There were reporters and kids all over the DZ the kids kept asking us if we wanted our chutes or could they have them, a few wanted to carry them for us for some money (Good luck explaining that to the C.O.) After ignoring the press which was hard to do since they kept sticking cameras in your face we were trucked Via Deuce and dump truck to Pamerola Air Base. From there we were choppered out to the field in CH-47's.
After a couple of days the Battalion formed up near Cascada San Matias (Guaralalao) and road marched North to Tamara, the Honduran Army Airborne school. We were to jump from their Aircraft (C-47's No Thanks) and get Honduran wings. To start the day off (23 march 88) They had a free fall demo the jumper had a streamer and broke his legs. I had heard he died but there was no proof. Then they had a static line demo that had two troops entangle crash and burn with leg injuries.
Then during our jumps we burned down there on post DZ and some wind related injuries of our own. By 1400hrs the whole thing was called off. We trucked to
Pamerola where an agreement was made to have the Hondurans Jump with us for our wings
and we would get their wings, Since they use our equipment anyway. After some creative math we took off from Pamerola with 70 troopers American/Honduran The powers that be wanted to put some staff weenies on my Bird and scratch some of my troops. I had my safeties pack them in real tight and I fudged the load master with a 64 count.We got everyone out scared the hell out of the Hondurans
with our pre jump escapades and had no injuries. Well that's it for Golden Pheasant.
Dennis M. Hicks
