III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 86 

Designating August 16, 2005, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 17, 2005 

Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. BINGAMAN, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. BURNS, Mr. 

INOUYE, Mr. JOHNSON, Mrs. DOLE, Mrs. BOXER, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. 

ALEXANDER, Ms. SNOWE, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. REID, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. 

GREGG, Mr. BURR, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. HATCH, and Mr. REED) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating August 16, 2005, 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, 2005, 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; 
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•SRES 86 IS

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 engaged in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, the Sinai 

Peninsula, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, and 

Kosovo; 
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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 

other units of the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting 

the war against terrorism, carrying out combat oper-
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ations, 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 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; 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, 2005, as the 65th anniversary 

of the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test 

Platoon: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates August 16, 2005, as ‘‘National 

3 Airborne Day’’; and 
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1 (2) requests that the President issue a procla2 mation calling on Federal, State, and local adminis3 trators and the people of the United States to ob4 serve ‘‘National Airborne Day’’ with appropriate 

5 programs, ceremonies, and activities. 

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