1st time was a Night MassTac at Bragg late Dec '76 1/4 Moon over Sicily DZ. We were briefed that the Little River runs near Longstreet and winds were blowing from DZ towards Little River. Little River is like a stream at that point.. still water is water. Hell drunks have been known to drown in toilets...
Anyways. Cold dark night, 2300 hrs jumping C130's. Out, checked canopy, nice decend.. I noticed sparkling stuff below... Crap the frikken River. Untie weapons case from ankle, turn and bang the harness release, sit back in the saddle and watch the tree line....most trees at Bragg are about 40 feet tall.... Helmet off.. no splash, halfway down and out of the chute.
Splat!!!
Frikken asphalt!!!
The glass slivers in the asphalt looked just like water with the Moon shining.
Almost wanting to pass out... feels like a thousand ants on me, grasping for life and I hear all around me others making the plunge.
Bruised for a few weeks, busted lips, huge knot on the forehead...
We all laffed later about it all.
Mac