Jump school memories.

[d3sc3n7]

Jump school memory:

I had a few ladies in my class. Most of them didnt make it thorough the first week. 1 was still around for jump week. She was 5' nothin', 100 and nothing pounds.

On jump 4 she "reached" for the ground, and demolished her ankle. Didn't say a word, gathered her gear and went back to the collection point. Got up the next morning made the 1+ mile run to the load up site, and made jump 5. That is when she claimed to have busted the ankle.

I gave/give her mad props for going beast mode, and wanting to do nothing but graduate the school and get those wings.

[Gato Rojo]

I went through in Feb, '62 and it was colder than a witches tit in a brass brazier! We had several guys injure their hands by gripping the pull-up bar without gloves and froze to the bar, ripping off flesh when they dropped down from the bar.

The only thing that stands out in my memories is that poor young PVT from the 2nd Inf Division. It seems he was the "Trainee of the year" or some such, and some genius in PIO decided that his pic, in full Jump-kit, would make a dandy recruiting picture; and some that were taken in an airplane loaded with Jumpers would make an even better one.

Making this short, they suited him up and, along with 4 or 5 PIO strap-hangers, loaded onto the plane (C-130) with our chalk. Too bad no one clued the Jump Master into what was going on, because when the red light came on and the JM called "Stand up," the kid tried to step aside and out of the way. Unfortunately, the JM wasn't having any of it, and the last i saw of the kid, he was braced, both hands and feet, against the door frame.

Just before the JM's strategically employed boot aided him in his exit.

I've often wondered if the thrill of being alive motivated that kid to return and go through the school and get his wings. It would have had that effect on me, but who knows...

[T10]

Pictures of Ft Campbell 1958-60 Jump school area and loading up.

First Jump

[Mortarman11c]

That Cunt cap looks wicked cool...especially with the Signal Corps orange on it!!

[Gato Rojo]

Technically, those are not cunt caps. Those are piss-cutters.

[Abntrucker]

You have more pics on that post than I do in my whole album,,,I went to jump school 30yrs after you...I'm a sorry s.o.b...

[T10]

You have more pics on that post than I do in my whole album,,,I went to jump school 30yrs after you...I'm a sorry s.o.b...

You don't think about those things so much at the time. I have a ton of pictures including a video pf Vietnam of all phases of my career. I still kick my butt for not taking more.

[Abntrucker]

You don't think about those things so much at the time. I have a ton of pictures including a video pf Vietnam of all phases of my career. I still kick my butt for not taking more.

Most of my pics were on a disposable camera,,, those were shitty camers

[ABNSGTMATT]

I went through BAC in 12-89........We were the Xmas class which is usually shortened a couple days. Not so much for us. We completed 4 jumps in one day and then all air assets went to "Operation Just Cause"....We watched the Rangers and other assorted cool guys load up and fly out as we completed pre jump and grabbed chutes.We ended up staying a couple days over waiting to complete our final jump. Once we finished,we were dropped off at the barracks,out processed in the day room as Black Hats pinned wings on groups of 10 or so as we out processed and were walking out the door........I remember being JMPI'ed by cool guys wearing no patches,had long hair and beards. They were so chilled about the whole thing. They walked over and I saw them ask the Black Hats if they could help out....very cool.


PS: If anybody else was in that Class...............Im looking for a copy of the Class photo. I regret not buying any pictures while at BAC...


I can verify with actual Class info via pm....

[Abntrucker]

I went through BAC in 12-89.

Hey Matt. I went through in 10-89 C co. ...Our jump week was delayed for hurricane hugo.....
Same scenario , pinned our wings to us on our way out the door....

[Mcgyver]

Oh man...talk about a blast from the past!!!!

1980 November, 45th company....The thing that stands out in my mind was my first jump. Keep in mind that I absolutely HATE heights (yeah...I know, I know... ), so I was perfectly happy being number three in the stick.

Figured I'd keep my eyes glued to the dude in front of me and just follow him out the door. That is until after everyone was on board, and the Black Hat moved the first two jumpers to the other door giving me door position (so much for the plan, right?).

Flying over Fryar DZ, the gentleman invited me to "stand in the door"...and the only thing I could think of was: "Man, those trees are close".

I think that was also my first night jump in the broad daylight...'cause next thing I remember I was on the ground!

I can't believe I made four more after that...

[Bell]

Oh man...talk about a blast from the past!!!!

1980 November, 45th company....The thing that stands out in my mind was my first jump. Keep in mind that I absolutely HATE heights (yeah...I know, I know... ), so I was perfectly happy being number three in the stick.

Figured I'd keep my eyes glued to the dude in front of me and just follow him out the door. That is until after everyone was on board, and the Black Hat moved the first two jumpers to the other door giving me door position (so much for the plan, right?).

Flying over Fryar DZ, the gentleman invited me to "stand in the door"...and the only thing I could think of was: "Man, those trees are close".

I think that was also my first night jump in the broad daylight...'cause next thing I remember I was on the ground!

I can't believe I made four more after that...

You were a late comer. 32 at BAC?

[Mcgyver]

You were a late comer. 32 at BAC?

Got the numbers reversed...I was born in '57 so that would have made me 23 (instead of 32)

Man...I thought that I woke up older or something this morning....

[P-Chop]

I too wish I had pics like T-10.......even on a shitty camera. If only they had little digital cameras then like they do now (my 6yr old has one that holds a gazillion pics), I would obviously have more than I do now. Unfortunately, I spent money on things other than film....my regret. We should stress to all wannabe's and recent enlistees to document as much as they can. It's history and the cool factor associated with it transcends generations.

[Bell]

Hmm...guess I worked it backwards. It made sense last night.