Parachutist Lands In Army Band

Flesh Thorn · Post by **Flesh Thorn** » July 18th, 2008, 5:05 am

(AP) 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.

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K.Ingraham · Post by **K.Ingraham** » July 18th, 2008, 6:22 am

Saw the video of that on last night's TV news.
Pretty cool - the jumper drove straight on into the mass of musicians, who were all standing at attention, oblivious to the jumpers size 11 boots about to flatten the 2d tuba...
'airborne bowling' sums it up pretty well. bandsman on their faces in every direction.

coldsteal2 · Post by **coldsteal2** » July 18th, 2008, 7:24 am

:D OOPS!

I think they just saw thier first real Combat

rgrpuck · Post by **rgrpuck** » July 18th, 2008, 7:35 am

See Hit it ......could be worse....

RGR Mac · Post by **RGR Mac** » July 18th, 2008, 9:25 am

HALO-I saw a AF CCT guy land after a bunch of us from 1st and 2nd Bn jumped in Big Springs Texas running w/ the wind into the front 1/4 of a Ford Bronco. Got up right away, put his hands and arms out as if to say"oh well", then took a nap. Good recovery, though it didn't last. Hope they had the extra rental ins.

rgrokelley · Post by **rgrokelley** » July 18th, 2008, 12:06 pm

Tater Nuts wrote:
Flesh Thorn wrote:(AP)
"I hear, 'Oh, expletive,' and immediately, I hear a crash,'" said the band's commander, Chief Warrant Officer Scott MacDonald.

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Must not have been a Ranger, they would have said "Oh, Shit".

Hmmm... A Ranger, with a tuba. :?

I would agree, must not have been a Ranger

FireFinder · Post by **FireFinder** » July 18th, 2008, 1:03 pm

Back in the mid-80s we sent some jumpers to Rhode Island for the RI ARNG SF parachute competition. One of the guys from our contingent did an outstanding PLF on the hood of a Volvo and right through the windshield.

Rangerguru · Post by **Rangerguru** » July 18th, 2008, 1:37 pm

It won't be long before some jackass decides that the band should get hazardous duty pay.

archangel · Post by **archangel** » July 18th, 2008, 7:35 pm

I was in that ceremony. Same guy landed in the flags the day before. They left us standing at parade rest for the time it took to get the guys evaced. Couldnt watch but you could hear the guy slipping towards the band then "AGHHHH" WHAM! I dont think Ill forget the 1 ID CSM beating feet across the parade field. What a day...all for one mans Im so great fest.

JohnDowland · Post by **JohnDowland** » July 19th, 2008, 1:12 am

I hope that the piccolo was present and accounted for after that mess.

CatFish Driver · Post by **CatFish Driver** » July 19th, 2008, 6:50 am

Did the skin flute player get injured?

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » July 19th, 2008, 5:23 pm

rgrokelley wrote:
Hmmm... A Ranger, with a tuba. :?

Uhhhh, altho I haven't touched one since, I was in the UW Marching Band my first two years of college, was regarded as the "shortest tuba player in the Big Ten"

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » July 19th, 2008, 5:26 pm

JohnDowland wrote:I hope that the piccolo was present and accounted for after that mess.

Brings to mind an incident in college involving a large Brooklyn piccolo player and the entire tuba section at a UW football game in the 60s.............................oh, the humanity.......................

Chiron · Post by **Chiron** » July 21st, 2008, 2:39 am

Flesh Thorn wrote:Two tubas were destroyed, said Mike Keating, assistant chief of the post's Fire Department. MacDonald said a trumpet was also damaged.

I can't help but laugh... Let's see two tubas and a trumpet hmmmm... $350,000 damage. Well if one takes note of the $16,000 F-16 screw driver then this may be about right.

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Parachutist Lands In Army Band

Parachutist Lands In Army Band

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