Photo By Sgt. Thomas Belton | Willie Wellbrock emcees the 18th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop on Dec....... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Lottery Day for the 18th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop took place here Friday, bringing in paratroopers from units on base to try and win a seat to earn foreign jump wings. Lining up since dawn the previous day, paratroopers formed a line that wrapped around the passenger terminal, ready to donate toys for Operation Toy Drop. The event donates thousands of toys to children throughout the Carolinas.
The Operation Toy Drop lottery offers thousands of paratroopers the chance to jump every year while only 500 of those will earn foreign jump wings.
Approximately 960 soldiers endured freezing temperatures this year to donate a toy to underprivileged children throughout communities of North and South Carolina.
“Airborne soldiers covet foreign jump wings,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Duran, a former paratrooper stationed in Colorado. “A paratrooper earning a set of foreign jump wings sets him apart from his peers. It establishes his ability to perform airborne duties while under the command of a foreign jump master, and demonstrates the paratroopers’ ability to adapt to any situation, and follow his training in order to conduct flawless airborne operations.”
Soldiers file in with the toys they wish to donate, receive a ticket, and place the donated items in dozens of large cardboard boxes before they take their seats and anxiously wait to see if their number is called. It is not necessary to donate a toy to receive a ticket. The boxes are divided up by age and gender, to ensure that the appropriate gift is donated to the right child. Soldiers waited until past 2 p.m. to see if their ticket number would be called. A shot at foreign jump wings aren’t the only reason they donate toys every year, however.
Willie Wellbrock, a retired Air Force loadmaster and longtime friend of Randy Oler, says he wishes that the lottery could be expanded to offer more paratroopers a chance to earn foreign jump wings.
“We’ve gotten weathered out and a lot of the lotteries in the past were affected to the point that they didn’t get to jump, but that doesn’t make a difference to the soldiers,” said Wellbrock. “The fact that they got the opportunity donate a toy and put a smile on a kid’s face, that means the world to them.”
Operation Toy Drop has seen more then 100,000 toys donated since its inception in 1998.
Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Ammerman, commanding general of U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), was on hand to hand out certificates of appreciation to the first 10 soldiers in line.
“It’s just an honor, and I want to thank the men and women of USACAPOC, who kept this dream alive for Randy,” said Wellbrock.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.07.2015 09:41 |
| Story ID: | 183659 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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