Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching the 143rd
Infantry Regiment, Airborne Rangers, jump onto the John Edmunds Drop Zone north
of Guernsey.
The drop zone was named after Specialist John Joseph Edmunds who
was killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom. Specialist Edmunds was
one of the first American causalities, killed in action, in Pakistan, Oct 19,
2001. Edmunds is one of two Americans officially killed in Pakistan as most of
the fighting was in Afghanistan.
The 143rd is an elite Texas Airborne unit that has been
engaged in wars all over the globe since WW1. Monday, 288 Rangers jumped in
full battle ready dress, each solder and pack weighing between 300 and 350
pounds.
The entire jump was impressive, and over in 40 minutes after three
passes with four military C-130 aircraft, dumping supplies on the first pass
and the rangers on the next two passes.
The Jump was important enough that Camp Guernsey Garrison Commander,
Col. Richard Knowlton, hosted three Generals, including, Lt. Gen (3 star) Joseph L. Lengyel, Vice Chief - National Guard
Bureau, out of the Pentagon.
For readers unfamiliar with the Guernsey Wyoming area, and Camp Guernsey,
the site is a bit over 80,000 acres (125 square miles) and is a joint training
site, hosting National Guard, Army and United States Air Force. The site is
listed as a Regional Collective Training Capability Center, by the Army, and a
Regional Training Center by the Air Force.
The Camp hosts Soldiers and Airmen year-round and continues to grow.
It was a wonderful, proud, day to see how really good our soldiers
are. Great that the public was allowed into the event. Word is that next year
the jump will be with nearly 600 paratroopers, wouldn’t miss it for anything.
Oh- one final note, ambulances and medics were on site and the
injury total was zero. Not even a twisted ankle from the 288 jumpers, these guys are good.
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