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A day to celebrate the Airborne spirit
| Thursday, Aug 14 2008 7:46 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Aug 15 2008 7:20 AM
When he was in the military, George Adam always worried he would freeze in the door of an airplane, and someone would have to kick him out.
Photos:
Veterans George Adam, Ismael Gonzales and John Blankenship (from left) have some interesting stories from their airborne military days. National Airborne Day is Saturday.
Veterans George Adam, Ismael Gonzales and John Blankenship have some interesting stories from their airborne military days. These are coins that commemorate their service. National Airborne Day is Saturday.
“Your training kicks in. It’s automatic,” he said. “You don’t even think about it.”
Adam jumped out of an airplane five times to earn his wings and become a member of the 101st Airborne Division in the early ’80s.
On Saturday, Adam and other Kern County Airborne veterans will celebrate National Airborne Day at the American Legion Post 682.
The day is on Aug. 16 every year because on that day in 1940, the Airborne parachute test platoon conducted the first military parachute jump.
This Airborne day is especially significant to Adam because he graduated jump school the day after the national holiday 30 years ago.
John Blankenship said Airborne Day is a good opportunity to show his family and friends the Airborne spirit.
“It’s always about the buddies, the people that you knew, and the things that you’ve done, and it’s always jumping out of airplanes,” he said.
Adam, Blankenship and veteran Ismael Gonzales describe jumping out of an airplane as one of the best things they have ever done.
“It’s close to the best thing you’ll ever do — with your clothes on, anyway,” said Blankenship, who served in the 3rd Ranger Battalion.
Adam, who served during the Iran hostage crisis, said when he jumped, he would try to “catch air” and stay up as long as possible.
“The drill instructors on the ground would get mad at me because I wasn’t coming on down and landing and getting to the parachute collection point,” he said.
Gonzales, who goes by Smiley, served in Vietnam with the 1st Air Cavalry Division and joined the military so he could be in the Airborne.
“Your first jump ... you are afraid of the unknown,” he said. “After you get the first jump in, it’s an awesome feeling.”
Gonzales said he is glad the Airborne has its own day because it is an elite group in the military.
All three said they would love to jump out of an airplane again but wish they didn’t have to pay for it.
“When I was in the service, I got an extra $110 a month to jump out of an airplane,” Blankenship said. “Now, you’ve got to pay to jump out of one.”