IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 41 

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States declaration of 

war against Germany and entry into World War I and recognizing 

and appreciating the lasting historical significance and heroic human 

endeavor and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces in that conflict. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 29, 2017 

Mr. JONES (for himself and Ms. SHEA-PORTER) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States 

declaration of war against Germany and entry into World 

War I and recognizing and appreciating the lasting historical significance and heroic human endeavor and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces in that conflict. 

Whereas the United States declared war against Germany on 

April 6, 1917, to redress wrongs, including Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, violation of 

United States neutrality, and denial of freedom of the 

seas to nonbelligerent nations; 

Whereas the United States associated itself with the allied 

powers of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth, 


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•HCON 41 IH 

France and its colonies, Russia, Italy, and Japan to defeat the German Empire; 

Whereas the United States Army, consisting of the Regular 

Army, National Guard, and Reserve Corps, with the addition of volunteers and the draftees of the National 

Army, underwent a transformation from a frontier constabulary and coastal defense force to a modern landwarfare force; 

Whereas early 20th century military and technological advances resulted in the incorporation of motor transport, 

aviation, anti-aircraft artillery, tanks, chemical weapons, 

aircraft carriers, submarines and anti-submarine warfare, 

sonar, underwater mines, and other innovations into the 

military arsenal of the United States; 

Whereas the need to quickly build a military strength of four 

million soldiers and half a million sailors required the 

mobilization of the human resources of the United States, 

during which members of diverse ethnic groups, races, 

and creeds, both native-born and immigrant, forged a 

new American identity; 

Whereas the United States Army maintained its defense of 

American seacoasts, southern border, and overseas possessions, while the Army American Expeditionary Forces 

deployed ‘‘Over There’’ for combat operations in Europe 

starting in June 1917; 

Whereas by the end of World War I, almost two million members of the Army served overseas in the American Expeditionary Forces; 

Whereas, during World War I, the United States Navy increased in strength from approximately 69,000 officers 


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•HCON 41 IH 

and sailors and 342 vessels to more than 533,000 officers 

and sailors and 774 vessels; 

Whereas the Navy operated in the Atlantic and Pacific 

Oceans, and the North and Mediterranean Seas in cooperation with allied navies; 

Whereas the Navy began the fight against the German Uboat menace by dispatching destroyers, which eventually 

totaled 70 in number, and 169 other vessels to counter 

the submarine threat; 

Whereas Navy vessels escorted troop transports carrying 

1,250,000 passengers and escorted supply transports carrying 27 percent of all cargo shipped to Europe; 

Whereas the Navy deployed five batteries of large-caliber battleship guns mounted on railroad trains to France for 

service as long-range artillery for the Army; 

Whereas the United States Coast Guard transferred to the 

operational control of the Navy, and augmented that 

service with approximately 5,000 officers and sailors, 47 

vessels of all types, and 279 shore stations; 

Whereas the United States Marine Corps, with an eventual 

wartime strength of 75,000 officers and men, detached 

two regiments and a machine gun battalion to constitute 

an infantry brigade integrated into the Army’s 2d Division for service in France; 

Whereas, on July 4, 1917, Colonel Charles E. Stanton, one 

of the officers on the staff of General John Pershing, 

commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, famously announced America’s commitment to the 

fight when Colonel Stanton proclaimed upon his arrival 

in France, ‘‘Lafayette, we are here!’’; 


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Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces formed three 

field armies, nine corps and forty-three divisions, plus 

various units of the Services of Supply; 

Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces suffered 

244,000 casualties in fighting in thirteen named campaigns in World War I; and 

Whereas participation in World War I resulted in the completion of a period of reform and professionalism that transformed the Armed Forces from a small dispersed organization to a modern industrialized fighting force capable 

of global reach and influence: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) honors the memory of the fallen heroes who 

4 wore the uniform of the United States Armed 

5 Forces during World War I; 

6 (2) commends the Unites States Armed Forces 

7 for preserving and protecting the interests of the 

8 United States during World War I; 

9 (3) commends the brave members of the United 

10 States Armed Forces for their efforts in ‘‘making 

11 the world safe for democracy,’’ and preserving the 

12 founding principles of the United States at home 

13 and abroad during World War I; 

14 (4) commends the brave members of the United 

15 States Armed Forces for preserving and protecting 

16 the sea lanes of commerce and communications durVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:10 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC41.IH HC41

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•HCON 41 IH 

1 ing World War I that ensured the continued pros2 perity of the United States; 

3 (5) celebrates and congratulates the United 

4 States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and 

5 Coast Guard during the commemoration of the cen6 tennial of World War I for a job well done; and 

7 (6) calls on all people of the United States to 

8 join in the commemoration of the centennial of 

9 World War I in events throughout the United States 

10 and overseas. 

Æ 


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