Erwinna1943

Sir: I haven't. I've received the opposite. My first wife's current husband, one of my best friends (because she's his responsibility now) recently made his first jump (tandem) at age 58. But, my "husband-in-law" called me FIRST to report his tandem jump because he understood the connections/the heritage/the real meaning. I was genuinely happy for him. He had broken out into life. He enjoyed it because he connected with something he hadn't connected with before, be it my background, or his father's (who worked for "Wild Bill" Donovan" in WW2), or his uncle (509th in WW2: two combat jumps). Embrace the people who embrace life.

Sir, my third and current wife was 7 years old when I starting hanging around Steve Snyder's operation at Valley Forge. Never did sport jumping in 1959, because my parents wouldn't approve, so I started with the most glamorous military things, tossed in jumping (along with being in the 82nd their first time in combat since WW2), was the 1st member of the 82nd to carry a Thompson in combat since WW2, added aviation/commercial airplane and helicopter certificate, was one of the earliest Cobra pilots, had an international aviation career and did other "babe magnet" things, including a 20 year plus mil career of NEVER having a duty assignment where I didn't draw a hazardous duty pay (demolition, aviation, or parachute). Yes, it works. But, this isn't about me, nor is it about you. It's about the value of the homes we buy when we play the cards. Maybe I should say rent, or should rent rather than buy. Then, one doesn't cry over the seven figure homes gone in settlement.Quote

Sir, you are right on! When I was 15, in 1958, I first hung out with my friend Gary Somma at the old Valley Forge Airport, until about 1960, went I went into the Army and took up mil parachuting then became an aviator and made countless drops. My parents never gave permission for me to do sport jumping, so I went military, but I have wonderful memories of that time. Precious memories of Steve Snyder and his beautiful Studebaker Golden Hawk, stories Steve told us of setting the canopy on fire during first attempts in the garage with his auto reserve. During that time at Valley Forge, I didn't realize Snyder and Hillard had made the first US baton pass, because I never saw Charlie jump. Charlie was always the guy who made the drops. Charlie had just won his first aerobatic championship. Yes, it was Hillard, not Hilliard, a common error. Seems like yesterday. I believe it was Steve's wife who taught me how to pack chutes. Great experience for a kid. Yes, all those great people and more are out there. I stumbled on this site because I made my military "cherry" jump with SF at Lakehurst in 1965 and Lakewood came up on the search. Awesome memories.