Camp toccoa

[TEB]

As paratroopers those studs rode into d day. In c47 catching flak 88 mm ripping through aircraft. Or getting towed in a Glider to carry the war to the facist. I think what studs as former airborne infantry and I rode c-130 or c-141 in peacetime as airborne infantry a graduate of fort benning osut infantry and airborne school . I was drinking but 74 years ago fine men said no to facist assholes. Time go work let’s get this over and get home. Or the men when the ramps went down on the beach the confusion and fear. Those men today are well to me amazing. I would have probably tried to find a place to hide seriously out of wanting to live save my hide. I couldn’t imagine the fear.

[bigbrother05]

1. Precursor to the modern Airborne and Ranger units

Camp Toccoa (formerly Camp Toombs) was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II five miles (eight kilometers) west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army took over the site in 1942.

In 2012 an organization, Camp Toccoa at Currahee, a not-for profit foundation, was formed to celebrate the lives and contributions of the Airborne paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa at Currahee Mountain during World War II. A plan was set forth to restore the facilities at the camp site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Toccoa

[Docreed2003]

2. If you've never been, I'd strongly recommend making the trip to Toccoa

Make the walk up Currahee Mountain and get a feel for just how steep that damn last 100 yards is, and that's BEFORE you reach the portion that they had to climb up the mountain to slap the rock at the top. My best friend, an active duty officer who had served in that modern airborne unit, ran the 10k they have every year there last summer and he, who's in great shape, said it was the hardest run he'd ever made up that mountain....it certainly helps you appreciate just how tough as nails those guys were and why they were as close as they were.

[TEB]

3. Exactly airborne studs to this day

[Docreed2003]

4. He wants me to do the run with him next year

I'm like "Bro...squids don't climb mountains". Lmao...I have no doubt I could run the 5k down the hill, it's the getting up that's the problem

[TEB]

7. I'm 52 doc

I still run pull ups sit ups push ups but no way today could I hang like when I was 18 as infantry paratrooper.

[Docreed2003]

8. Well...

Get your old ass into shape in the next year and run with us!!

[DashOneBravo]

14. ...

TEB and I’ve been DU Mailing about us turning old! He’s is in way worse shape than you thought.

We’ve got Kiwi that’s older than you are. Just wait there youngster, your time is coming.

[Docreed2003]

15. Lol...oh I know very well it is!

[DashOneBravo]

9. I've always wanted to go

[Docreed2003]

10. Its a must do if you're a WWII buff or fan of "Band of Brothers"

Really helps you appreciate why those guys were as close and hard as they were!

[DashOneBravo]

12. Actually I am both

So I may add that to the list.

[Docreed2003]

13. If you decide to go...

Chattanooga, TN is way closer...but if Atlanta is your best option for flights, Camp Toccoa isn't that far, maybe a little more that two hours from Atlanta.

[cyclonefence]

5. My father's high school friend "Monk" Weigel was a paratrooper

who was dropped into France on D-Day. He told my dad that the paratroopers had all been given those little clickers that kids used to play with to locate each other. He said when he hit the ground all he could hear was crickets, clickers and more crickets. He didn't know which way to turn. Totally black night, and those confusing sounds, and a kid of 18. Monk was cashed out on medical disability because he sort of went crazy from the clickers.

[TEB]

6. I could not imagine what fear he expirenced

[DashOneBravo]

11. Man did you ever talk about that?

Lots of time when we were doing a night jump. We’d discuss that while we were rigging or standing in a field or on the runway. What were those guys thinking as they loaded up for a combat jump in WW2.

The casualties were going to be atrocious and they’d be scattered all over the fucking place. Hell the Navy shot down 20 something planes in Operation Husky.

You know they were scared but they went. We had nothing but respect for all those guys who were there.