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Parachutist Lands on Military Band

By JOHN MILBURN
,
AP
posted: 50 DAYS AGO
comments: 85
filed under: National News, Weird News
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FORT RILEY, Kan. (July 18) - A parachutist went off course Thursday at the start of a military review and dropped feet-first into the 1st Infantry Division's band, injuring three players.
Several thousand people watched as the man under the red, white and blue parachute landed on the 30-member band, about 50 yards off target. A gasp went up from the crowd, followed by silence as at least a dozen people rushed over to help.
"I hear, 'Oh, expletive,' and immediately, I hear a crash,'" said the band's commander, Chief Warrant Officer Scott MacDonald.
The three injured band members were treated and released from Irwin Army Community Hospital. The parachutist, Scott Hallock, refused treatment at the scene.
"We know that they're going to be all right," said Gen. Charles Campbell, head of the Army's Forces Command, during opening remarks.
Two tubas were destroyed, said Mike Keating, assistant chief of the post's Fire Department. MacDonald said a trumpet was also damaged.
MacDonald said band members had been standing, waiting for the start of the ceremony and weren't looking up. He said they didn't hear anything except a brief rustling of the jumper's parachute.
He hit the back row, landing feet first, MacDonald said.
Band member Sgt. Rachel Boggs was knocked unconscious and had a fractured jaw, hospital spokeswoman Lisa Medrano said. Sgt. Andrew Spinazzolla suffered minor neck and head injuries and had a fractured ankle, Medrano said. Staff Sgt. Mark Lucero sustained what Medrano called a minor leg injury.
Two parachutists jumped from a single-engine plane at about 6,000 feet. Keating said the second jumper's parachute lines apparently became tangled, pulling him off course.
MacDonald said he wondered briefly whether he had enough members left to perform.
"We did soldier on," he said. The band played the division's and the Army's fight songs, then sounded a trumpet cavalry charge.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-18 10:27:44
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Bogges1234

12:28 PMAug 01 2008

They were not tubas they were Sousaphones.

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Ww1621

03:26 PMJul 28 2008

At least he landed on the most padded part of the band, the tuba players.

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(0)

Canesfan7331

05:39 PMJul 27 2008

Joe04486 ITs not funny, i was in the service and thats NOT FUNNY

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(0)

Jelli dnut

01:42 PMJul 27 2008

when i was training at ft. devens one of the sergeants on the h.a.l.o. commitee landed in the stockade during a parade for high ranking foreign visitors. his main's, a para commander mkii, pilot chute and deployment sleeve fell thru a steering slot so he had very limited control. he chose to ride it rather than chop it 'cause of the big brass on hand. he's never been able to live it down.

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Kollapse3

10:20 AMJul 27 2008

I was a paratrooper 20 years ago and the way I remember it is that even a T-10 (a basic parachute with 4 risers) could be "guided" in a specific direction as needed........but never mind that.......why didn't the dumbass at least call out to the people on the ground to get out of the way?! He's an inconsiderate A**hole, THATS WHY!

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Littlewhitejeep

12:25 AMJul 26 2008

Those parachutist are so basic there not like the ones you play around with....So there hard to controll...Give The Guy A Break Please

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futurenavy6722

09:04 PMJul 26 2008

hey huggr ur hiding behind a pc too!!! the only difference is that you are pointing out that other people are doing it as well ur no different Ok?

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futurenavy6722

09:01 PMJul 26 2008

Hey Too bad there wont be any purple hearts the wounds have to be inflicted by the enemy

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(3)

UNDASEA

12:42 AMJul 24 2008

What discipline that so many of the band members stayed at attention after this incident occurred. I personallly think parachutes crashing in to your formation is a good excuse for "AT EASE AND GO MAKE SURE YOUR COMRADES ARE ALIVE!!!"

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AZMKA

08:14 PMJul 24 2008

Sh*t happens. I'm just glad nobody was killed or permenently crippled.

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