Today is National Airborne Day. This holiday was created back in 2001 to honor the Airborne Division of the Armed Forces.
In June of 1940 at Fort Benning Georgia, a test platoon of Army men began their training as parachutists. Jumping from planes with their chutes seems commonplace to us, you can pay to go skydiving!
But back then, it was only something they had observed the Nazis accomplish in World War II. As the war raged, Germany dropped paratroopers into Norway, Belgium and Denmark.
The U.S. program was created as a way to insert ground troops behind enemy lines as we geared up to join the war effort. The troops were deployed during WWII as a formidable force with repeated success.
These men laid the groundwork for an evolution of parachutists that have been used in virtually every ground operation from Korea to Kosovo, and many more recent activities as well. Their website here, gives much more in depth information and pictures that, if you’re a history or military buff, you’ll find interesting.
So, if you know a Paratrooper, today’s his or her day. Tell them thanks!
