Photo essay by Mark V. Lonsdale
With U.S. Marines of Force Recon platoon at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC), Bridgeport, CA
Marines preparing for a night static line jump into MWTC
Pre-jump inspections. Main parachute on the back; reserve in front; and rucksack slung below
Force Recon Marine rigged for night static line jump (photo by Mark V. Lonsdale)
This night exercise was planned for 10 Sept 2001, the night before the tragic events of 9-11. Little did we know how much our lives would be changed for the next 10 years with deployments into Afghanistan within weeks.
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