When nations combine

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Just after dawn, the chilly air was filled with the sounds of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. It appeared over the tree line, dropping nations from the sky.

Paratroopers from America, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, and Netherlands, all fell from the sky to the Nijmegen Landing Zone in participation with the Operation Toy Drop.

"I've jumped in the States before in Fort Lewis and that was a lot of fun. This is great because there's a whole bunch of different countries," said Canadian Army Sgt. Zacharry Jacob.

Together with 13 others from the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Center (CAAWC), Jacob drove down from Trenton, Ontario, to participate in Operation Toy Drop in Fort Bragg, N.C.

A first-time Toy Drop jumper, Jacob joined the Canadian army in 2004 because his father was in the Army.

Jacob said his father served in a different regiment than he did so there was a lot of friendly competition over whose regiment was better.

Jacob got transferred from the Battalion to the CAAWC school as a parachute instructor.

"Not only do I jump it, I teach it as well," said Jacob.

As a parachute instructor in Canada, Jacob teaches a High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) course that is approximately five weeks long, involving two weeks of ground instruction and the rest of three weeks consists of 32 jumps.

Jacob said he really was happy to be able to have the opportunity to donate toys for children in need.

Other paratroopers expressed their pleasure in being part of a charity event for children.

"I brought three Nerf guns to donate," said Canadian Army Cpl. Jason Bent with a big grin on his face.

Bent, a Canadian army rigger, is a seven-year Canadian army vet also from CAAWC.

Bent said he really enjoyed having the opportunity to come to the U.S. with so many other paratroopers from far and wide. He joined all the other paratroopers from around the world to participate in an amazing joint airborne operation and charity event.

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