[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 36 (Monday, March 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2865-S2866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 322--DESIGNATING AUGUST 16, 2004, AS ``NATIONAL 
                             AIRBORNE DAY''

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

                              S. Res. 322

       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,

[[Page S2866]]

     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.

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today to submit a 
Senate resolution which designates August 16, 2004 as ``National 
Airborne Day.''
  Our friend and former colleague, the late Senator Strom Thurmond, 
introduced this resolution in past years. Senator Thurmond served with 
the 82nd Airborne Division, one of the first airborne divisions to be 
organized in the U.S. Army.
  During a 2-year period during World War II, the regiments of the 82nd 
Airborne served in Italy at Anzio, in France at Normandy, and at the 
Battle of the Bulge.
  As a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Senator Strom Thurmond 
participated in the landings at Normandy in June 1944.
  Later this year we will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day 
landings and the Battle of Bulge.
  On June 25, 1940, the War Department authorized the Parachute Test 
Platoon to experiment with the potential use of airborne troops. The 
Parachute Test Platoon, which was composed of 48 volunteers, performed 
the first official Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940. The success 
of the Platoon led to the formation of a large and successful airborne 
contingent that has served from World War II until the present.
  The 11th, 13th, 17th, and 101st Airborne Divisions and numerous other 
regimental and battalion size airborne units were also organized 
following the success of the Parachute Test Platoon. In the last 64 
years, these airborne forces have performed in important military and 
peace-keeping operations all over the world, including Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, and it is only appropriate that we designate a day to salute 
the contributions they have made to this Nation.
  Through passage of ``National Airborne Day,'' the Senate will 
reaffirm our support for the members of the airborne community.
  I would like to thank Airborne veterans and Airborne units for their 
tireless commitment to our Nation's defense and for the ideals of duty, 
honor, country they embody. Airborne!

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