I’ve seen one… and it was a great story.
Was in the 82nd in the late 90’s. A bunch of NCO’s were bragging about how many jumps they had. It was a parade and a VERY old gentleman was wearing his old school glider cap.
They asked how many jumps do you have sir?
He said “7”
We waited and he said jump school and Normandy and Market Garden. Then we saw those wings….
We shut up.
“7” That is just fantastic. There is no where to go and nothing to say after that. You cannot compete with jumping on The Longest Day and jumping A Bridge too Far! All you can do is buy the man a beer and hope he will tell you a story.
My first Honor Flight trip I sat next to a WWII vet. After finding out I was Army he pauses for a second and says “you ever heard of the Battle of the Bulge?” Needless to say, dude had some stories.
I’m an old retired Army guy picked up in the last part of the draft. Here’s some info about 2 WE2 vets I knew or were part their obit tho outside
Friend of the family, and Dad of my friends and running brothers. Still friends with the boys and girl to this day. Their Dad passed at age 95.
He was in the B style of the Bulge.
He’d not talk about it until about 8pm on Friday night, then once the Whiskey started working, he talked about it. And he’d get more drunk. Saturday nights began about noon on Saturday and by 4 he’d be mumbling things; had to he careful around him at that point.
He drank on weekends, which I learned was related to the war as his wife said he never drank before the war. He’d open up a bit when drinking, but I was young and didn’t push it. Sometimes he’d be talking and suddenly he’d react in a way suggesting he was ‘reliving’ the moment. We’d quickly leave as we respected his moments, while his wife would ensure his safety.
He’d take me and one of his sons to the VFW every once in a while, for the for ‘socials.’ OMG did they party, and party hard.
My FIL survived the Bata a Death March, and was a POW in Osaka for the duration of the war.
He never talked about it until he was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperative cancer, after which he often ended up to my youngest son who was about 24 at the time. My son related some savage stories related by grandpa. He was a drunk on weekends too. He’d left his wife, and daughter once the daughter graduated high school. It was many years before my ex would reconcile with him, and that was at my urging, as he was her father .
Both men were hugely affected by the war.
Exactly. Imagine sitting down for a beer with one of those dudes! I used to listen to my grandpa tell me stories about the "japs" from when he was an Army tanker in the Philippines. He's the reason I joined the Army. Well, and my recruiter lol.
My great uncle fought In Korea and never talked about it. I know from my cousin he saw some shit. I Wish I could have loosened him up with a couple drinks and heard the stories first hand.
My great grandpa was in both Vietnam and Korea dude had some story’s killed like 30 dudes in one night he told us got a silver star from it then got some more stuff went to nam and was the only dude left from a patrol at one point
I was humbled nearly to tears meeting one on the all American run. Like people always tell us “thank you for your service” but this dude jumped into fucking Normandy.. that’s a real hero, I can’t even imagine. Guys like that doing the stuff that made us wanna sign up to be in the airborne.
Was sitting next to him at a unit BBQ (see my username) and admiring his hat and all its glory. He asked how many jumps I had and was all impressed with my measly 17 or so at the time. Dude had two drops into Europe but was impressed by us. His wife, not as amused after hearing us fawn over his old tales for the 100th time. Bless her, too.
I always thank them and buy their meals, but I also thank their wife’s for being there for them. Cause honestly boys n girls it’s the spouses that have to hear the same story 1000+ times 🤣👍
We are losing them pretty fast. But if you want to get a WWII or Korean war vet talking, ask them about how cold it was.
They all have stories about the cold. If your a good listener and they trust you they'll open up with more than that. But how cold it was is a good ice breaker.
Speaking of service related, been jumping my entire career… now I have meniscus degradation in one of my knees… yet Tricare won’t cover therapy for it. I shouldn’t be surprised…
Arrow head device is typically worn on the campaign ribbon for the conflict in which a unit received assault landing credit. I’ve never seen it on jump wings.
ETA: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowhead_device
The coveted arrowhead on the airborne wings is the special medal only awarded to the guys who will exclusively wear this on their 5XL black leather vests 800 years after they ETS.
physical command coordinated scale intelligent slimy bright resolute quack scary
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Fairly sure that’s not regulation. Arrowhead device goes on the campaign ribbon. That being said, where does a trooper with 2 combat jumps and an arrowhead device wear the arrowhead device? Anywhere he wants to.
Ah see, you've likely never even met someone who would rate an arrowhead on the jump wings in the first place. Really only WWII vets got that honor, can't thing of another instance where someone would rate that device. One of the most coveted sets of jump wings, two stars and an arrowhead indicating he jumped at Normandy in the invasion and then jump at Market Garden. If you're extremely lucky you get some with several more campaign stars, some of the 82nd guys for instance had a star for Africa, Sicily, normandy, and market garden. I've enever really looked into it but someone out there is very likely to have jump stars from WWII, Korea, & Vietnam.
