FORT BENNING, Ga., (June 15, 2016) -- For the first time in Airborne School history, a father conducted his last jump alongside his daughter's first jump.
Lt. Col. Korey Brown, who recently finished commanding the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, conducted his last and 150th jump June 7 with his daughter, Cadet Christina Brown, during her first jump as a student at Airborne school. The lieutenant colonel was the jump master and last out of the C-17 on the first pass over Fryar Drop Zone and his daughter, a junior at the University of Colorado, was the first out of the C-17 on the second pass.
When asked how she felt about being the first out of the aircraft for her pass, Cadet Brown responded, "I felt nervous, but having my dad with me and watching him jump first calmed my nerves."
The Family epitomizes what it means to be a Soldier for Life and carries the tradition of service through five generations spanning over a century. Viewing the jump from the stands were both of Cadet Brown's grandfathers from the Brown and Bright sides of the Family.
Cadet Brown's grandfather, Charlie Bright, was a paratrooper who served in the 71st Airborne Brigade until 1976, making Cadet Brown a third generation paratrooper.
As Cadet Brown put it, "I feel it's in my blood to continue the tradition." Her grandfather, Brown, served with the Military Police just after the Korean War and Cadet Brown also had a great-grandfather who served in the Navy during World War II, and a great-great-grandfather who served in the Army during World War I.
As with paratrooper tradition, Lt. Col. Brown "jumped in" his airborne jump wings for his last jump. They were the same jump wings he jumped in when he went to Airborne School and were the same jump wings Cadet Brown jumped in before they were pinned upon her chest during Friday's graduation ceremony, signifying the passing of the jump wings as she carries on the Family tradition.
Influential to Lt. Col. Brown's career and Cadet Brown's choice to become a paratrooper was Dutch Nagle, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne who made all four combat jumps during World War II. Nagle is described as an adopted grandfather to Lt. Col. Brown.
Piloting the C-17 that the Browns jumped from was close family friend, Air Force Lt. Col. John Robinson. Robinson requested to fly this mission to be a part of the family's historical event, and he also received his jump wings from Lt. Col. Brown in January when he graduated from Airborne School.
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