Life of Duty; “Under Fire Over Fire” National Airborne Day
The folks at Life of Duty sent us this video to help with our observance of National Airborne Day. Those WWII paratroopers were all heroes. Talk about stepping out into the unknown, most of them hadn’t even seen an airplane before, let alone seen a parachute jump. Pioneers and heroes.
My favorite line about paratroopers came from the Dick Winters character in Band of Brothers when a leg lieutenant warned him that he was about to be surrounded by the Germans at Bastogne. The Winters character responded “We’re paratroopers. We’re supposed to be surrounded.”
Category: Historical
When surrounded one is in a target-rich environment.
I’m a newly pinned senior parachutist tasked with escorting duty during All American week. As I escorted the elderly gentlemen around FT Bragg they asked me about the star on my wings and I proudly informed them that I had just received it on my 34th jump.
They were impressed and informed me that they didn’t think they could jump that many times. I asked them how many jumps they had and they replied “three, once for training, once into Normandy, and once into Market Garden”
Can’t completely describe the humbleness I felt after that conversation. They are all Heroes indeed.
Today is also Elvis Presley Commemoration Day. So, kill two birds with one stone and go watch “Honeymoon in Vegas” tonight.
I was blessed with the mentorship of such men when I was a boy…
@2 I’m now Air Force but was a former “leg” at Bragg for 7yrs. Thanks for that touching story, it really puts things into perspective.
Happy Birthday Airborne.