Airborne! Two successful jumps. the 1st went quite satisfactory -- but I jammed my shoulder a bit due to oscillation...My fault -- my pain relivers...
Night jump - mas exit - combat equipment...3rd out the
door on the left side of ze good 'ol c141...only thing was -- winds were
way
offf what they were supposed to be. I knew somethign was up when
the 3 permanent party got stand by 3 times b4 go & same w/ my chalk/stick...out
the door after a painfull I don't know how fucking long dig in my shoulder
blades from all the weight ~ 80 lbs I'd estimate...Hesitaated a brief tenth
second -- I felt my chute catch - gained control & checked my canopy
-- then looked down to see nothing but trees. I slipped like a mother
away -- parachutist in my way I was forced to slip back...back and forth
till 250 ft -- lowered my combat rig & slipped again and again -- tree
line opened up a brief respite just where I landed. I hit terra firmar
but my chute did not. the C141 had dropped us
way too far
to the north side of the DZ -- but of course all the otehr sticks got dropped
good...so many entanglements leap frogging -- Sandberg, Kennedy, Cori just
b4 me got in a tree...
Ridenoir screwed himself -- jumped w/ stress fractures...he
hurt himself on the jump prior but decided to go ahead anyway--that last
jump...didn't matter how you landed or what you broke, make it out the
bird and you graduate...
I hit the ground w/ a diagonal slip--something they said never to do...trying to stear clear...I lived-- my body is not happy w/ me. My only thoughts on landing where: "feet and knees together". If I did an actual PLF -- it was by pure instinct...Right now -- my belief in God is much stronger. I said a quick prayer for Lee & Garcia on the bird, not for myself since I'm not in the position to pray for myself & they could use the aid. Lee went into the trees, through them, landed in a creek halfway...but uninjured. Garcia landed clear of the trees.
So lord above me, I thank you for this day, for my life & those around me, and may I come to know the full weight of your grace soon.
Right now, this worn body cries for rest. It's 0132 -- formation at 0800. Peace Ouut!
Airborne!!