 PARATROOP
TRAINING COURSE
TAKES TOUGH CONSTITUTION
by John H. Thompson
WASHINGTON, April 4 ---(AP) --- The Army announced
today the 50th [sic] Airborne infantry regiment will be reactivated
later this month at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The regiment will be assigned to Third army headquarters. The
Army sad it will be made up of key personnel drawn from the 82nd
Airborne division.
The regiment will be organized to provide for possible future
expansion to regimental combat team strength, the announcement said.
During World War II, the unit was known as the 508th parachute
infantry regiment attached to the 82nd airborne division.
During the Normandy invasion, the division was commanded by Maj.
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, now the three-star commander of the Eighth
army in Korea.
The Army said the reformed regiment will be commanded by Col.
Joseph P. Cleland of Omaha, Neb. He now commands the 504th
regiment of the 82nd airborne division.
[The Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Corpus Christi, TX, Tuesday, Dec
4, 1951, Page 7]
FORETASTE of
parachute-jumping is gained by William R. Bunting, Fort Knox
trainee, with a leap from the roof of his Armored Company barracks.
 FINE
POINTS of a parachute are told [to] Bunting, center, by SSgt. Edward R. Scovill, left, and TSgt. Joseph Dye to satisfy his curiosity.
[all above items are part of an article in The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, 21 Dec 1947, Sun, Page 16]
 Trainee
Practices Jump In Hope Of Diving Into Paratroop Unit
Fort Knox trainee William R. Bunting, 17, Lynn, Mass., wanted
to "have the jump" on any other trainees hoping for transfer to
paratroop duty when they reach the eligible age of 18.
That's why his buddies in the Universal Military Training
Experimental Unit found him making practice jumps from the roof of
his Armored Company barracks.
"I'll admit that jumping off my barracks roof is not quite the same
as leaping out of a plane with a parachute," he explained, "but you
fall just as hard."
Bunting said he yearned to join the paratroops ever since he picked
up a newspaper in Alton, N. H., in 1944 and read about the 82d
Airborne Division's descent into Holland.
This youth is one of 650 from every state in the U.M.T. unit. His
officers describes him as a typical trainee as well as "a modern
Icarus."
He picks better landing places, though, than did the mythological
Icarus, who dropped into the water. Bunting falls on a mattress.
|
Assumption Paratrooper
Tells Of Thrills And
Dangers 0f Initial Jumps
Editor's Note: The Pioneer is glad to pass on to its readers the interesting and exciting letter written by Gerald Guillot to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Guillot of Paincourtville. He recently received his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 508th Parachute Infantry at Ft. Benning, Ga. Gerald will be remembered by many of our readers for some swell articles he wrote for this paper in former days. Besides Lt. Guillot Assumption boasts of another Paratrooper, Corp. Andrew Mel-ancon of Plattenville. He is presently stationed at Barksdale Field, Shreveport, La/
My Dearest Folks: - "'Guess you've been a little worried but things ended up O. K. Qualified yesterday with our firth jump. It's rather hard - to say exactly what it's like but it's a great experience. Received our wings this afternoon and certificate from the Parachute School know It is a great feeling to that
you've passed the entire course without any injury or any set-backs, except a lot of sore muscles and a pants full of but I really had luck with me.
"Each jump was so different that it's hard to explain them. My first and fifth 'were my two easiest to make, however for some reason I never did feel frightened, probably because I've been looking forward to it for such a long time.
'Monday morning I was the seventh man of the battalion to jump. We were 16 officers in the first plane. Everybody joked but it still seemed a hell of a place to be as we just didn't know what to expect. Our training. however, did lots in helping us to do things automatically sang, some smoked - I kept watching for a break because I was afraid one or two of the officers would break and rather boastfully must admit that I felt no tension at all. We circled the jump field and then stood up for the big one. We heard "Go" and bailed out one after another After hitting the door I remember feeling the prop blast and I could see myself falling and when I said "2000" I felt a real tough jerk. I checked my chute, rate of descent, oscillation and by that time prepared to land. I hit the ground mighty hard but didn't feel it too much. Collapsed my chute and felt like a million dollars. The "next three were quite the same and I was in the No 1 position. The fifth jump was at 800 feet and I had a terrific opening shock but I was a happy lad when I landed O. K. on No. 5. P. It's a dangerous job Folks, I needn't hide it from you. I've seen everything from broken legs to broken backs, inside
ruptures ---Anything can happen, but
I guess it's all part of the job. This is the way I want to serve my country and figure it's up to God now to decide which way He wants things.
"Will probably make 2 or 3 more jumps before I leave Benning. Am starting a Demo-lotion Course tomorrow and understand it's an interesting one. We learn how to jump with dynamite and T. N. T.
Got to get to dinner so don't worry, I manage to come out of them luckily."
Love to All, Gerald.
[The Assumption Pioneer, Napoleonville, LA, 27 Mar 1943, Sat, Page 2]
Pvt Andrew R. Golcher, son of Frank Golcher if
Coolspring and Private Shemik of Uniontown, R. D. 3, qualified as
paratroopers at the Parachute School, Fort Benning, Ga.
[The Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA, 11 Feb 1944, Fri, Page 10] |
