About 40 years later, I was at Four Corners NM, talking with a Navajo silversmith named Joe Begay. He was a Green Beret during Vietnam, and one of his uncles was an original Codetalker. We both went through Jump School at Benning.
We must have spent an hour rehashing memories, it was probably the last time my youngest son (now 16), would look at me with great respect.
“...a Green Beret during Vietnam, and one of his uncles was an original Codetalker.”
That must have been a great conversation alright!
The thing I liked best about Benning was that I got to meet guys from or destined for Marines, Seals, Rangers, SF, 82nd, etc and even some foreign troops - all there for jump school. It made for some fun, good-hearted rivalry and trash talking.
I got orders to go to the 10th SFGA my last week at Benning. Back then the 10th was at Ft Devens outside Ayer, MA. That post got closed sometime after I got out. I think that group moved to Colorado after that.
“...walking off the drop zone under my own power after the fifth jump...lol.”
I recall that I was most nervous on my SECOND jump, when I KNEW what was about to happen. The first jump I was too busy trying to remember what they had taught us as I briefly stood in the door.
I never got hurt bad jumping, but banged up a bit at Devens once when they made us jump for some brass even though it was too windy - I could not release my chute for a while after landing because the wind was dragging me across the ground.