III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 235 

Designating August 16, 2009, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 3, 2009 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. REED, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. 

BYRD, Mr. VOINOVICH, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. KERRY, Mr. BURR, 

Mr. CRAPO, Mrs. HAGAN, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. INOUYE, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

COCHRAN, Mr. CONRAD, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr. BURRIS, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. REID, Mr. THUNE, Mr. 

SCHUMER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. BOND, Mr. 

BROWN, and Mr. CORKER) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating August 16, 2009, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’. 

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 a battle line by 

means of a parachute; 

Whereas the United States experiment with 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 Army Parachute Test Platoon in 

the days immediately before 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, the 325th and 

327th Glider Infantry, 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 


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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, each of 

which is part 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 terrorist attacks on the 

United States on September 11, 2001, airborne units 

played a pivotal role in the war in Afghanistan, including 

the unflinching pursuit of the enemies of the United 

States during the battles of Mazar-i Sharif, Kabul, Qalai-Jangi, Tora Bora, and Operation Anaconda; 

Whereas United States paratroopers, which include the 82d 

Airborne Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, Special OperVerDate Nov 24 2008 02:52 Aug 04, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR235.ATS SR235

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ations Forces, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat team, 

and elements of the 4th Brigade 25th Infantry Division, 

have demonstrated bravery and honor in an effort to pursue the enemies of the United States, to stabilize Afghanistan, and to strive for calm in a troubled region; 

Whereas in the aftermath of the announcement of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom by President George W. Bush 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 airborne forces, all have achieved distinction by 

earning the right to wear the ‘‘Silver Wings of Courage’’ 

of the United States airborne forces, 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 airborne forces are all members of a proud and 

honorable fraternity of the profession of arms that is 

made exclusive by those distinctions which, together with 


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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 people of the United States; 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates August 16, 2009, as ‘‘National 

3 Airborne Day’’; and 

4 (2) calls on the people of the United States to 

5 observe National Airborne Day with appropriate pro6 grams, ceremonies, and activities. 

Æ 


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