109TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION S. RES. 405
Designating August 16, 2006, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 27, 2006
Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. BURNS, Ms. CANTWELL,
Mr. COCHRAN, Mrs. DOLE, Mr. JOHNSON, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr.
REED, Mr. REID, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. GREGG, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. DURBIN,
Mr. SHELBY, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. ISAKSON,
Mr. DEMINT, and Mr. THUNE) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
JULY 28 (legislative day, JULY 26), 2006
Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating August 16, 2006, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’.
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, 2006, marks the anniversary of the first
official validation of the innovative concept of inserting
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SRES 405 ATS
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 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 Battalions, 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 en-
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gaged 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 Reconnaissance units, Navy
SEALs, 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
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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 operation
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, 2006, as the 66th anniversary
of the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test
Platoon: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate— 1
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(1) designates August 16, 2006, as ‘‘National 1
Airborne Day’’; and 2
(2) requests that the President issue a procla- 3
mation calling on Federal, State, and local adminis- 4
trators and the people of the United States to ob- 5
serve ‘‘National Airborne Day’’ with appropriate 6
programs, ceremonies, and activities. 7
Æ
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