Photo By Sgt. Stephen Decatur | A paratrooper with 82nd Airborne Division lights a candle in honor of fallen...... read more read more
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By Spc. Stephen Decatur
82nd Airborne Division
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Walking into the lobby of the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Mo., a young paratrooper could pass any of several groups of old veterans congregated there and hear snippets of an oft told war story coming to life again.
One silver-haired gentleman thrust out his arms and yanked a fistful of thin air to his chest as if hanging on for dear life.
"And I grabbed my riser, and then I roooolled ..." he said, recounting a long past parachute landing.
Hundreds of paratroopers past and present gathered for the 82nd Airborne Division Association's 62nd annual All-American Convention on Aug. 14-19 to share memories, experiences and the camaraderie of being a paratrooper. Old buddies who hadn't seen each other in years rendezvoused, and new friendships were forged. The convention included events such as a publicly-viewed jump by the division's paratroopers, a memorial dinner in honor of all fallen paratroopers and a dinner marking National Airborne Day on Aug. 16.
This year's convention was the first in several years during which all of the unit's brigades have been back from deployment in time for the event. As a result, more active-duty paratroopers than before could go. Veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam were joined by those of Iraq, Afghanistan and almost every American conflict in between.
Though a few of the old paratroopers are four times the age of the younger ones, they all share the common bond of being a Soldier, a volunteer and being airborne. Many share the experiences of combat. A young paratrooper might very well find more in common with these veterans than with some of the people he went to school with, now pursuing education or civilian careers.
"The reason why the association holds these conventions is to get these old guys and young guys together," said Don Van Alstyne, a retired first sergeant who served with the 82nd Airborne Division in the early 1950s. "It makes you feel good having young guys come up to you and talking to you, asking your opinion, caring about what you have to say," he said. "You feel like you're still accomplishing something; like you're still part of the military in some way."
Van Alstyne serves as 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 friend Gilbert Rodriguez, who recently passed away. Rodriguez wanted his ashes spread under a canopy
when he died.
It's not difficult to meet interesting personalities at an All-American Convention, where so many participants in America's recent history are gathered.
Alvin Ferguson joined the Army on Dec. 19, 1941, only weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He wanted to get into a tough unit, he said, and when he met a friend on leave in his paratrooper's uniform, he decided to go airborne.
"He was sharp," Ferguson said. "You know, paratrooper sharp."
Ferguson joined the first black airborne unit when it formed, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, known as the "Triple Nickels" or "Smoke-Jumpers." Ferguson modestly insists on pointing out that he was not in the original 555th Parachute Infantry Company.
He would later go to serve with the 82nd Airborne Division, become a senior noncommissioned officer, a warrant officer, and command an artillery battery as an officer during the Korean War.
"The guys seemed like they were gung-ho," Ferguson recalls of those early Paratroopers. "They wanted to be the best."
While some past paratroopers said they admire the young paratroopers today that volunteer to serve their country when they have other opportunities available to them, Sgt. Spencer White of 1st Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, said he felt a little overawed by the sacrifices and accomplishments of his predecessors. The honor of the 82nd Airborne Division's history is a lot to live up to, he said.
"It's a lot on your shoulders. You've got to make sure that you uphold that honor," White said.
To spread the word about the honor of being a paratrooper, about 120 of the active-duty members at the convention made a grand entrance by jumping into the Mid-America Airport near Mascoutah, Ill., on Aug. 14 in an event open to the public.
Hundreds of spectators including active-duty and former paratroopers, airborne family members and curious local residents awaited the jumpers on the ground. Adults and children alike grabbed maroon-bereted troopers to pose for photos, while the 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus entertained the crowd with airborne songs.
When the two C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying the Soldiers made their passes over the airfield, those who had never seen a jump before were treated to sight they would not soon forget. It was a fitting start to an event meant to bring past and present paratroopers together. Who knows? Maybe there were a couple of future paratroopers in the crowd as well.
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2008 19:07 |
| Story ID: | 22714 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 576 |
| Downloads: | 509 |
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