Photo By Sgt. Stephen Decatur | The 82nd Airborne Division's All American Chorus performs for spectators awaiting a...... read more read more
By Spc. Stephen Decatur
4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
ST. LOUIS, Missouri - Hundreds of spectators came to the flight line of the Mid America Airport near Mascoutah, Illinois to see approximately 120 Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division parachute onto the fields by the runway at about 11 a.m., Aug. 14, 2008. The event was held by the division in conjunction with the 82nd Airborne Division Association's annual All American Convention, being held this year in St. Louis, Missouri, Aug. 14 to Aug. 16.
Among the crowd were active duty service members, veterans of every major conflict involving U.S. forces from World War II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, families of Paratroopers and local residents curious to see the jump.
The jumpers were eager to represent the division and to show the veterans in the crowd that they are carrying on the proud traditions of the Army's airborne Soldiers.
"It's a lot on your shoulders," said Sgt. Spencer White of 1st Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment. "You've got to make sure that you uphold that honor"
The event also included performances by the 82nd Airborne Division's All American Chorus, which is composed entirely of active duty Paratroopers in the division, as well a speech by the unit's commanding general, Brig. Gen. Rodney O. Anderson.
The All American Convention is a chance for retired Paratroopers to reunite with old comrades, and for active duty Paratroopers to meet their predecessors and connect with the history and esprit de corps of their unit.
"You want to be part of it again," said Don Van Alstyne, who served in 82nd Airborne Division in the early 1950s. "You feel like you're still accomplishing something; like you're still part of the military in some way."
Van Alstyne is a retired first sergeant and chairman of the North Central Florida All Airborne Chapter. He plans on making his first jump in 56 years to fulfill the last wishes of his late friend Gilbert Rodriguez, who wanted his ashes spread under a canopy when he died.
This is the first convention since 2006 during which the entire division has been back from deployment.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2008 09:34 |
| Story ID: | 22612 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 483 |
| Downloads: | 308 |
This work, 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers parachute into St. Louis, Mo., by SGT Stephen Decatur, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
