Whereas 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, and denial of freedom of the seas to nonbelligerent nations; Whereas 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; Whereas 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; Whereas early 20th century military and technological advances resulted in the incorporation of motor transport, aviation, anti-aircraft artillery, tanks, chemical weapons, aircraft carriers, submarines and anti-submarine warfare, sonar, underwater mines, and other innovations into the military arsenal of the United States; Whereas 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; Whereas the United States Army maintained its defense of American seacoasts, southern border, and overseas possessions, while the Army American Expeditionary Forces deployed Over There for combat operations in Europe starting in June 1917; Whereas by the end of World War I, almost two million members of the Army served overseas in the American Expeditionary Forces; Whereas, during World War I, the United States Navy increased in strength from approximately 69,000 officers and sailors and 342 vessels to more than 533,000 officers and sailors and 774 vessels