For those who weren't on jump status, my Airborne All the way might have sounded odd. To be honest, I don't know if the tradition still exists.
"Airborne All The Way"
By: Unknown Author
What separates them from the rest
These men with silver wings
Troopers from the sky above
In whom devotion springs
What spirit so unites them
In brotherhood they say
Their answer loud and clear,
"Airborne All The Way"
These are the men of danger
As in open door they stand
With static line above them
And ripcord in their hand
While earthbound they are falling
A silent prayer they say
"Lord be with us forever,
Airborne All The Way"
One day they'll make their final jump
Saint Mike will tap them out
The good Lord will be waiting
He knows what they are about
And answering in cadence,
He'll hear the troopers say
"We're glad to be aboard, Sir,
Airborne All The Way"
AIRBORNE / ALL THE WAY
GRADUATION DAY / THE BEGINNING
A CLASS OF NEW TROOPERS…ALL STAND ABREAST
JUMP WINGS PROUDLY…UPON OUR CHEST
MAN TO MAN…ALL DOWN THE LINE
STANDING STRAIGHT…AND TALL AND FINE
WE MADE THE JUMPS…AND WE QUALIFIED
TO WEAR THE BADGE…OF COURAGE AND PRIDE
JUMP SCHOOL FINALLY…CAME TO AN END
NOW WE JOIN…THE RANKS OF MEN
OTHERS WILL FOLLOW…AS WE BEFORE
TO EARN THE RIGHT…TO STAND IN THE DOOR
TO MAKE THE JUMP…TO FEEL THE BLAST
TO ABSORB THE SHOCK…AIRBORNE AT LAST
WEEKS OF TRAINING…PUSH-UPS AND SWEAT
PROUD TO BE…A JUMP SCHOOL VET
AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME…WE LEAVE BEHIND
AS WE NOW MOVE ON…TO STATION ASSIGNED
THERE WE'LL SERVE…THERE WE'LL TRAIN
AND THERE WE'LL JUMP…AGAIN AND AGAIN
MAN TO MAN…ALL DOWN THE LINE
STANDING STRAIGHT…AND TALL AND FINE
MEN OF VALOR…MEN OF STRENGTH
THE BADGE OF HONOR…IS OUR DEFENSE
GUTS AND GLORY…WE ARE TOLD
BUT COURAGE AND HONOR…IS OUR GOAL
TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY…IN PEACE AND WAR
ALWAYS READY…TO STAND IN THE DOOR
TO MAKE THE JUMP…TO KEEP MEN FREE
THAT IS THE GLORY…THAT'S MEANT TO BE
AIRBORNE AT LAST…AIRBORNE AT LAST
Author: John David Correll
My Beginning / August 1948
otfl
