It's hard to beat a Friday morning jump!
What was your favorite jump while in the 82nd Airborne Division?#AATW #unbeatableLGOP pic.twitter.com/PrENqH6avP
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) April 1, 2022
It was a night jump in 1997. No gear, just an M-16A2. I stepped out of the C-130 and the air was dead calm. Looked over to my right side as I was falling and I saw the comet Hale-Bopp just brilliant and refulgent in the sky. It was icily beautiful and seemed like I could reach up and touch it; we were far enough away from civlization that there was little light pollution. I watched the comet all the way to the ground and had a nice, soft landing in some sand where I stayed for longer than normal to take it in a bit more.
As we all made it to the rally point the spirit was hushed, much quieter than paratroopers usually are when together. Everyone had been awed by the sight of Hale-Bopp ablaze above us and I think we all felt smaller than usual. The typical paratrooper bravado had been tamped down a little and the conversations were deeper as we waited to head back to base proper.
That was a good fucking night. I miss that life sometimes.