Evening star., 1943-07-12
us. Parachute Troops
Got Long Training
For Invasion Role
By WALTER McCALLUM.

Scanning keenly the early reports
of American parachute infantry
landings on rocky Sicily are many
Army officers who have been closely
associated with paratroop and
glider developments since that
branch OF the Army got under way
three years ago.
All over the United States para
chute infantry troops have been
training for many months, develop
ing the air technique and ground
operations that make or break an.
airborne invasion. Headquarters Of
the Airborne Command are at Camp
Hoffman, N. c., where many units
are located, under the command
of Maj. Gen. Elbridge Gerry Chap
man. Parachute infantry outfits
which took part in the North Afri-
can landings under Col. Edison Ran
last November were trained at Fort
Benning, Ca, where parachute in
fantry training still goes on.
Washington Man Is Veteran.
Veterans or the parachute in
fantry, in addition to Gen. Chap
man. q decorated hero OF the last
war, are Mai Gems. William, c. Lee
and w. B. Ridgeway, Brig. Gen.
C. p. Howell, Washington man,
and Col. Ridgley Gather. recently
stationed at Ground Force Head
quarters here, and now command
ing the parachute school at Fort
Benning.
Probably aiding in the staff work
incidental to the parachute in
fantry landings in Sicily was 1t.
Col. william B. Ryder, a tall West
Pointer, known among the para
troops as the father" of the para
chute infantry. Although he is only
80 years old. Col Ryder has made
more than IS free jumps from air
planes.
For. many months airbprne di-
visions have been training in the
South, working from airplanes and
with gliders. Quite recently, near
Hoffman, N c., gigantic airborne
maneuvers were carried out.
Drop From 500 Feet.
The parachute troops catapult
from the wide door of planes of
the CAT type of the Troop Carrier
Command, dropping at heights
around 800 feet, with the plane cut
down to stalling speed at around 95
miles an hour. The chutes are pulled
open by the static line" attached
to a cord stretching along the
length of the roof of the plane. An
auxiliary parachute is strapped to
the chest.
The parachute infantryman lit
orally is an airborne arsenal.
Wearing special suit and the
characteristic high parachute in
fantry boots and close-fltting he'll
met, he drops, carrying an MI
Army carbine, with IS shots in
the magazine, and spare ammuni-
ton. At his belt usually are hung
half a dozen hand grenades, a knife
and emergency rations. He is
equipped to live on the country, if
need be, but usually he is supplied
with food. ammunition and water
by air. The technique of resupply
of parachute troops from the air
has been carefully worked out by
the Army. All resupply materiel is
dropped by parachute.
Trained Like Commands.
The parachute infantryman is a
tough, gent, noted for his rugged
ness in a rugged Army. Forced
marches of 80 and 40 miles a day
with full equipment are common in
the parachute infantry. They are
trained to live on the country, to
fight as commandos or ground
troops of the Ranger type. ALI are
taught the elements of judo work
and how to snap an enemy neck
with a twist of the wrist.
Officers are as tough and rugged
as the men. In the American
parachute infantry the officers
usually are lean young men who
jump with the troops and are as
tough. as the men they command.
Inasmuch as one of the main tasks
of parachute infantry is disruption
of enemy communication lines all
are taught the details of demolition
work. of all types. The American
parachute trooper, spearhead of in
vasion Of enemy country, is ready
for anything. ,.,D~. s.,.... ...