Army celebrates 75 years of the American paratrooper. Will you be jumping on August 15th?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 10:53:10 -0400

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/

Army celebrates 75 years of the American paratrooper

The Army will honor the 75th anniversary of the American paratrooper with — what else? — a large jump into Fort Benning, Georgia.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Aug 9 at 2015 11:02 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 11:02:20 -0400

And a Marine has to tell us this....
Oh well .. at least I got the 100 EP
Unfortunately I will not be able to make the Big Jump but it should be Glorious!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 11:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 11:04:48 -0400

101st

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 11:25 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 11:25:38 -0400

Out of a perfectly good airplane, are you kidding!?!?!?!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 9 at 2015 11:42 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 11:42:31 -0400

Something I've always wanted to do, but just never made the time to do it. I'll need to find a good excuse to drag the wife down to Richmond for the day.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 12:00 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 12:00:44 -0400

Not me. Maybe I would have in my youth, but not now.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 1:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 13:44:37 -0400

Sorry Gunny. I will not be jumping that day. Im a dirty Leg, and I am proud of it

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 9 at 2015 9:36 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 21:36:43 -0400

Nope, The mast of a Ship is about as High as I go.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 10 at 2015 1:01 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 01:01:27 -0400

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.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 5:47 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 05:47:33 -0400

Wish I could make it, but too much work to do. Maybe I can make the 80th.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 10 at 2015 6:48 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 06:48:54 -0400

A special thanks to our airborne troops on this day.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 8:20 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:20:11 -0400

My heart and mind say yes, but my knees say no. Guess I'll sit this one out.
All The Way!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 8:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:22:09 -0400

My back is grateful that I won't be jumping.

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 10 at 2015 9:07 AM

SGT William Howell — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:07:04 -0400

This is also called, "The day of the human lawn dart." You guys got more balls than me. Not doing anything where the difference between a good jump and bad jump is death.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Aug 10 at 2015 10:24 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:24:24 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad - Unfortunately, the only jumping I now do is jumping to conclusions and jumping through my butt several times a day.

I do, however, want to honor all current and former Airborne troopers.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 10 at 2015 10:27 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:27:09 -0400

I've done the Normandy Anniversary jump ...way back when I was at Bragg....But have not jumped since I left my last airborne unit in Alaska. Pretty sure Im due for both JumpMaster Refresher and basic airborne refresher before Im qualified to jump again.

Response by SPC Mike Herron made Aug 10 at 2015 11:14 AM

SPC Mike Herron — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 11:14:39 -0400

yes I will be jumping

Response by 1SG Todd Sullivan made Aug 10 at 2015 12:19 PM

1SG Todd Sullivan — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 12:19:40 -0400

Just saw this Gunny, I was finishing a 2,750 mile motorcycle ride yesterday... The guy who asked why a marine, was reminding "US"... Maybe you needed a reminder.. ENJOY YOUR WEEK EVEYONE I have a Harley that needs some love aka after action maintenance.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 8:23 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 20:23:03 -0400

Not this year, i just left my last Airborne unit. My Airborne School graduation was on 16 August '96. It was a great airborne day.

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Aug 11 at 2015 9:22 AM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:22:24 -0400

I would if I could but I can't so I won't !!...My Last jump was into the desert of Hill AFB, Utah in 1983.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 4:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:21:18 -0400

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.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Aug 11 at 2015 7:46 PM

PO3 David Fries — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:46:21 -0400

I would have loved to have had the opportunity to jump. The closest I was able to get was fast roping and helo casting. Thank you SOTG for that!

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Aug 13 at 2015 12:55 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:55:16 -0400

My last jump was in 1966 . So sadly I won't be able to jump at this time ! But still I say AATW !

Response by SSG John Erny made Aug 14 at 2015 4:43 PM

SSG John Erny — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 16:43:55 -0400

There is something different about an Airborne Unit; pride, discipline, esprit de corps. The Army standard was not the Airborne standard, 60% on a PT test event would pass but you had better do 70% or more. Division is a very special place with its own language and SOP's.

If you look at the following video from the 1970's you will see something different about the paratroopers being trained. Look at the way they march, halt meant halt. Not the mark in step till everyone catches up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNEz0UiUtp8

82nd Airborne Division (1970)

Traces The History Of The "All American" 82Nd Airborne, The First Army Airborne Division, In World War Ii, In Santo Domingo In 1965, And In Vietnam.

Response by SSG John Erny made Aug 14 at 2015 5:04 PM

SSG John Erny — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 17:04:55 -0400

I wish! Remember how quiet it gets once the aircraft flies away, especially on night jumps.

Response by SFC Derrick Graves made Aug 16 at 2015 6:06 AM

SFC Derrick Graves — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 06:06:43 -0400

Unfortunately I will not be able to perform a jump, but my motivation and spirit goes out to my fellow paratroopers who have the opportunity to take advantage of that unique experience.
1/504 Parachute Infantry Regiment

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Aug 17 at 2015 6:16 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 06:16:34 -0400

**** UPDATE ****

WWII vets, others celebrate 75th anniversary of first Airborne jump at Benning ...

As he jumped out of a World War II era plane Saturday morning at Fort Benning, retired Lt. Col. Jon Ring was thinking about the very first paratroopers.

Ring was part of the Liberty Jump team, which helped celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first Airborne jump at Fort Benning in 1940 as the United States was gearing up for WWII.

“They were brave and bold, and they were right here 75 years ago,” said Ring, wearing a World War II era Army paratrooper uniform. “Do you know the night before the first jump, they passed around a steel bucket? Everyone put $5 in that bucket and the money was to be sent to the family of the one who didn’t make it. Back then they were not all that sure.”

All of the early jumpers survived, though their mission was new and risky.

About 230 current soldiers jumped into Lawson Army Airfield on Saturday to commemorate the anniversary of Airborne’s birth at the place it started. The 15 members of the Liberty Jump team flew in a C-47. The current soldiers jumped out of C-130s, C-17s and Black Hawk helicopters.

In 1940, the War Department approved the formation of a test platoon of Airborne Infantry from Fort Benning’s 29th Infantry Regiment. About six weeks after the platoon was formed, the first jump was made over Lawson Army Field the week of Aug. 16, 1940.

Saturday, the past touched the present as parachutes opened one by one above the airfield. For about two hours men and women jumped.

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/military/article31200122.html#storylink=cpy

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http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/military/article31200122.html

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Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Aug 17 at 2015 6:31 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 06:31:26 -0400

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 8:38 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 08:38:08 -0400

Fantastic way to commemorate such a historic group.

Response by CDR Laurel Meadows made Aug 17 at 2015 10:15 AM

CDR Laurel Meadows — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 10:15:52 -0400

I will jump off my back step in salute. Anything more than that and I'll probably break something important.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Aug 17 at 2015 11:34 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 11:34:17 -0400

Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division participate in a proficiency jump into the Sicily Drop Zone at Fort Bragg on August 15th.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 17 at 2015 1:20 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:20:06 -0400

Unfortunately I will not be jumping GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad. My spine is not up to parachuting. I think jumping up and out or walking out the back would be fun, a great thrill and bring back some great memories; but, hitting the ground would be another matter entirely :-)
Perhaps they may do something to honor the military sky diver who died this weekend Sgt. 1st Class Corey Hood, 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio, died on August 16, 2015 as a result of injuries sustained Saturday August 15, 2015 when he collided in midair with a member of the Navy Leap Frogs team during a group maneuver, near North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 6 at 2015 4:13 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 16:13:32 -0400

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2017 11:43 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 May 2017 11:43:18 -0400

AIRBORNE!