One man had a
"streamer" - an incompletely opened chute - and plummeted into the now empty
Fort Mills swimming pool; his chute rapidly became saturated with blood. Yet, even on this
first drop, made initially too high and too soon, casualties approximated only the
expected 20 percent. Of the thousand who jumped in the first lift about 750 were in action
immediately, with others joining after receiving first aid. "...It should be
remembered," reminds Colonel Ericson, "that we did not consider a man a casualty
unless he was immobile as a result of a broken bone or was suffering shock as a result of
wounds or injuries. Otherwise he was treated, bandaged, and continued to fight."
James H. & William M. Belote |