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Paratroopers remember the jump into Iraq

Mar-24-2004 » Filed Under: General Military

Another great article for military history buffs.

[Link to Full Article]
Story by Spc. Adrian Schulte, SETAF Public Affairs

VICENZA, Italy -- It has almost been a year since about one thousand paratroopers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachuted into war, opening up the northern front in the effort to liberate Iraq. The March 26, 2003 jump was recently classified as a combat jump and the paratroopers who participated in it will now be able to stick their chests out with pride showing off the gold star, or “mustard stain,” that crowns their parachutist wings.

So what is it like to jump into war? Those troops, young and old, went through an extraordinary experience, one that many paratroopers can only dream of. Many of the Soldiers had been jumping for years, but for others, this would be their first jump after airborne school.

“I knew it was real when they gave us live ammo at the airfield. I knew then that there was no turning back,” recalled Pfc. Jerry Allen, Chosen Co. 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne). “I’ve never seen so many planes in my life,” he said referring to the Air Force C-17 Globemasters waiting to take them to war.

Before loading up on the C-17’s, the paratroopers were briefed on the conditions of the drop zone. The Kurdish controlled area was expected to be friendly and little resistance was anticipated. The weather called for a pitch-black night, with no moon or stars and there was going to be fresh mud on the drop zone from the heavy storms in the prior weeks.

Once the troopers were rigged with their chutes and rucksacks, which weighed nearly as much as many of the Soldiers, they loaded up onto the lumbering jets lining the Aviano Air Base runway. The Air Force gave each Soldier a boxed lunch for the five-hour flight.

“Nobody really ate them,” remembered Spc. Christopher Holbrook, Chosen Co., 2-503rd Inf (Abn), “but we were stuffing snacks into our DCU’s to take with us.”

After the aircraft took off, the paratroopers had ample time to prepare for what lay ahead.


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