News Release - Senate Passes Etheridge Legislation Honoring Father of the Airborne

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

October 11, 2004

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

Senate Passes Etheridge Legislation Honoring Father of the Airborne

WASHINGTON - Late Sunday night the U.S. Senate unanimously passed U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge's (D-Lillington) legislation to name the Dunn Post Office the "General William Carey Lee Post Office," in honor of a Dunn native who was the Father of the Airborne. The legislation now moves to the President's desk for his signature.

"I am pleased that the Senate unanimously passed this legislation honoring a true North Carolina hero," Etheridge said. "General William Carey Lee was a small town boy who became a big time hero. His impact on our military, our security and our community was profound. General William Carey Lee exemplifies what we call North Carolina values -- faith in God, love of country and commitment to duty. I am certain that the President will sign into law this fitting tribute for the Father of the Airborne"

William Carey Lee was born in Dunn on March 12, 1895 and served in Europe during World War I. In the 1930s he saw firsthand the innovations the Germans were making with parachute and glider troops and returned stateside to develop a test platoon of paratroopers. By the end of 1942, this group had become the Airborne Command headquartered at Fort Bragg, and the 82nd and the 101st airborne divisions had been formed. Major General Lee was the first commanding general of the new 101st Airborne.

After a year of rigorous training, General Lee and his paratroopers departed for England to fight in World War II. Just as the Division was making its final preparations for the invasion of Normandy, General Lee suffered a stroke that forced him to step down from his command. On D-Day the men of the 101st Airborne Division yelled "Bill Lee" as they jumped from their planes and into combat as a tribute to their former commander. The courage of Lee's men is legendary, and they have been immortalized as the "Band of Brothers" in the bestselling book by the late historian Stephen Ambrose and the HBO miniseries.

The General William C. Lee Airborne Museum in Dunn honors this hero's life and legacy. Etheridge introduced the legislation on the steps of the museum in July.