Spring Break
Bush gets his wings Sunday
By: Brian D. Cain – The Battalion
Issue date: 6/14/04 Section: News
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Bush skydived to celebrate his 80th birthday and to show people that age is no reason to slow down one's lifestyle.
"Bush is also jumping today to celebrate the 229th birthday of the U.S. Army and the 227th anniversary of the adoption of the American flag," said Lt. Col. Dave Standridge, commander of the U.S. Army Parachute team, the Golden Knights. "Bush was extremely disappointed that we had to do a tandem jump today, because of all the hours of training he had gone through (to jump solo)," Standridge said.
Because of high winds around the drop zone, the Golden Knights decided it would be best to make the skydive a tandem jump.
Upon landing, Bush was awarded the U.S. Army's basic parachutist badge for successfully completing his fifth parachute jump.
"This badge contains a small bronze star inset in it, which indicates that the wearer has made a combat jump into hostile territory," Standridge said.
Bush parachuted over the Pacific Ocean during World War II when his naval aircraft was shot down near the island of Chi Chi Jima in September 1944.
Bush was excited about his jump and ready to do it again.
"It was a real thrill for me; I had no fear being in the hands of the Golden Knights, the most qualified, the best parachutists we have in the U.S. military," Bush said. "It was absolutely fantastic. I got to jump this morning, and I don't know about going back and asking them if I can do another one a few months from now, but I'm thinking about it."
"It's been a great day, and we're very, very grateful to the Golden Knights," Bush said.
Martial arts action star Chuck Norris and Fox News managing editor Brit Hume also made tandem jumps Sunday.
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