[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 256 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
June 21, 2005.
Whereas on November 4, 1979, Islamic extremists occupied the United States
Embassy in Tehran, Iran, and took 66 American hostages, of whom 13 were
released in a matter of days, on November 19 and 20, 1979;
Whereas after months of unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations for the release of
the remaining 53 hostages and after extensive planning and
intergovernmental debate, a complex rescue mission designated as
``Operation Eagle Claw'' was approved by President Carter on April 16,
1980;
Whereas on April 24, 1980, a task force comprised of Army Special Operations
Forces, Army Rangers, Air Force Special Operations Wing personnel, and
United States Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots succeeded in moving
thousands of miles undetected until reaching a remote location in the
Iranian desert 200 miles from Tehran designated by the code name
``Desert One'';
Whereas at Desert One, a combination of helicopters and MC-130/EC-130 gunships
rendezvoused with the intention of rescuing the hostages 200 miles away
in Tehran the following evening;
Whereas the bravery, dedication, and level of operational expertise of the men
who participated in the mission were evident from the onset and tested
by the mechanical and weather problems suffered en route to the
rendezvous point;
Whereas due to mechanical failures and weather problems only six out of eight
helicopters successfully arrived at the Desert One rendezvous;
Whereas six helicopters was the minimum number of helicopters that could
successfully complete Operation Eagle Claw;
Whereas once the six helicopters arrived, the rescue attempt was dealt a final
blow when it was learned that one of the helicopters had lost its
primary hydraulic system and would be unsafe to use fully loaded for the
final assault on Tehran;
Whereas as the various aircraft began moving into position to return to their
respective launching points, one of the helicopters collided with a C-
130 aircraft on the ground;
Whereas flames engulfed the helicopter and the C-130 and resulted in the death
of 5 airmen and 3 Marines;
Whereas other members of the task force were burned but survived, while their
comrades acted bravely in restoring order and managed to evacuate the
wounded personnel and salvageable equipment back to friendly territory;
Whereas Members of Congress were dismayed with the poor equipment, lack of
funding, and inattention that had been given to special operations
forces up to that time that came to light because of the aborted rescue
mission;
Whereas in response, legislation was enacted in 1986 to establish a new unified
command for special operations forces that is designated as the United
States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM);
Whereas the United States Special Operations Command continues to prove its
immense value to the national defense as witnessed by the performance of
special operations forces in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in many other
countries of the world; and
Whereas the Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to special operations forces
personnel and their families: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism of the
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who participated in Operation
Eagle Claw in April 1980 in the attempt to rescue American hostages in
Iran and particularly remembers the sacrifice of those who died in that
attempt; and
(2) commends all special operations forces personnel currently in
service.
Attest:
Clerk.