I remember when MCpl Marc McRae fell off the cliff at St Hillarion Castle, Cyprus, in Dec 86. The whole place was really subdued for a couple of weeks, particularly as this happened on a pleasure outing on a day off. A couple of things strike me to this day. First off, a box with his effects was delivered to me some months later to return to his NOK. Thank God I looked inside first as I was curious I thought we had already sent everything home. No shit, it was the clothes and camera he was wearing when he died, all covered in gore. I suspect the only reason the guidos did not steal the camera was it was smashed. I nearly upchucked, and sent the whole lot to the burn barrel the next time we destoyed our old combats. Second, his ashes were “interred” over DZ Anzio in spring 87. The Padre(P) Reg Gilbert was on the ramp, and instead of kneeling down and putting the urn out into the slipstream, he tossed them outwards, whereupon alot of them blew back into the plane and onto his buds waiting to follow for a bare ass ramp jump. Guess he did not want to jump too badly that day.

I have not jumped since I broke my arm and back in 99 in Zagreb, but am going to get my chute back from Mike Denis and put my knees to the breeze again this summer.

Blue skies,

Mitch