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Green GI
      
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Welcome. You and I were there at the same time. I was the 2nd PL and XO of Co. C 4/23 and 5/327. LTC Magruder and LCT Ole had it in for each other. Ever since they were company commanders together in 2nd Bat. Magruder had Co. B and Ole had Co. C. By the way. Ole never changed he was my CO in 2nd Bat. To bad he F'd up when we went down to the Battalions.
I did the accident investigation you that guy that bounced on the DZ when I was there too. Your battalion sure like to haze the guys.
Yes I was suppose to go to Charlie, but they had a headcount issue. anyway about 5-6 of us were sent to the Zone (as they called it) Alpha was the co-hort, Charlie Airborne that left Bravo, you know the stories.. yup our battalion was a strange place indeed..
we loved Col Ole and csm Billy Spruile(sic). They were crazy, Yah he screwed up major! but c'est la vie..
I never heard how the accident happened, rumor control was that he bounced off the side of the airframe never deployed the reserve. Is that right?
Here's a pic for the memories

"It's mind over matter,
If you don't mind,
then it doesn't matter."
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Masters of Hard Knocks from the University of Gravity
      
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lkf (4/16/2008) [quote]
I never heard how the accident happened, rumor control was that he bounced off the side of the airframe never deployed the reserve. Is that right?
There were several factors in the troopers death.
1. Dry rot static line that broke upon exit.
2. Failure of the jumper to clear the aircraft door thus impacting the side of the aircraft.
3. Failure of the jumper to deploy his reserve. He hit the ground with his eyes closed still in a tight body position. Results from the ME report.
4. Hazing rituals of the company on new jumpers.
Bottom line was that this was the kids Cherry jump. The company rode him and several others for a couple of weeks prior to the jump. When he exited the aircraft the static line broke. The kid fell the 1200' waiting for the opening shock to occur. He never even attempted to pull his reserve. He stayed in the tight body position until impacting the ground. There was no dirt in the eyes, or on the palms of his hands. There was a reserve grip impression on the right hand. He landed face down on top of his ruck.
My report stated bottom line was that the kid failed to do what he was trained to do.
However, I also blamed the unit for the way that they hazed these kids. Three of the other new members to the unit had stories of them being made to do PLFs from the 2nd floor and such. These kids had very little confidence in themselves because of the unit.
"Si Vis Pacum Para Bellum" If you want peace prepare for war!
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Green GI
      
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 6/27/2008 8:35 PM
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Arcticabn (4/16/2008)
lkf (4/16/2008) [quote]
I never heard how the accident happened, rumor control was that he bounced off the side of the airframe never deployed the reserve. Is that right?
There were several factors in the troopers death.
1. Dry rot static line that broke upon exit.
2. Failure of the jumper to clear the aircraft door thus impacting the side of the aircraft.
3. Failure of the jumper to deploy his reserve. He hit the ground with his eyes closed still in a tight body position. Results from the ME report.
4. Hazing rituals of the company on new jumpers.
Bottom line was that this was the kids Cherry jump. The company rode him and several others for a couple of weeks prior to the jump. When he exited the aircraft the static line broke. The kid fell the 1200' waiting for the opening shock to occur. He never even attempted to pull his reserve. He stayed in the tight body position until impacting the ground. There was no dirt in the eyes, or on the palms of his hands. There was a reserve grip impression on the right hand. He landed face down on top of his ruck.
My report stated bottom line was that the kid failed to do what he was trained to do.
However, I also blamed the unit for the way that they hazed these kids. Three of the other new members to the unit had stories of them being made to do PLFs from the 2nd floor and such. These kids had very little confidence in themselves because of the unit.
Very sad indeed, to hear of it that way. I remember it felt very surreal at the time. I feel sad for the family.
"It's mind over matter,
If you don't mind,
then it doesn't matter."
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Green GI
      
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 6/27/2008 8:35 PM
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I was looking through my old pictures and found this pic I took of Charlie Airborne C Co. 4/327th 172nd LIB Around 1984/85. This view is from the B Co. (The Zone) AO.
http://www.geocities.com/man.geo/img016.jpg
"It's mind over matter,
If you don't mind,
then it doesn't matter."
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Cherry
      
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IT has been a while since I have been here and was Happy to see another Artic Paratrooper make a post! Welcome Bro! I served with C co 2/17th ABN From 1/87 - 6/89.
 I'm not the Killer but the Killerman's son.........
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FNG
      
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sean68 (3/18/2008) DUH! I do know about the Bush. I think I put some of those girls through college.Yep me to, i remember how much i spent there right before deployment............ sad lol
Alaska= Jumping in -40. Need i say more?
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Masters of Hard Knocks from the University of Gravity
      
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| Buzz, even your tag line doesn't say it all. It's jumping at -40 ambient, plus that initial 125 knot windchill.
"Si Vis Pacum Para Bellum" If you want peace prepare for war!
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