[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 348 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 348
Urging the President to designate a National Airborne Day in
recognition of persons who are serving or have served in the airborne
forces of the Armed Services.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 13, 2008
Mr. Davis of Kentucky (for himself and Mr. Hunter) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Urging the President to designate a National Airborne Day in
recognition of persons who are serving or have served in the airborne
forces of the Armed Services.
Whereas the airborne forces of the 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 marks the anniversary of the first official Army parachute
jump on August 16, 1940, an event that validated 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, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test Platoon was first authorized by
the Department of War, and was launched when 48 volunteers began
training in July 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 have served with
distinction and have had repeated success in armed hostilities;
Whereas among those airborne 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 Battalions, and the 550th Airborne Infantry
Battalion;
Whereas the achievements of the airborne forces during World War II prompted the
evolution of those forces 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;
Whereas the 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 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), the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 4th Brigade Combat
Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division, together with other units
of the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war against terrorism,
carrying out combat operations, conducting civil affairs 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 operation forces, and (in former days)
glider troops;
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; and
Whereas, since the airborne community celebrates August 16 as the anniversary of
the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon, August 16
would be an appropriate day to recognize as National Airborne Day: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress urges the President to designate a National Airborne Day.
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