![]() ![]() To be eligible for the Senior Parachutist Badge, an individual must have been rated excellent in character and efficiency and have met the following requirements: By the end of the course, a student will have completed five jumps in varying jump configurations, from a "no load" jump all the way to a full combat load jump at night. To graduate, a student must complete the three-phase course consisting of a ground phase, a tower phase, and a jump phase. To be eligible for award of the Parachutist Badge, an individual must have completed the Basic Airborne Course of the Airborne School of the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Senior and Master Parachutist Badges were authorized in 1949. The airborne background trimming that is worn behind the badge of those assigned to airborne units is also a contribution of Yarborough. LTG Yarborough also designed the Senior and Master Parachutist Badges and the addition of stars to portray the number of combat jumps. The Parachutist Badge replaced the "Parachutist Patch" which had previously been worn as a large patch on the side of a paratrooper's garrison cap. Yarborough and approved by the Department of War in March of that year. The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Captain (later Lieutenant General) William P. The badge and its sew-on equivalent may be worn on the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). It signifies that the soldier is a trained military parachutist, and is qualified to participate in airborne operations. The Army's Parachutist Badge is awarded to all military personnel of any service who complete the US Army Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. The majority of the services earn their Military Parachutist Badge through the U.S. Marine Corps issue the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Badge to advanced parachutists. Air Force issue the same Senior and Master Parachutist Badges while the U.S. The DoD military services are all awarded the same Military Parachutist Badge. The United States Space Force and United States Coast Guard are the only branches that do not award the Parachutist Badge, but their members are authorized to receive the Parachutist Badges of other services in accordance with their prescribed requirements. Lucas was one of 27 servicemen to eventually be awarded the nation’s highest decoration for bravery during the Battle of Iwo Jima.The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces. Truman presented Lucas with the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 5, 1945. Nearly eight months after Lucas’ heroic act, President Harry S. Lucas made a surprising recovery but underwent prolonged physical therapy to regain the use of his arm. There he underwent the first of a series of 26 operations to remove some of the shrapnel from his torso, arm, and face. Stretcher bearers then carried Lucas to the beach, where he waited until nightfall to be evacuated to a hospital ship offshore. The Corpsman who came to Lucas’ aid not only treated his wounds, but also shot and killed another enemy soldier preparing to throw a grenade at the pair. A Marine who happened to pass by saw Lucas and called for a Navy Corpsman. Meanwhile, Lucas, who did not lose consciousness, could not make a sound and struggled to breathe. Lucas’ comrades were sure he was dead and left the trench to continue their assault. Lucas was thrown into the air and landed on his back. Seconds later, one of the grenades exploded, sending more than 250 pieces of shrapnel into Lucas, and causing grievous wounds throughout his body. Lucas then threw himself on one grenade and pulled the other grenade underneath his body, pushing the small black cylinder as far into the black volcanic soil as he could. ![]() ![]() He yelled “grenade!” and pushed a fellow Marine out of the way. Lucas was in the process of clearing a jam in his rifle and was the only one to notice the grenades. On Lucas’ second day in combat, two Japanese grenades fell into the trench he was sharing with three fellow Marines. On the afternoon of February 19, Lucas landed on the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima as a rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Photo by Naval History and Heritage Command. Marines of the 27th Regiment prepare to move inland on Iwo Jima, February 19, 1945. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |