III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 80 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 7, 2008 

Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. GREGG, Mr. KERRY, Mr. REED, Mr. REID, Ms. 

SNOWE, and Mr. STEVENS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

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 


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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, 


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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 comVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:41 May 08, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC80.IS SC80

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bat 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 DistinguishedService 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 


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1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress urges the President to des3 ignate a National Airborne Day. 

Æ 


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