Moments do not move as fast as you would think, even in the crisis
of action. In fact, they may even seem longer than usual under such
circumstances. Lay your watch on a table, and sit for seven or eight
minutes without lighting a cigarette; then you will realize how long
it took us to complete the great round of our circle, as we returned
for our second pass over the drop zones. Major S had stepped to the
moment Capt. R and his men completed their exits. He kept his eyes
fixed on their chutes as they swung to the earth. The picture was
confused by other planes which were following us and dropping their
"sticks" of jumpers, but S marked the spot where our men came down,
and swiftly made his calculations.
"The wind must be stronger than they figured, for they landed short
of the parade ground," he yelled in the ear of the first jumper,
loud enough to be heard above the motors' roar. "I'm going to hold
you to a count of eight; then we'll pitch the bundle, and you follow
it."
Capt. Charles M. Bradford
MD |
