(A previously unpublished letter from George Potter)
What’s
the biggest thing you’ve ever done?
 |
| George Potter |
It describes in detail the first time George ever parachuted out of a plane during training during Ft. Benning, Georgia.
The
war was just getting started for these young men, and there would be much
difficulty ahead. But at this moment, note the joy in George’s voice, the
optimism, and excitement.
The
immediate lesson is that when times grow hard during the pursuit of a goal,
remember the joy you first experienced as you began the journey.
Letter
comes courtesy of Dan Potter, George’s son.
Enjoy
…
15 February 1943,
Co. D 1st P.T.R.
Class #56
Ft. Benning, Georgia
I have won my wings in the U.S. Army Paratroops….
I have made two jumps, and by the time you get this letter will have made three
more, or five all told.
I will tell you what it was like.
Monday morning, the 15th, I got up and went
to ‘chow.’ When I got back we fell out and stood roll call. When we got down to
the field, the instructors took us in the hangers and we drew our parachutes. I
was then walked into the waiting shed with the rest of my buddies. Planes came;
men loaded into them, and the planes took off and disappeared into the sky.
The next plane came and my bunch got orders
to get in them. I was the last ‘stick,’ third man (An 8 or 12-man group is called
a ‘stick.’)
 |
| George Potter's draft card (courtesy Dan Potter) |
Well, we got into our position in the plane
and fastened our safety belts. As you know this was my first airplane ride, and
that in itself was quite an adventure.
All at once the motors roared and the plane
started to roll down the field. At the end of the runway the big plane turned round
and stopped. I was talking to my Bunkie and I didn’t realize that we had stopped.
All at once the motors roared and the plane
quivered and shook. I said to myself: ‘Here we go.’ About a minute later I took
a chance and looked out of the window. Nothing had happened. We were still on the
ground. The pilot was just testing everything. Boy, was I surprised!”
About a minute later the plane began to move
down the field: faster and faster until the plane gave a little jump and we were
off the ground. I looked out of the window and saw the hangers go streaking past.
We were now going very fast and doing a climbing turn. We went around the field
and we were at 1200 feet. I looked down at the ground. I could see the Fort like
the back of my hand.
We
were now coming into the jumping field. Orders came for the first ‘stick’ to ‘stand
up and hook up.’ The men stood up and hooked the end of the static line on to a
cable in the plane. Then came the order to stand in the door and hook up. The man
in the No. 1 slot moved up into the door and the rest closed up. Then came the order
‘Go!’ The first man jumped out and went out of sight. The rest followed just as
fast as they could.
The plane then turned and we could see our
pals floating down to the ground. We went around again and the next ‘stick’ stood
up, and out they went. Around the field again and then it was my turn. We got the
same orders and did the same as the rest had done.
The first man jumped: we closed up.
The second man jumped and then it was my
turn.
I got into the door looking straight ahead.
The jumpmaster touched my leg, and I jumped out into space.
The prop blast hit me, and down and under
the tail of the plane I went. My back was toward the front of the plane, because
I had done a half left body turn. I ducked my head so I would not get hit in the
head by the risers. I saw the ground way down below me. Next I felt a big jerk and
a pop.
My chute had opened.
I looked
up at it and saw everything was O.K. I looked down at the ground and saw it
way down below me. I was swinging back and forth, so I stopped my swinging and looked
around.
Everybody was looking around. Then we all
started talking. But before we started, everything was quiet. The only thing we
could hear was the wind in our helmets and around the chutes.
I started talking to the guy about 50-feet
below me and to one side. He was my Bunkie. Nobody could tell who the other was
until we started talking.
I looked down and saw the ground was getting
closer and closer. I guess I was about 250 feet up. I didn’t feel any sense of falling.
The ground just kept coming up and up. I checked my feet again so I couldn’t get
hurt, and grasped my risers.
I
saw where I was going to land. I looked down at about a 45-degree angle. And tried
to judge when I would land. The ground was coming up faster now, and then all at
once it jumped at me and I landed and rolled.
I lay on the ground for a minute and thought:
‘Boy if the folks could only see me now!’
I got up and rolled up my chute. We were
all laughing and swapping stories, and throwing the bull around quite a bit. That’s
all there was to it. It was the biggest thing I have ever done!
Later—I made my last jump this afternoon.
It was at 800-feet. I made four at 1200-feet. I put the pictures of you all in my
helmet today. So you will have a jump of 800 feet to your credit!
Your son – George
Question:
What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever done--or the biggest thing you hope to do?
8 comments:
Although I have no wartime experience I was in a horrible earthquake in El Salvador in 2001. The day of my birthday the quake hit. Many people went to heaven that day. As we were on a mountain I checked homes to see if people were ok. The sad part was I found a young boy at the bottom of the mountain who must have fallen from the hillside who could not be helped he too had gone to heaven. The next 8 days were full of quakes and after shocks. I and my friends watched out for their kids and each other. Not knowing if you would live to see the next day was not a good feeling. I suffer flashbacks and have gone through PTSD therapy in a day program. I am starting to manage it better.
All being said, I would not trade that experience to another person , even with the PTSD I understand life more than other ever will.
Greg
Greg, what an amazing experience for you. So difficult. Yet it sounds like good has come from it. Thanks for telling that story.
Great posting. Thanks Marcus--and thanks Potter family. Very inspiring.
I grew up hunting deer, and recently have been able to do some elk hunting in Colorado. My cousin I hunt with out there is taller, stronger, faster, and a better shot than I am, but I'm getting better! This last October, the first day of 2nd rifle season, we went out on foot to hunt some mountains around 10,000-12,000 ft. We covered about six miles out — from high saddles to rock slides, to snowy rock outcrops, and occasional decent terrain.
My cousin shot his bull late in the afternoon, and we de-boned it and hauled it out on our backs that night. It was six miles back out, after dark, 120+ pounds on board, out of food, and everything hurt. When we dumped our packs into the truck, it was heaven. It was the best, worst time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
(I got a bull later in the week, but it was much easier.)
I love your comment ... "It was the best, worst time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Thanks for posting.
Marcus: Thanks for the story of George Potter. I looked for his story in your book A company of Heroes as I remember reading his name. His story is similar to many returning from war battles of any war. I could never top the men and women who return from combat, and I have several key moments. My most outstanding experience was driving to California to marry my wife Lynne, and working on 52 years, 5 months and 28 days. It may be 6 months by the time I finish this. I will complete my 54th year of teaching/counseling in May and that amazes me as my background is like many of the men from Band of Brothers and your books. Never thought I would place one step on a college campus while in high school and 5 years later I graduated from Fresno State. I am so fortunate to arise IN THE AM AND NEVER WANTED TO STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL. Plus I had the opportunity to teach or counsel many many outstanding young people. I know counsel Veterans for their GI Bill money and help determine their goals. I love to listen to their stories, when they feel like talking about their life in the military. Most were in the Navy. I apologize as this is not one event but two events, over time, that are important to me. In June 2011, Lemoore High had a 110 year reunion and I probably saw around 200 of my former students and am currentlly trying to contact at least 5 for the LHS Hall of Fame in October. This topic would be a great book.
Gary
@ Gary. You are doing meaningful work and have lasted a long period of time, which I understand is rare. Kudos to you. Greg
Agreed with that Kudos. Thanks Gary.
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