Sec. 1095. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING WORLD WAR I

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## SEC. 1095 SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING WORLD WAR I ###

(a)Findings Congress makes the following findings: ####

(1)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, meddling in Mexican affairs, and denial of freedom of the seas to nonbelligerent nations. ####

(2)The United States associated itself with the allied powers of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth, France and its colonies, Russia, Italy, and Japan to defeat the German Empire. ####

(3)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 land warfare force. ####

(4)Early 20th century military and technological advances resulted in the incorporation of motor transport, aviation, anti-aircraft artillery, tanks, chemical weapons, submarines and anti-submarine warfare, underwater mines, and other innovations into the military arsenal of the United States. ####

(5)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. ####

(6)The United States Army maintained its defense of American seacoasts, southern border, and overseas possessions, while the Army American Expeditionary Forces arrived in Europe in June 1917 and deployed for combat operations in October. ####

(7)By the end of World War I, almost 2,000,000 members of the Army served overseas in the American Expeditionary Forces. ####

(8)During World War I, the United States Navy increased in strength from approximately 67,000 sailors and marines to approximately 500,000 sailors and marines by the war’s end, and the size of the Navy increased from around 200 ships at the outbreak of war in Europe in 1914, to 342 vessels by the time the United States entered the war, and 774 vessels by the day of the Armistice ####

(9)The Navy operated in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the North and Mediterranean Seas in cooperation with allied navies. ####

(10)The Navy began the fight against the German U-boat menace by first dispatching 34 destroyers stationed specifically for such purpose, which by war’s end grew to 110 total destroyers ####

(11)Navy vessels escorted troop transports carrying 1,250,000 passengers and escorted supply transports carrying 27 percent of all cargo shipped to Europe. ####

(12)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. ####

(13)The United States Coast Guard transferred to the operational control of the Navy and augmented that service with officers and sailors, vessels of all types, and shore stations. ####

(14)The United States Marine Corps, with an eventual wartime strength of 53,000 officers and men, detached the 5th and 6th regiments and a machine gun battalion to constitute an infantry brigade integrated into the Army’s 2d Division for service in France. ####

(15)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 the commitment of the United States to the fight when Colonel Stanton proclaimed upon his arrival in France, “Lafayette, we are here!”. ####

(16)Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces formed three field armies, nine corps and 43 divisions, plus various units of the Services of Supply. ####

(17)The American Expeditionary Forces suffered 255,000 casualties and over 50,000 non-battle casualties while participating in 13 named campaigns in World War I. ####

(18)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. ###

(b)Sense of Congress Congress— ####

(1)honors the memory of the fallen heroes who wore the uniform of the United States Armed Forces during World War I; ####

(2)commends the Unites States Armed Forces for preserving and protecting the interests of the United States during World War I; ####

(3)commends the brave members of the United States Armed Forces for their courage while preserving the founding principles of the United States at home and abroad during World War I; ####

(4)commends the brave members of the United States Armed Forces for preserving and protecting the sea lanes of commerce and communications during World War I that ensured the continued prosperity of the United States; ####

(5)celebrates and congratulates the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard during the commemoration of the centennial of World War I for a job well done; and ####

(6)calls on all people of the United States to join in the commemoration of the centennial of World War I in events throughout the United States and overseas.