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69th Legislature - 2025 SJ 20
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SJ 20
ENROLLED BILL
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND MONTANA'S
VETERANS OF THAT WAR.
WHEREAS, Montana's 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41st Sunset Infantry Division, know to the world as the
Fighting Jungleers, was called to active duty on September 16, 1940, for 1 year of training; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 1941, the United States came under attack by Japanese forces at Pearl
Harbor and locations throughout the Pacific, with the United States declaring war on December 8, 1941, and
subsequently declaring war on Germany and Italy; and
WHEREAS, the largest ever mobilization of American power took place, ultimately calling up over 15
million U.S. men and women to serve from 1941 to 1946. Over 75,000 Montanans served as a key part of that
force and over 6,000 Montana women volunteered to serve in the various military services and auxiliary
services in World War II, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), Women's Army Corps (WAC),
Army Nurse Corps (ANC), United States Navy Reserve (women's reserve), Women Accepted For Volunteer
Emergency Service (WAVES), Women's Reserve of the Coast Guard (SPARS), Women Airforce Service Pilots
(WASP), Public Health Service (PHS), and the Cadet Nurse Corps (CNC); and
WHEREAS, many thousands of Native American men and women of Montana served in all major
elements of the United States military during World War II with honor and great patriotism. They served as
infantryman, code talkers, air crewman, nurses, and many other roles throughout all branches of the United
States military. The 163rd Infantry Regiment had over 230 Native Americans as members, representing the
eight tribal nations located in Montana, all of whom fought with distinction as Jungleers; and
WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment, Montana National Guard, and 41st Infantry Division served
with distinction at Fort Lewis and various locations on the West Coast of the United States until their departure
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ENROLLED BILL
to Australia in April 1942 as a part of the Southwest Pacific Command, going on to fight in the Pacific Theater of
World War II; and
WHEREAS, Montana's 163rd Infantry Regiment was recognized as the first U.S. unit to defeat Imperial
Japanese forces at the Battle of Sanananda, Papua New Guinea, in January 1943. They were subsequently
recognized by the 28th Montana Legislative Assembly through resolution and were the inspiration for a famous
painting by Irwin "Shorty" Shope in April 1943; and
WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment served in the Pacific Theater in three major campaigns: the
Papuan Campaign in 1943, where they won epic battles at Sanananda, Gona, and Kumusi River; the New
Guinea Campaign in 1944, where they won the battles of Aitape, Wadke, and "Bloody" Biak; and the Southern
Philippines Campaign in 1945, where they won battles at Zamboanga, Sanga-Sanga Island, Jolo, and captured
the key village of Calinan from seasoned Japanese land forces, stopping only because hostilities were ceased
due to the dropping of atomic weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. They then became an occupation
force on the Japanese mainland before being demobilized in Japan on January 1, 1946, and sent home after
over 5 years of active duty; and
WHEREAS, the First Special Service Force, a unique joint US-Canadian special operations force, was
secretly formed at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana, in April through July 1942, to organize
and train for the mission known as Operation Plough; and
WHEREAS, the First Special Service Force went on to serve in both the Pacific Theater and the
European Theater, where they fought in the Aleutians Campaign 1943, the Naples-Foggia Campaign 1943-
1944, the Anzio Rome-Arno Campaign 1944, recognized as being the first unit into Rome on June 4, 1944, the
Southern France Campaign, and the Rhineland Campaign. They were inactivated December 5, 1944, at
Villeneuve-Loubet, France, without losing a battle and with battle casualties equivalent to 137% of its strength.
The members went on to serve in the 474th Infantry Regiment in Norway through the end of the European
conflict as well as with other historical military units such as the 45th Infantry Division; and
WHEREAS, Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center was established in late 1942 west of
Helena at a former Civilian Conservation Corps site, where over 800 dogs and their handlers trained as a part
of the effort to disrupt the Axis powers. Unit members would go on to acquit themselves in places along great
circle military air routes as search and rescue and providing specialized transport in remote areas of the
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ENROLLED BILL
Northern Hemisphere; and
WHEREAS, the Army Air Force organized and trained bomber forces throughout Montana at such
locations as Great Falls, Lewistown, and Cutbank from 1941 to 1945, training personnel in the use of heavy
bombers that were ultimately deployed to both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II; and
WHEREAS, the 7th Ferrying Command, Air Transport Command, was formed at what is now the Great
Falls International Airport and at what is now Malmstrom AFB, to carry out the mission of providing aircraft and
critical supplies to our allies over the great circle route, a critical part of global war air operation of World War II;
and
WHEREAS, specialized units such as the first all-Black airborne unit, the 555th Parachute Battalion,
known as the Triple Nickels, trained and served in Montana at Missoula fighting forest fires throughout Montana
and the Northwest; and
WHEREAS, the people of Montana overwhelmingly supported the World War II efforts in many ways on
the home front, providing food and other strategic supplies and minerals and meeting or exceeding the quotas
for the eight war bond drives; and
WHEREAS, the population of Montana in 1941 was 558,000 people and only 514,000 in 1946; and
WHEREAS, Montanans supported, fought, died, and were wounded in all theaters of World War II.
Joseph Howard Kinsey wrote in his text "High, Wide and Handsome": "--of the more than 15 million men and
women in the US Armed forces during World War II, Montana furnished 75,000 to the effort."; "Proportionately
this was near the top of all states. In World War II as in World War I, Montanans were quick to enlist, and they
were healthy; the proportion rejected because of physical defect was smaller than the national average. Further
the Montana death rate in World War II was only exceeded by that of New Mexico in proportion to population.
Montana [also] had the record of oversubscribing first in eight World War II saving bond drives."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the 69th Legislature of the State of Montana recognizes the 80th anniversary of the end of World
War II and recognizes all Montanans who served in the armed forces, at home and abroad, and all Montanans
who aided in the war effort during World War II.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the
Governor of Montana, the Department Commander of the American Legion of Montana, the State Commander,
the State Senior Vice Commander, the State Junior Vice Commander, and the State Adjutant/Quartermaster of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Montana, the State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans of
Montana, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, each of the federally recognized tribal governments in Montana,
and each member of the Montana Congressional Delegation.
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I hereby certify that the within bill,
SJ 20, originated in the Senate.
___________________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20
INTRODUCED BY M. CUFFE, E. BYRNE
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND MONTANA'S
VETERANS OF THAT WAR.