III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 254 

Designating August 16, 2011, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 2, 2011 

Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. CORKER, 

Mr. CRAPO, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts, Mr. 

ROBERTS, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. AKAKA, 

Mr. RUBIO, Mrs. HAGAN, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, Mr. CASEY, Mr. BURR, and Mr. COCHRAN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating August 16, 2011, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’. 

Whereas the airborne forces of the Armed Forces have a long 

and honorable history as bold and fierce warriors who, 

for the national security of the United States and the defense of freedom and peace, project the ground combat 

power of the United States by air transport to the far 

reaches of the battle area and to the far corners of the 

world; 

Whereas the United States’ experiment with airborne operations began on June 25, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test Platoon was first authorized by the Department of War, and 48 volunteers began training in July 

1940; 


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•SRES 254 ATS 

Whereas August 16 marks the anniversary of the first official 

Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940, to test the 

innovative concept of inserting United States ground 

combat forces behind a battle line by means of a parachute; 

Whereas the success of the Army Parachute Test Platoon in 

the days immediately before the entry of the United 

States into World War II validated the airborne operational concept and led to the creation of a formidable 

force of airborne formations, such as the 11th, 13th, 

17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions; 

Whereas included in these divisions, and among other separate formations, were many airborne combat, combat 

support, and combat service support units that served 

with distinction and achieved repeated success in armed 

hostilities that provide the lineage and legacy of many 

airborne units throughout our Armed Forces; 

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 

Sinai Peninsula, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, 

and Kosovo; 

Whereas since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 

United States airborne forces, which include members of 

the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division, 

the 101st Airborne Division, the 173rd Airborne Brigade 

Combat Team, the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 

of the 25th Infantry Division, the 75th Ranger Regiment, 

and special operations forces of the Army, Marine Corps, 


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•SRES 254 ATS 

Navy, and Air Force, together with other units of the 

Armed Forces, have demonstrated bravery and honor in 

combat, stability, and training operations in Afghanistan 

and Iraq; 

Whereas the modern-day airborne force also includes other 

elite forces composed of airborne trained and qualified 

special operations warriors, including Army Special 

Forces, Marine Corps Reconnaissance units, Navy 

SEALs, and Air Force combat control and para-rescue 

teams; 

Whereas of the members and former members of the United 

States airborne forces, thousands have achieved the distinction of making combat jumps, dozens have earned the 

Medal of Honor, and hundreds have earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, or other decorations and awards for displays of 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 tradition that, together with their special skills 

and achievements, distinguishes such members as intrepid combat parachutists, air assault forces, special operation forces, and, in former days, glider troops; 

Whereas the history and achievements of the members and 

former members of the United States airborne forces 

warrant special expressions of the gratitude of the people 

of the United States; and 

Whereas since the airborne forces, past and present, celebrate 

August 16 as the anniversary of the first official jump by 

the Army Parachute Test Platoon, August 16 is an apVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:54 Aug 02, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR254.ATS SR254

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•SRES 254 ATS 

propriate day to recognize as National Airborne Day: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates August 16, 2011, 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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