Combat jumps since 9/11

[mortar_guy78]

To all 173 Rangers:

I'd like to apologize if my last post seemed like I was talkin shit, it is really just an opinion based on what I've had others relate to me...

I was there and I know what you are saying. It was not Ste. Mere Eglise, but I still have the orders and it is on my ERB. I wear the badge and have never had anyone say anything about it except one guy from the 82nd who claimed that 173rd "stole" their jump.

My response was, "Hey man, I just happened to be standing in the right formation at the right time."

[nightingalek]

173d made a combat jump into Kurdistan and 3-75 (LTC Steve Banach) seized an airfield in Iraq. Both units received combat jump notations.

[rangertough]

Regardless off what Big Army says, how could anyone from the 173d wear a mustard stain in good faith when 3 ODA teams were on the ground securing the DZ and controlling the drop?

The same way the 82nd did '89 in Panama.

Tough

[rgrokelley]

Regardless off what Big Army says, how could anyone from the 173d wear a mustard stain in good faith when 3 ODA teams were on the ground securing the DZ and controlling the drop?

The same way the 82nd did '89 in Panama.

Tough

or the 173rd jumping into Vietnam

[rangertough]

Regardless off what Big Army says, how could anyone from the 173d wear a mustard stain in good faith when 3 ODA teams were on the ground securing the DZ and controlling the drop?

The same way the 82nd did '89 in Panama.

Tough

or the 173rd jumping into Vietnam

Had a commo warrent at 2/75 that was in on that jump he wouldn't wear his mustard stain. That dude was a hard man Enlisted Man in VN, WO in the mid '90's.

Tough

[Silverback]

Regardless off what Big Army says, how could anyone from the 173d wear a mustard stain in good faith when 3 ODA teams were on the ground securing the DZ and controlling the drop?

Please see AR 600-8-22 for your answer (AR = Army Regulation).

[Jim]

Regardless off what Big Army says, how could anyone from the 173d wear a mustard stain in good faith when 3 ODA teams were on the ground securing the DZ and controlling the drop?

Please see AR 600-8-22 for your answer (AR = Army Regulation).

As I recall, you were one of the Jumpmasters on that mission.

[Silverback]

Regardless off what Big Army says, how could anyone from the 173d wear a mustard stain in good faith when 3 ODA teams were on the ground securing the DZ and controlling the drop?

Please see AR 600-8-22 for your answer (AR = Army Regulation).

As I recall, you were one of the Jumpmasters on that mission.

Yes I was...but I refuse to wear my "Mustard Stain" (because I am a civilian now).

[RangerX]

Yeah, they look funny on polo shirts.

As I am also now an ignorant civilian, who suffers from severe CRS, hasn't there been somebody on the ground for pretty much every combat static line jump in history? And despite the idea that a DZ is secure, isn't the risk of enemy fire still present?

[Silverback]

You are right... But some folks are still ignorant enough to think that receiving assault landing credit requires enemy fire.

[Silverback]

Yeah, they look funny on polo shirts.

As I am also now an ignorant civilian, who suffers from severe CRS, hasn't there been somebody on the ground for pretty much every combat static line jump in history? And despite the idea that a DZ is secure, isn't the risk of enemy fire still present?

Every now and again some pup tries to rewrite history. The E-51st guys always make me laugh... When I was there you didn't have to be Ranger qualified to be a Team Leader. But the 173rd Airborne has a lot of haters, because it is not planet Bragg.

[Jim]

Yeah, they look funny on polo shirts.

As I am also now an ignorant civilian, who suffers from severe CRS, hasn't there been somebody on the ground for pretty much every combat static line jump in history? And despite the idea that a DZ is secure, isn't the risk of enemy fire still present?

Every now and again some pup tries to rewrite history. The E-51st guys always make me laugh... When I was there you didn't have to be Ranger qualified to be a Team Leader. But the 173rd Airborne has a lot of haters, because it is not planet Bragg.

Dan, I was on an air assault as an advisor to the 42d Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, in the invasion of Cambodia. We were one of the initial units to deploy on the first day. I left Cambodia on 30 June 1970 and deployed back to the states a few days later. I was amazed at the number of the guys on the plane back to Oakland who served with US units who were wearing the arrowhead on their VN campaign ribbon because, they said, they participated in the invasion of Cambodia. The best statement of a man is an understatement.

[Silverback]

I just re-read the Echo 51st guy's post...His team "Opted NOT to jump in due to the high risk", I guess they were pussies!

[rgrokelley]

I just re-read the Echo 51st guy's post...His team "Opted NOT to jump in due to the high risk", I guess they were pussies!

Who would ever opt out of a combat jump because of high risk? That has got to be a new one. Every single one is high risk. Going into Grenada we rigged inflight to jump. We took off our chutes 15 minutes before the plane landed. Ours was the first plane to air land. On the way we were told that the SEALs were surrounded and we had to jump in and rescue them. We were told the Rangers had jumped in before us and suffered heavy casualties and the airfield was surrounded by anti-aircraft guns. We were told to expect 30% casualties. All of this as we rode that plane to the drop zone.

Now we know that it was not that bad, however EVERY combat jump is high risk. If it wasn't... it wouldn't be known as a "combat" jump. Uhm... duh!