Army not jumping at chance to let paratroopers take a leap

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 | 11:16 a.m.

All Dick Case wants to do is honor veterans of D-Day on the 60th anniversary of the attack by parachuting out of a plane in Normandy, France, on June 6.

And why not? The retired travel agent says he's in excellent health, works out three days a week at a local gym and is carrying a trim 145 pounds on his 5-foot-10-inch frame. He is also an experienced jumper with more than 200 leaps from planes.

But the U.S. And French governments oppose a planned ceremonial jump by the Las Vegas resident of 42 years and nine other U.S. veterans. The apparent reason is that Case is 83 years old and his comrades from the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles Division also are in their late 70s or early 80s.

Both governments fear a mishap at 3,500 feet could end in death for one or more of the D-Day veterans during the ceremony that will be attended by President Bush. As a result, the U.S. Army announced late last week that it was denying the World War II paratroopers' request to jump during the D-Day festivities where they are to be awarded the French Legion of Honor medal.

Case said the Army is right that there is a potential for an accident.

"Of course anything can happen, but we are willing to make practice jumps, take bone density tests and provide doctor certificates," Case said. "Heck, one of us could fall off the platform during the medal ceremony and break his neck."

Before going to France, the 10 D-Day veterans are to gather in Las Vegas for a fund-raiser dinner on May 28 at the Stardust Hotel. Wayne Newton, chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle, is scheduled to perform.

"The decision to not let them jump is sad because it is the last hurrah for these men -- something they have lived for, their passion," said Bob McCaffrey, chairman of the Friends of D-Day 2004, coordinators of the $150-per-plate dinner at the Stardust.

"We have sent letters offering to let the veterans do the jump before the D-Day ceremony, after the event and even the next day, but so far the Army says no," McCaffrey said.

McCaffrey, on behalf of Case and the other jumpers, has sent letters to Lt. Gen. Harry E. Soyster, chairman of the 60th anniversary World War II commemoration committee, and President Bush asking for them to change their minds and let the old soldiers once again jump for their nation.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has joined the cause, asking Bush in a letter to let the men repeat the act that helped ensure an American victory 60 years ago: "I'm sure you have a warm place in your heart for octogenarian paratroopers. I trust you will give his (McCaffery's) request its due attention."

Bush's father, former President George Bush, has made several parachute jumps in his 70s.

For Case this is old hat. Ten years ago he jumped with 40 other D-Day veterans on the 50th anniversary of the battle that turned the tide of the war against Nazi Germany.

"The Army didn't want to let us jump then either," Case said. "President Bill Clinton, however, made the decision that we were to be part of the ceremony, and we went and jumped. I'm hopeful President Bush will intervene. In any case, I'll be there ready to jump."

Some of the veterans plan practice jumps at Elsinor, Calif., this month and a jump is scheduled at 9 a.m. May 28 at the Jean Airport as part of the Las Vegas festivities.

Other local events include a May 29 reception for the paratroopers at the home of Friends of D-Day 2004 co-chairman Dr. Lonnie Hammargren and Memorial Day ceremonies on May 30 and 31.

Case was an aeronautical engineering student at Georgia Tech when he enlisted in the Army for what would become a 20-year stint. After boot camp he went to paratrooper school and made four jumps before being shipped off to England where he awaited orders for D-Day.

"I didn't realize the enormity of what we were doing then -- I was just a private," Case said. "But I was about to participate in an event that would change the face of history. If the Germans had pushed us back, the war would have been extended for years and thousands of more lives would have been lost."

On June 5, 1944, Case, a demolitions expert, boarded a C-47 to participate in the battle that would involve 160,000 U.S. troops, including 15,000 paratroopers.

"It was a muggy, overcast night, and I got up to look out the door and saw the armada below us," said Case, who for his first-ever night jump had 25 pounds of TNT strapped to one leg and the detonation caps and primer cord tied to the other. "It was dark, but still it was just an incredible sight."

Case's plane came in low, took German fire and, behind enemy lines, dropped the parachutists from just 250 feet -- more than seven miles from their target, four large cannons at Utah Beach.

While walking toward the objective site, Case's unit was attacked by German machine gun fire and he dove from the road to the ditch on his left. When the smoke cleared, Case said he found the captain and another soldier dead in the ditch on the right side of the road.

"I never really gave it much thought that by jumping to the left I might have saved my life," he said. "I was just in awe at the time because it was the first time I had seen someone dead."

Case says he was proud to make it to Utah Beach. Because of the work of the paratroopers, the casualties to the amphibious forces there were among the lowest of the battle.

Ten years ago Case leaped 3,500 feet from a restored C-47 as part of the D-Day ceremonies in France. He made his last parachute jump five years ago in San Diego.

"I know it is said all of the time, but it is nonetheless true, that as soldiers we revere those who we went into battle with us but did not come back," Case said. "This jump is important to me because it gives me a chance to keep their memory alive and to help the world remember what happened that day."