After High School (Jeff Class of ’81), my alma mater was the United States Army.

My brother Jim graduated High School a year ahead of me, and joined the Army’s Military Police Corps. I graduated, joined the Infantry, and went Airborne. Not to be outdone, Jim later reenlisted to be an Airborne demolitions expert.

The Airborne School welcomes family and former jumpers to attend the graduation ceremonies for new paratroopers. So my dad and I went to Fort Benning to see Jim graduate. That’s the closest I’ve come to participating in a homecoming event.

We drove all night and arrived late. I knew where Jump School was, but didn’t know how to get to the ceremony. So we stopped by the barracks I’d lived in (my brother lived in the same building), and asked one of the cadre for directions to Fryer Drop Zone.

As the seasoned Airborne Sergeant searched for a map, my dad said, “Mike here graduated from Jump School 3 years ago.”

“You did?” he replied.

“Yes Sergeant, Airborne!”

Then he scowled and barked, “Then you ought to know how to get to Fryer Drop Zone!”

It wasn’t until we were on our way that I realized I’d never driven to Fryer Drop Zone before: I’d always fallen from the sky to get there.

When we arrived, the speaker was giving his commencement address, and then family members were invited to pin the wings on their new paratroopers. I acquired a new pair of silver wings from a captain, and slipped them into my pocket. When I took my place in front of my brother, I pulled the pair of wings they’d pinned on me 3 years earlier from my other pocket, and pinned them to his shirt.

Then I gave them a punch to insure that the prongs would perforate his chest (a time-honored tradition called giving “blood wings”). My dad captured the event on 35mm. It’s one of my all time favorite photos.

Yes: it was well worth my time to be there.

Mike VanOuse

Lafayette