Posted on Aug 9, 2015
Army celebrates 75 years of the American paratrooper. Will you be jumping on August 15th?
23.3K
180
70
32
32
0
The Army will honor the 75th anniversary of the American paratrooper with — what else? — a large jump into Fort Benning, Georgia.
The commemoration, led by the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, will mark 75 years since the War Department approved the formation of a test platoon of airborne infantry from Fort Benning’s 29th Infantry Regiment. Less than 45 days after it was formed, on Aug. 16, 1940, members of the test platoon made their first jump from a Douglas B-18 over Lawson Army Airfield.
On Aug. 15, today’s paratroopers, along with the Liberty Jump Team, a group of civilian World War II airborne reenactors, will jump into that very same airfield.
“This entire year, we’ve been very cognizant of the 75th anniversary,” said Lt. Col. Korey Brown, commander of 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and commander of the U.S. Army Airborne School. “It’s a very key year for the airborne community.”
Read more at ...
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/08/09/army-celebrates-75-years-american-paratrooper/31278775/
The commemoration, led by the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, will mark 75 years since the War Department approved the formation of a test platoon of airborne infantry from Fort Benning’s 29th Infantry Regiment. Less than 45 days after it was formed, on Aug. 16, 1940, members of the test platoon made their first jump from a Douglas B-18 over Lawson Army Airfield.
On Aug. 15, today’s paratroopers, along with the Liberty Jump Team, a group of civilian World War II airborne reenactors, will jump into that very same airfield.
“This entire year, we’ve been very cognizant of the 75th anniversary,” said Lt. Col. Korey Brown, commander of 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and commander of the U.S. Army Airborne School. “It’s a very key year for the airborne community.”
Read more at ...
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/08/09/army-celebrates-75-years-american-paratrooper/31278775/
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 33
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, my last jump was on 31DEC76, so I'll not be leaping on 15AUG15! I also checked my logbook and I never made any Army jump on August 15 to celebrate the anniversary of the airborne.
A good friend of mine that I served with in the USAR is on the Liberty Jump Team.
A good friend of mine that I served with in the USAR is on the Liberty Jump Team.
(8)
(0)
LTC Stephen C.
CW2 Donald Loughrey, no wonder we weren't celebrating the anniversary back in the seventies! Thanks for the info!
(3)
(0)
Sorry Gunny. I will not be jumping that day. Im a dirty Leg, and I am proud of it
(8)
(0)
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, No, as much as I would like to, I won't be jumping. I still remember my PLF's, keeping my toes pointed down, and looking straight ahead, but my bones are too sore now from all the previous jumps I made in the 82nd. 553 SGT.
(7)
(0)
Sgt Tom Cunnally
Did you go through Jump Training at Fort Benning or Fort Brag?? I remember when 1st Recon Company at Camp Geiger formed the 1st Air Delivery Platoon. We were asked to volunteer to go through Jump School. Only one guy in my Company (1st Radio) got his jump badge and wore his "Jump Boots" . They did many of their practice jumps at Camp Geiger and we really respected these guys because they were not only "Jump Qualified" but were really into tough physical training with speed hikes, scuba, & long distance runs. All for about $50.00 added pay per month...
(2)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Tom Cunnally, $55 a month. I did mine at Fort Benning, and when I got back from Nam, was stationed at Fort Bragg.
(3)
(0)
Read This Next