The U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Team, the Black Daggers, gave northeastern Ohio a glimpse of Army Special Operations capabilities, while at the same time, honoring Gold Star Mother's & Families' Day, during a weekend of events and activities reaching high school students, ROTC cadets and NFL fans.
The USASOC Black Daggers traveled to Middlefield, where Friday nights are spent under the lights of a small town high school football stadium. The parachute team met with Cardinal High students, who celebrated homecoming festivities moments before the spectators cheered on the black and red canopies of the USASOC Black Daggers, whose tiptoe landings wowed the crowd of more than 1,000.
Cardinal graduate and USASOC Black Dagger, Master Sgt. John Perusek, jumped into the stadium with the U.S. flag. "I couldn't help but have a sense of pride and honor to be here," said Perusek.
The crowd sang the National Anthem as Perusek made a slow and deliberate approach to the target area with the flag waving behind him.
Earlier in the day, the Black Daggers jump started their Friday with a trip to Kent State University, where they were met by ROTC Cadet Battalion Commander Kayla Enochs. The team, joined by the Cleveland Army Recruiting Battalion, met with the ROTC cadets for an interactive session and discussion on careers in special operations and background on the Black Daggers and free fall parachuting. It was an opportunity for these future military leaders to have a better understanding of the unique aspects of special operations in preparation for their own careers with the military.
Enochs said many of her cadets were intrigued by the presentation, based on the number of questions being asked, adding "I saw a few of our cadets talking to recruiters and I thought that was really awesome."
On Saturday, the Black Daggers participated in pre-game activities, jumping onto the gridiron as the Golden Flashes of Kent State prepared to face off against the Thundering Herd from Marshall University. Fans whistled and cheered at the site of parachute canopies floating onto the 50-yard line as the Black Daggers touched down moments before the start of the Division I football game.
Mild winds couldn't stop team members from the Black Daggers from making an impact on Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders fans. Perusek, and Sgts. First Class Andrew Mehall, and Keith Pierce mingled with fans at the Cleveland Army Recruiting Battalion's booth on Dawg Pound Drive just outside Energy Stadium. It was an opportunity for the Black Daggers to shake hands and interact with fans gearing up for Sunday football excitement.
High winds subsequently kept the Black Daggers from a special halftime jump demonstration honoring Gold Star mothers & families, but the team recognized them through a social media campaign on USASOC's Facebook page featuring a special tribute, reaching more than half a million followers. Gold Star mother Donna Kuglics of Akron, Ohio, was honored by the tribute, saying, "It's nice that our children are remembered and their sacrifices are remembered."
Kuglics' son Matthew, a Cleveland Browns fan, was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb in 2007. Kuglics and her husband were attending the game in honor of their son.
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