Sixty years after Normandy, and they still haven't learned. At least they didn't have jump bags attached to their legs to lose. The picture is also a good demonstration of why women will never be infantry. Plus, they could have landed these C-17s. But then they would have got their jump stars.
Jumping into Iraq.
photos.yafro.com
..There were 15 C-17 airplanes that we flew in with 100 jumpers on each plane..The first five planes were full of vehicles, ammo, and other stuff we needed. We flew for six hours out of Aviano Airbase In Italy. We flew into Iraq and then everyone put their game face on. Its an undescribable feeling to say the least. The planes were at 25,000 feet for the entire ride until the last twenty minutes. The jumpmasters all told us to get ready. That is the moment when everyone knew that the game was on. We descended from 20,000 feet to an altitude of 600 in less than 12 minutes. If you have never experienced this sensation, imagine being pulled down by twelve people as you try to maintain your balance. All of us were weighted down so heavily with weapons, ammo, food, squad equipment, etc..I weigh 160lbs soaking wet. After I was weighed with all of my gear, I topped the scales at over 320lbs. This was light compared to my boys who were jumping in mortar gear and the machine gunners. The doors opened and everyone was soo pumped up. We had 60 seconds to clear the plane once the go signal was given. It had to be super smooth because there were 50 people on each door who had to get out in that time. I was jumper number 48 on the left door. If just one person tripped or hesitated, my boys and I in the back would have been screwed. As soon as the green light came on, we all started running smoothly to the door. Shouts of go go go and get the hell out were all I heard. Guys were grabbing their nuts and sucking up the pain their rucksacks were giving them. Before I knew it, I was at the door. I leaped out and was in the darkest sky I had ever seen. It was a calm drop zone due to the awesome work of the Kurds, SF, and the Air Force. Those guys really were awesome and will always have our gratitude. It was one of the darkest nights I have ever seen in my life. With a loud crunch, I hit the ground..Thus my big Iraq adventure began
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