Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Coffman | The band, Shoeless Joe, from Rockhampton, plays classic rock for the paratroopers at...... read more read more
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ROCKHAMPTON, Australia -- U.S. paratroopers from Task Force Geronimo enjoyed an evening of local Australian culture and entertainment at the Great Western Hotel and Steakhouse in Rockhampton after spending the morning jumping out of U.S. Air Force C-17s during Talisman Sabre 2011.
Task Force Geronimo consisted of U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and additional Army units.
Paratroopers from TFG and four jump masters from the Australian Defence Force’s 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Parachute), flew close to 22 hours to parachute into Australia.
“It was a long-haul, intercontinental operation,” said ADF Capt. Sam Thackray, with the 3rd Bn., RAR, from Sydney.
The ADF is scheduled to discontinue its parachute program, and this was the last jump 3RAR will was scheduled to conduct with 1st Bn.
“Great. It was a great experience. Not that many people can say they jumped into Australia,” said Cpl. Bobby Boyd, of New York, with 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 377 Parashoot Field Artillery Regiment, also located at JBER.
TFG was brought to the Old Queenslander-style pub for steak dinner and a specially scheduled rodeo with Australia animals available to pet and hold.
“Absolutely fantastic that these 300 paratroopers that travelled 22 hours from Alaska to Shoalwater Bay to jump out of a plane come and have our Aussie beer and Aussie steak and watch a bull ride.” said Brad Carter, Rockhampton mayor. “Our council are very strong supporters of defence training.”
As the soldiers ate barbeque steak, chips (fries), salad and snags (sausages) with onions, bull riders competed in the ring on Brahmas as rodeo clowns steered bulls away from riders when needed.
“It’s just like going home,” said U.S. Army Spc. Alan Mellen, from Superior, Mont., with 1st Bn. “It’s nice.”
John Lever, and his grandson Tony, from the Koorana Crocodile Farm in central Queensland brought some crocodiles for the soldiers to see and hold. Lever is known as one of the world’s original and most knowledgeable crocodile farm owners. He started working with the reptiles in 1972.
“We want to give them as many experiences as possible, and the best way is with the wildlife,” said Lever. “When [U.S. military] come, we get good business; this is our opportunity to return the favour by bringing the unusual variety of animals this land has to offer to them.”
Francis Smedley, from the Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary outside of Rockhampton, brought two pythons, a shingle back stink and a breaded dragon.
“We are very excited to be invited to bring our animals and happy to educate,” Smedley said. “A lot of the guys are asking questions. We are honoured that they are interested.”
“It’s the least we can do in honour of a battalion of this size flying 22 hours for such a short time,” said ADF Brigadier Bob Brown, a TS11 spokesman. “The community wanted to offer them some hospitality. They were very keen to welcome them back to the city.”
The evening ended with a locally grown band, called Shoeless Joe, playing classic rock.
“This is the best thing I’ve done all year,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tony Ayabarreno, from Miami, with 377 Parashoot Field Artillery Regiment.
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2011 08:29 |
| Story ID: | 74127 |
| Location: | ROCKHAMPTON, QL, AU |
| Web Views: | 336 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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