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Rangers 'rendezvous' on drop zone

Army News Service

Release Date: 8/07/2003

By Pfc. Jennifer J. Eidson

FORT BENNING, Ga. (Army News Service, Aug. 7, 2003) -- More than 1,500 Rangers of the 75th Ranger Regiment and its three battalions kicked off Ranger Rendezvous 2003 by jumping onto Fort Benning's Fryar Drop Zone Aug. 3.

Ranger Rendezvous is a weeklong regimental gathering that celebrates the unit's heritage and unites current and veteran Rangers for intramural competitions, memorial ceremonies and a regimental change of command.

The regiment's 1st and 2nd Battalions flew here from Fort Lewis, Wash., Hunter Army Air Field, Ga., to Fort Benning, Ga., prior to conducting the rare mass jump.

"They will do a jump like this every two years in concert with Ranger Rendezvous," said Brig. Gen. Howard Yellen, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and also the event's first jumper. "There is nothing more exhilarating than going out the door with the 75th Ranger Regiment." Col. Joe Votel, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, said the jump is significant because it brings the entire regiment together.

"It is special to have all the battalions here, coming from outlying locations," said Votel. "Everyone participates in the jump. It is kind of a traditional activity for us."

Another thing that made this jump special, Votel said, was the fact that the Rangers had been to war together. "We had the opportunity to go to combat with all of them over the past couple of years," said Votel. "It is a great opportunity to finish out with everybody on the drop zone."

Maj. David Morrison from the regiment's headquarters said the paratroopers jumped from 1,200 feet and had a soft, smooth landing because of low winds.

"After all the rain we had, it was a nice and soft out there (on the drop zone)," Morrison said.

Airborne assaults like this are the standard at the regiment, said Morrison.

"This is our meat and potatoes right here -- jumping out and seizing the objective," he said.

Even though a storm was approaching the drop zone, veteran rangers and family members showed up for the jump, said Staff Sgt. Jacob Cogins, a Ranger with the 75th Ranger Rgt.

"It is great to see such a turn out and this much support for the regiment as a whole," said Cogins. "It is great to meet a bunch of the old Rangers and for them to meet some of the new guys."

Although the rangers were happy to gather on the drop zone, Yellen said he knew they hadn't forgotten about the rangers who would not be able to rendezvous with them this year.

"We are all jumping here, but we still have rangers that are in harm's way," Yellen said. "And I know all their ranger buddies will be thinking of them throughout the week as they continue to do our nation's business in support of the Global War on Terrorism."

(Editor's note: Spc. Jennifer J. Eidson is a journalist with U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.)