Featured Photo: Maximum Adrenaline

 

A Paratrooper exits a C-130 over Sicily Drop Zone on December 6,

2009 during Operation Toy Drop. Toy Drop is the world's largest

Joint Airborne operation and is unique in that  it raises thousands

of toys for children in need and has every year since 1998. In 2004,
Operation Toy Drop was renamed "The Randy Oler Memorial

Operation Toy Drop" in honor of Randy Oler, the founder of Toy

Drop, who died during an airborne operation in 2004. 

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Felix R. Fimbres)

The following commentary is the opinion
of Staff Sgt. Felix R. Fimbres

For me, those few moments after exiting the aircraft are the most intense. You've exited the aircraft, you're trying to maintain good body position, and you're counting off, waiting for the shock of an open canopy.

As I was looking through past photos taken during toy drop this one jumped out at me (pun only partially intended) and I'll explain why.

I took this shot before I knew what it was like to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. For me, Toy Drop had always been more about the toys.

And, of course, that's the reason we do it, but it's also important to remember that this isn't a 10k pledge walk, or telethon...this is a real airborne operation with real risks and real American heroes.

These are your Paratroopers who give up their weekend to perform dangerous airborne operations for kids, on top of their normal training jumps and operations.

We've been exceedingly fortunate to have no major injuries, but we've had

injuries nonetheless. 

So this Holiday season, let's not forget we are

lucky to have brave men and women who have

sacrificed much, and will sacrifice more for

children this holiday season.