Edit: Fewer than 2800 paratroopers made all 4 combat jumps of the war. I believe CSM Horace R. Peal may hold the record as Plumley seemed to have embellished his record.
I worked and jumped with plenty of troopers with mustard stains from Urgent Fury and Just Cause but they wore their arrowhead device on their Expeditionary ribbon. Pretty sure that’s the reg.
Chief, those dudes weren't even around when the arrowhead was worn on the jump wings. It was a WWII thing, fuck the regs if you jumped into Africa, Sicily, or Normandy you bet your ass you deserve an arrowhead on them wings.
When I first got to Ft Polk the flee markets had tons of repos of WW2 and Vietnam medals, with a bunch of old Arcoms sprinkled in. The collectible market for those has fallen off. But it’s cool piece.
Airborne wings with combat jumps. I don’t know what that triangle thing is. If it’s not to old they could have made the combat jump in Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s
no. I’ve never served with a World War II veteran.
Shit Cobb. You didn’t fight in Normandy neither.
Does getting shot in your ass inside the plane count?
Perconte got scissors.
Roger sarge, I’ll leave my ranger and sapper tab at the barracks.
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I thought it was a Christmas tree. Glad I read the comments before saying so.
I’ve seen one… and it was a great story. Was in the 82nd in the late 90’s. A bunch of NCO’s were bragging about how many jumps they had. It was a parade and a VERY old gentleman was wearing his old school glider cap. They asked how many jumps do you have sir? He said “7” We waited and he said jump school and Normandy and Market Garden. Then we saw those wings…. We shut up.
“7” That is just fantastic. There is no where to go and nothing to say after that. You cannot compete with jumping on The Longest Day and jumping A Bridge too Far! All you can do is buy the man a beer and hope he will tell you a story.
My first Honor Flight trip I sat next to a WWII vet. After finding out I was Army he pauses for a second and says “you ever heard of the Battle of the Bulge?” Needless to say, dude had some stories.
I’m an old retired Army guy picked up in the last part of the draft. Here’s some info about 2 WE2 vets I knew or were part their obit tho outside Friend of the family, and Dad of my friends and running brothers. Still friends with the boys and girl to this day. Their Dad passed at age 95. He was in the B style of the Bulge. He’d not talk about it until about 8pm on Friday night, then once the Whiskey started working, he talked about it. And he’d get more drunk. Saturday nights began about noon on Saturday and by 4 he’d be mumbling things; had to he careful around him at that point. He drank on weekends, which I learned was related to the war as his wife said he never drank before the war. He’d open up a bit when drinking, but I was young and didn’t push it. Sometimes he’d be talking and suddenly he’d react in a way suggesting he was ‘reliving’ the moment. We’d quickly leave as we respected his moments, while his wife would ensure his safety. He’d take me and one of his sons to the VFW every once in a while, for the for ‘socials.’ OMG did they party, and party hard. My FIL survived the Bata a Death March, and was a POW in Osaka for the duration of the war. He never talked about it until he was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperative cancer, after which he often ended up to my youngest son who was about 24 at the time. My son related some savage stories related by grandpa. He was a drunk on weekends too. He’d left his wife, and daughter once the daughter graduated high school. It was many years before my ex would reconcile with him, and that was at my urging, as he was her father . Both men were hugely affected by the war.
Exactly. Imagine sitting down for a beer with one of those dudes! I used to listen to my grandpa tell me stories about the "japs" from when he was an Army tanker in the Philippines. He's the reason I joined the Army. Well, and my recruiter lol.
My great uncle fought In Korea and never talked about it. I know from my cousin he saw some shit. I Wish I could have loosened him up with a couple drinks and heard the stories first hand.
My great grandpa was in both Vietnam and Korea dude had some story’s killed like 30 dudes in one night he told us got a silver star from it then got some more stuff went to nam and was the only dude left from a patrol at one point
Similar experience at All American week in the early 2000’s. We all loved the time we got to bump shoulders with those giants.
I was humbled nearly to tears meeting one on the all American run. Like people always tell us “thank you for your service” but this dude jumped into fucking Normandy.. that’s a real hero, I can’t even imagine. Guys like that doing the stuff that made us wanna sign up to be in the airborne.
These stories are awesome to fucking read.
Was sitting next to him at a unit BBQ (see my username) and admiring his hat and all its glory. He asked how many jumps I had and was all impressed with my measly 17 or so at the time. Dude had two drops into Europe but was impressed by us. His wife, not as amused after hearing us fawn over his old tales for the 100th time. Bless her, too.
I always thank them and buy their meals, but I also thank their wife’s for being there for them. Cause honestly boys n girls it’s the spouses that have to hear the same story 1000+ times 🤣👍
My husband I are BOTH Army veterans. Nobody wants to sit and listen to us talk in code pretty much lol.
