Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted March 5, 2015 Moderators Posted March 5, 2015 It was 1981. I had returned to the United States from a tour in Korea and I had been assigned to a unit at Ft. Bragg, NC, the home of the 82nd Airborne. As a single parent, with joint custody, my two sons had arrived to spend the Summer with me. A Special Forces unit was doing a demonstration jump on a drop zone equipped for viewing by the public and my children wanted to watch it. I had never visited any of the drop zones. So, I carefully reviewed a map, and enquired of a Sgt. as to how to take my sons to the place where they could sit in the bleachers and watch. What he did not tell me was that he had never been to that drop zone either. Anyway, we figured out a way to get there that seemingly included driving over a portion of unpaved and lightly marked road. So, I started out in my 1981, red, Mercury Lynx. At what I thought to be the right place, I turned off the paved road onto the unpaved portion. Soon I realized that something had gone wrong. My oldest son was picking up on the wheels of my car that were lugging down in the shifting sand. He sat there in the seat saying: "Front wheel drive will go anywhere, won't they, Dad?" I realized that if I stopped I would be stuck, in the middle of no where, and my only realistic choice was to continue forward. Finally I relaxed as I saw ahead of me the bleachers with people sitting there waiting for the jump. I was about to make it! Just then I heard strange sounds coming from the sides of my moving automobile and I turned to look into the face of a Special Forces soldier who was landing very close to my traveling car. They were coming down on each side and to the rear. I was driving my car in the middle of a jump! I could only imagine the scene 2,000 feet up in the air: The jumpmaster addressed the solders in the two flights: Some idiot is driving a red automobile across our jump zone. We are going to give them a show and you will jump anyway. We are Special Forces. Be alert and do not land in front of that idiot. Well, I reached the pavement in front of the bleachers I high-tailed it out of there. I knew that someone must have gotten a description of my car and license plate number. I waited for my Commander to address the issue with me and to potentially bring my military service to an end. It never came. By the way, I never talked about it while assigned to Ft. Bragg. My sons, they had an experience to remember. TheCodeMonk, Samellasogs, Liz and 1 other 4 Quote Gregory
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted March 5, 2015 Administrators Posted March 5, 2015 I can see this as a scene from a comedy... Next up, Major Dad decides his boys would like to experience all the possible down down range action at Ft Bragg... Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
Administrators Gail Posted March 6, 2015 Administrators Posted March 6, 2015 Hahaha! A father/son memory never to be forgotten! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Naomi Posted March 9, 2015 Administrators Posted March 9, 2015 Memories are made of times such as that Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
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