III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 479 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 5, 2012 Mr. Johanns (for himself and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commemorating the dedication of the Strategic Air Command Memorial during the 20th anniversary of its stand down.

Whereas Strategic Air Command was formed on March 21, 1946, to provide the United States with long-range bombing capabilities; Whereas Strategic Air Command operations were moved to Offutt Air Force Base in 1948 to avoid a surprise attack from the growing nuclear threat by the Soviet Union during the Cold War; Whereas the men and women of Strategic Air Command perfected aerial refueling, allowing Strategic Air Command bombers to reach any spot in the world and advancing the ability of the United States to project military power worldwide; Whereas in 1953, following the Korean War, the defense strategy of the United States shifted and President Eisenhower designated Strategic Air Command as the primary nuclear deterrent for the United States; Whereas the Strategic Air Command played a major role in the triad of aircraft, missiles, and submarines that provided an undefeatable nuclear force that prevented nuclear war and kept the Soviet Union at bay until the demise of the Soviet Union in December 1991; Whereas Strategic Air Command is credited with the development of the Snark, Atlas, and Minuteman missiles; Whereas Strategic Air Command maintained continuous airborne alert operations from October 1957 until September 1991, which many consider the longest continuous military operation in history; Whereas in 1962, the visibility of Strategic Air Command bombers responding to the DEFCON 2 order issued by President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis presented a clear indication to the Soviet Union of the determination of the United States to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba; Whereas at its height in 1962, Strategic Air Command employed 283,000 personnel and maintained 3,400 aircraft and 224 land-based missiles; Whereas in December 1972, 33 crewmembers and 10 B–52 bombers supported by Strategic Air Command were lost during Operation Linebacker II in North Vietnam during the aerial bombing campaign that forced Vietnamese leadership back to negotiations and a peace settlement; Whereas the need for absolute command and control by national leaders led Strategic Air Command to organize the National Emergency Airborne Command Post operation, which became the National Airborne Operations Center and the E–4B aircraft operating at Offutt Air Force Base; Whereas the operational practices and procedures for safe and secure nuclear weapons were established by Strategic Air Command and continue under the leadership of United States Strategic Command and Air Force Global Strike Command; Whereas the Strategic Air Command performed the assigned mission flawlessly according to its famous motto, “Peace is Our Profession”; Whereas the United States, and particularly the State of Nebraska, is extremely grateful to those who served the United States at Strategic Air Command; and Whereas the Senate recognizes the service and dedication of the individuals whose unyielding commitment and sacrifice contributed to the continued safety of the United States for over 4 decades: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the 20th anniversary of the stand down of Strategic Air Command and the immeasurable contributions and prominent role of Strategic Air Command in national security and nuclear deterrence during the Cold War; (2)commemorates the dedication of the Strategic Air Command Memorial in the State of Nebraska, which pays tribute to the men and women who worked tirelessly to make Strategic Air Command the most powerful and professional military organization in the world; and (3)honors the personnel who served at Strategic Air Command and those who have carried on the tradition of excellence through service at United States Strategic Command.