[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 96TH CIVIL AFFAIRS BATTALION AT 
                               FORT BRAGG

                                 ______


                           HON. CHARLIE ROSE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, on August 17, 1995, the 96th Civil Affairs 
Battalion (Airborne) at Fort Bragg will celebrate the 50th anniversary 
of its activation. I would like take a moment to recognize the 96th, 
which, incidentally, just happens to be the U.S. Army's only active 
duty civil affairs unit.
  The battalion has had a long and distinguished history. The 96th 
Civil Affairs Battalion is descended from the 96th Headquarters and 
Headquarters Detachment, Military Government Group, which was 
constituted at the Presidio in Monterey, CA on August 25, 1945, and 
activated the following day. This unit was inactivated on January 25, 
1949, in Korea. On May 10, 1967, the unit was redesignated the 96th 
Civil Affairs Group and allotted to the regular Army. It was activated 
on August 25, 1967 at Fort Lee, VA. On November 26, 1971, the group was 
reorganized and redesignated the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort 
Bragg, NC ever since. The last redesignation took place on March 1, 
1986, when the battalion was placed on Airborne status and renamed the 
96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne).
  The quiet professionals of the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion 
(Airborne) continue a tradition, developed over the past 50 years, of 
being premier ambassadors for both the U.S. Army and the United States 
of America. Today the soldiers of the 96th are deployed around the 
world in Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Rowanda, Hatii, Grenada, Panama, 
Honduras, Wake Island, Cambodia, and Mongolia, where they serve to 
advise officials of foreign nations in various aspects of civil-
military operations and humanitarian relief. Above all, the men and 
women who serve in the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) help 
build and strengthen the cause of democracy. For this, we owe them a 
debt of gratitude.
  I would like to extend to everyone who serve and have served in the 
96th my thanks and the thanks of the U.S Congress for your fine work. 
Congratulations on your 50th anniversary, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion 
(Airborne), and I encourage you to keep up the good work for another 50 
more.


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