Last nite I made it home from an 1827 mile ride.
My oldest daughter was graduating US Army Airborne school and with her being a second generation paratrooper and Special Ops Command and fifth generation Army, I felt the pull to go down and pin her jump wings.
My ride started about noon Wendsday.
After my late start I made it to South Carolina day 1. The weather hit in WV on the way down and I pushed threw it and the bike ran great. Extra gear and mods to the bike worked out well. One of my fuel stops on the way...

My morning of day 2 started with reloading the bike, chain maitanence and coffee.

I got in Columbus Georgia Thursday about 2 pm, rode round the post some and the kids last jump, that was schedualed Wendsday, postponed to Thursday, got kicked back again due to weather. New plan was kid was jumping Friday and would grad on Fryar Drop Zone inside Alabama. Due to this change I grabbed a room and waited till the AM.
Friday weather sucked too. I was on the drop zone by 09:30.

I did pass an old Slick on the way and it looked like a great photo op...

No rain but low ceiling. Aircraft due to be loded at 10 am were pushed back to after 3. This allowed my old paratrooper *** to crash out a bit.

Finally the bird started dropping the paratrooper students on their final jump.



Not to long and the kid was hauling her grear back to the AA.



One all the class was on the DZ, they collected their gear and graduated on the drop zone.

This was pretty awesome. The company commander called out all parents or grandparents who were Airborne and had us form oup on him. Then he ordered all second and third generation paratroopers to fall out of formation and fall in on their family members. I was able to pin the kid on Fryar Drop Zone with my Blood Wings from 21 years ago. That was worth the ride right there. We were WARNED that NO BLOOD WINGS were to be given due to Pentigon policy (the old school Vietnam Vet next to me said to his grandson "wait till be get away and you'll get real wings." (this mission was accomplished back at the company area near the towers out of eyeshot by MANY of us older guys to the new troopers)
We broke off from there and back to Jump School at main post. Kid out proccess the school and get ready to fly back to FT Bragg. I cruised about main post a bit. Had to take a few pictures while I waited for her to clear.


We hung out for a little while, accompished our Blood Wing detail out of sight of any instructors and she made faces at my camera.

She was of to the airport and I was off on the bike. At this time it was near 8pm and I made it to north GA and grabed a $40 motel.

My long haul back Satuday was slammed with rain and cold starting in Virginia. But all and all I survived and it was well worth it. Poor weather and all. Great ride that covered parts of Ohio, PA, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.



The bike ran great. Chain required maits on the way of course, tires got air once, The Perrelli Angel ST's were great and only one wheel skid on the rear pulling in a lot in the rain in SC one cold nite. Yeah, my *** hurts some but not all that bad. Left front turn indicator and clock and trip memory also took a dump on the way and will need attention. But for a hard pushed trip in bad weather, I'll take it.

 

We need a new icon: This Thread is Priceless With Photos

 

Great that you could make the trip to be there for your daughter's accomplishment. Congrats to her...HOOOAHHH! Thanks for sharing the special day, your thoughts about it, & all the pics of the story & trip.

 

Hey I went there! I was always jealous of the people who had their family come out to the graduation. your girl is very lucky.

 

Very awesome thread! Congrats to your daughter, and congrats on making the trip and pinning her. Your pictures are great!

 

very very cool! thanks for your and your daughter's service to the greatest country on the planet!

 

Thanks for the comments, gentlemen. Airborne, All the way.

 

I only have a chance at Air Assault. I basically got laughed at when I asked about airborne school when I got to my guard unit. Air Assault is a possibility, but Indiana has run out of money. You'd think a PT score of 280+ every time could get into these high speed schools.

 

Great story,congrats to your daughter as well. The jump towers in the pics bring back memories.

 

Thanks for posting the pictures and the commentary on your trip. I graduated from jump school August 25 of 2000. I remember it quite well just like it was yesterday. Your daughter is lucky to have you there in her memories. I read and reread your post several times. I am a 100% disabled veteran now and I am trying to find my identity again. Seeing this sparked something in me that I needed. 79% of the world is water the rest is drop zone. Rangers Lead The Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!