European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 6, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse The Parachute did t work daily Magazine i up the air Foj wednesday september 6, 1967 the stars and stripes Sis Milne i was doing a 150 feet a second said s. Sgt. Gerald r. Rice of jump. By Bob Hoyer staff writer counting Clouds can be fun i your Parachute opens. But there s always the Chance that something will go wrong. The Chute May become fouled and i this happens you d better reach fast for the emergency Cord and Hope that i works. S sgt. Gerald r. Rice 26, of Warren Lille 111., Speaks with experience on the importance of the secondary Chute. By the narrowest margin he avoided Bone crushing Landing when his Emer gency Chute popped in the Nick of time. A combat controller with the 5thaerial port so Mildenhall England Rice was in training at East Werthem,12 Miles Northeast of Mildenhall when his primary Chute fouled. I was literally burning up the air he said with a Grin. A parachutist normally Falls at 17.5feet per second. I was doing 150 feet a second. The drop zone was a slowed Fielland you know i would have slowed up the Field if my emergency had t a minimum i would have been badly broken up and there s a Good chances would have been Rice and seven buddies were jump ing into the drop zone from a c130 at an Altitude of 10,000 feet when his Chut fouled. Two suspension lines crossed an prevented the Chute from inflating. All it did was stabilize and keep me up right Rice said. What made matters worse was the weight of a radio pack i was carrying with really did t have time to get scared. I ripped the Cord for the second Chute and about the time it popped i was on the Terra made a Beautiful Landing and even got a free ride in the ambulance. But there was nothing wrong with photographing the parachutists a they exited from the c130 was airman 2. C. Roman Wysowaty of the Milden Hall air station photo lab. He took the six picture sequence of Rice s dramatic descent on this Page. The first three pictures show Rice fouled Chute and the jump plane. The next three Trace the Rescue from the opening of the emergency Chute to Rice s touchdown seconds later. Despite his close Call Rice has re Mai cd on jump status. I got the shakes when i thought about what might have happened but then decided i should go right Back up is mind Over matter. You can t let it get the Best of , who receives $55 a month jump pay has made 40 jumps. Page 11
