch pickup of troops from remote areas;
Whereas United States Air Force divers, specifically
Pararescuemen and Combat Controllers, have conducted crucial Department of
Defense's missions in support of NASA missions and efforts in Iraq and
Afghanistan;
Whereas United States Coast Guard divers undertook
clandestine infiltration missions in the European and Pacific Theaters of
WWII;
Whereas United States Coast Guard divers assisted in the
recoveries of Air Florida flight 90, the Space Shuttle Challenger, and numerous
other aircraft and vehicles;
Whereas United States Coast Guard divers provided critical
underwater ship husbandry support during the historic 1957 exploration of the
Northwest Passage;
Whereas United States Coast Guard divers have enhanced
scientific achievements through collection of marine samples in the Arctic and
Antarctic regions;
Whereas United States Coast Guard divers have ensured the
safety of shipping in the Pacific Islands; and
Whereas United States Coast Guard divers have established
a security posture throughout the homeland during ports, waterways, and coastal
security inspections following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001:
Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of the Navy should provide an appropriate site at the former Navy
Dive School at the Washington Navy Yard for a memorial, to be paid for with
private funds, to honor the members of the Armed Forces who have served as
divers and whose service in defense of the United States has been carried out
beneath the waters of the world, so long as the Secretary of the Navy has
exclusive authority to approve the design and site of the memorial.