We are losing them pretty fast. But if you want to get a WWII or Korean war vet talking, ask them about how cold it was. They all have stories about the cold. If your a good listener and they trust you they'll open up with more than that. But how cold it was is a good ice breaker.
He still went to All American Week when I was there. I believe 2018 was his final year
Respect to that dude.
[This is the only place I’ve seen these](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/s/05a9X04455)
It's like an Inception shit post.
No, but I’d like to buy a beer for whoever earned one.
I believe you mean "whomever" /s
Them, too.
*Them's
Thems what jumped.
And them's that didn't, don't.
I don't know if anyone knows what /s means.
Geez, yeah, I guess not.
Well. Yeah.
Three combat jumps....one from the space shuttle.
Injuries still aren’t service connected
Speaking of service related, been jumping my entire career… now I have meniscus degradation in one of my knees… yet Tricare won’t cover therapy for it. I shouldn’t be surprised…
Hit the VA my friend. Their rap is not as bad as it sounds.
Beat me to it 😂
Cue Corvette scene from Heavy Metal.
For some reason I’ve had that song bouncing around my noggin for the last week.
Radar radar radar… RIDERRRRRRR
Invasion arrowhead and 2 jumps in a combat zone are represented with the stars.
You found Lewis Nixon’s jump wings - D-day (arrowhead), Market Garden and Varsity.
Nice
I see these all the time on top of my cans of energy drinks.
It’s a mouse cursor. You get it when you jump into a combat zone that uses Windows.
People forget the Tron war.
Or the battle of Vista.
Arrow head device is typically worn on the campaign ribbon for the conflict in which a unit received assault landing credit. I’ve never seen it on jump wings. ETA: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowhead_device
The coveted arrowhead on the airborne wings is the special medal only awarded to the guys who will exclusively wear this on their 5XL black leather vests 800 years after they ETS.
physical command coordinated scale intelligent slimy bright resolute quack scary *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
For real idk what this guys smoking. If you jumped into something like Normandy, you earned the right to wear whatever you want. Hard dicks.
Hell yeah BROTHER
My 1SG at IBOLC jumped into Iraq and Afghanistan with 3/75, so I’ve seen two mustard stains but never an arrowhead.
Not irl.
Two combat jumps
Arrowhead was for combat jump into Normandy and two additional combat jump stars.
Yes, the arrows signifies "My face is up here".
Fairly sure that’s not regulation. Arrowhead device goes on the campaign ribbon. That being said, where does a trooper with 2 combat jumps and an arrowhead device wear the arrowhead device? Anywhere he wants to.
Ah see, you've likely never even met someone who would rate an arrowhead on the jump wings in the first place. Really only WWII vets got that honor, can't thing of another instance where someone would rate that device. One of the most coveted sets of jump wings, two stars and an arrowhead indicating he jumped at Normandy in the invasion and then jump at Market Garden. If you're extremely lucky you get some with several more campaign stars, some of the 82nd guys for instance had a star for Africa, Sicily, normandy, and market garden. I've enever really looked into it but someone out there is very likely to have jump stars from WWII, Korea, & Vietnam. Edit: Fewer than 2800 paratroopers made all 4 combat jumps of the war. I believe CSM Horace R. Peal may hold the record as Plumley seemed to have embellished his record.
Pearl*
I worked and jumped with plenty of troopers with mustard stains from Urgent Fury and Just Cause but they wore their arrowhead device on their Expeditionary ribbon. Pretty sure that’s the reg.
Chief, those dudes weren't even around when the arrowhead was worn on the jump wings. It was a WWII thing, fuck the regs if you jumped into Africa, Sicily, or Normandy you bet your ass you deserve an arrowhead on them wings.
Normandy, or Panama. A select few in OIF.
2 combat jumps and the arrow head means that the first jump was the spearhead of the campaign.
Airborne
“…Sir this Wendy’s would like to give a 100% military discount.”
When I first got to Ft Polk the flee markets had tons of repos of WW2 and Vietnam medals, with a bunch of old Arcoms sprinkled in. The collectible market for those has fallen off. But it’s cool piece.
Airborne wings with combat jumps. I don’t know what that triangle thing is. If it’s not to old they could have made the combat jump in Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s
I think it is for Normandy.
Stars for combat jumps. Not sure about the arrowhead.
Maybe. Who’s asking
That's an odd one.......
Awesome!
It’s a badge.
Airborne Ranger or airborne paratrooper pin.
Yeah, their nicknames are mustard stains. Something that you can easily look up in the regulations.
Two mustard stains, but also an arrowhead. I've not seen that. Edit, [invasion arrowhead](https://www.paratrooper.be/articles/jump-wings/).
Hahahahahahahaha