Photo By Master Sgt. Andy Yoshimura | Pfc. Ezekiel Polite of the 82nd Airborne Division salutes an Italian jumpmaster after...... read more read more
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POPE AIR FIELD, N.C. – A Soldier crosses his arms against the cool night air at Green Ramp located here. “For me, this is my ‘Black Friday,'” said Pfc. Ezekiel Polite.
The first paratrooper in line for the 17th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, Polite had arrived earlier in the day, around 3 p.m., the day prior to actual lottery day.
“I told myself, ‘this year I want to be first,’” Polite, a unit supply specialist with the 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, said.
Over the last 16 years, Operation Toy Drop has become a Fort Bragg tradition. The yearly event was started by then-Staff Sgt. Randy Oler, a civil affairs sergeant with U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), as a way to encourage Soldiers to raise toys for children in need during the holidays.
Paratroopers bring a toy and are entered into a lottery to jump with foreign jumpmasters, and in turn earn foreign jump wings. Jump wings are a mark of pride for many paratroopers, and wings of the foreign variety are rare and hard to attain. Operation Toy Drop gives Soldiers the unique chance to acquire these wings and gain valuable experience training with allied and partner countries.
Thousands of hopeful paratroopers line up along the road to the air field. Some of them camp out the night prior to Lottery Day, where they wait hoping to hear their lucky number called.
Polite was one of these Toy Drop faithful. Last year, his number wasn’t called and he was not given the opportunity to jump.
Polite said, “I made sure it wouldn’t happen this year. I brought my rucksack, a blanket, a book to read, and some food.” He laughed, adding, “It should be warm enough. We’ll find out.”
As the sun began to set, Polite sat alone. Some passers-by commented on his dedication; since the operation is based on a lottery, there was a chance that Polite wouldn’t be chosen despite his being first in line.
Unfazed and true to his namesake, Polite shook his head and smiled. “The chance is all that matters. I waited all year for this,” he said.
The real motivation behind the operation wasn’t lost on Polite. He picked up his donated toy—a Spider-Man scooter—and placed it in his lap. “And you get to donate a nice toy to a child, it’s great,” he said.
The following day, lottery day, Polite waited to hear his number called. Again, his number was not called. However, his motivation was enough to impress the leadership of USACAPOC(A). He was given the honor of jumping, Dec. 6, 2014, as first man out on a jump overseen by Italian jumpmasters, the last chalk of the day.
Over 48 hours after he had started his vigil at Green Ramp, Italian jump wings were pinned on Polite’s chest. He could hardly contain his smile.
Operation Toy Drop began as the honorable intentions of a few Army Reserve Soldiers. Today, it is the largest combined airborne operation in the world. Soldiers like Polite have no small part in making Operation Toy Drop the success it has become.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2014 13:23 |
| Story ID: | 149814 |
| Location: | POPE AIR FORCE BASE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 674 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Early Bird: A Soldier in line for Operation Toy Drop Lottery Day, by SGT Kimber Huang, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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