Marines: 13 Parachute Lines Cut

The Associated Press ^ | OCTOBER 01, 2002

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — Suspension lines on 13 parachutes were cut before a training exercise last month, forcing three jumpers to use their reserve chutes, the Marine Corps said Tuesday.

The tampering was discovered Sept. 21 when five Marines jumped from a C-17 aircraft during heavy equipment parachute training at Camp Lejeune.

Three parachutes malfunctioned and the jumpers used reserve chutes to land safely, a statement from the Marines said.

An inspection showed the lines of the three parachutes had been cut in a way to avoid detection, the statement said.

At least nine other chutes still packed and waiting on the shelves in warehouses were found with similar problems.

It was unclear where the 13th sabotaged parachute was found. A call to the Camp Lejeune public affairs office was not returned.

Marine investigators and agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are looking for a possible saboteur. There have been no arrests.

[Willie Green]

Sounds like the outcome of Klintonian social engineering of the military to me.

[Diogenesis]

Who, other than an enemy of the US, would or could do such as thing?

And how could they have knowledge AND access?

[Militiaman7]

Who ever did this should be the guest of honor at a public lynching.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Check for mideastern immigrants packing chutes!

[Ed_NYC]

It sounds more like an angry Marine that was about to get out. I was a rigger for that platoon from 94-97 and we always placed the pissed-off riggers and the ones about to get out under close supervision.

Semper Fi.

Ed

[abner]

Why aren't they packing their own chutes?

[Ed_NYC]

[abner]

What on earth would make a Marine so ticked that he would be willing to murder his fellow Marines?

[Ed_NYC]

To be honest with you I have no clue. This rigger will be caught, trust me on that. There's less than 200 riggers in the entire Marine Corps. and they're tight community, it is only a matter of time for this individual to be locked in the brig.

[Diogenesis]

Locked in the brig?

No offense. He should be given truth serum, tortured,
and then executed with examination of his "brain" at autopsy.

[Willie Green]

What on earth would make a Marine so ticked that he would be willing to murder his fellow Marines?

"Don't ask, don't tell"???

[Ed_NYC]

Better yet, get me a knife, packing hooks, 550 cord and I will pack that guy's parachute.

A LOVELY CIGARETTE ROLL

[spunkets]

What's the likelihood it wasn't a rigger? Would the riggers and quartermaster still know who had access?

[Ed_NYC]

Well, when I was with the plt. all the parachute were locked after being packed then inspected in a temperature and humidity controled room. Only two people have keys to that place, the Packing Section NCO and the paraloft NCOIC. BTW some extra info. this was the same plt. that appeared in the gold wing ceremony tapes about 6 or 7 yrs ago.

[Lancey Howard]

"Don't ask, don't tell"???

My first thought exactly.
As soon as I read this, I thought about that sailor who detonated a shell on-board ship a few years back, killing himself and other sailors. Turned out he was a Clinton, panty-waste Pentagon, "Don't ask, don't tell" type.

[adaven]

Death by Firing Squad!

[spunkets]

At least they have limited access, but to imagine a Marine doing this boggles my mind. The lines were cut!

[RLK]

Wow. This is serious.

[paul51]

executed with examination of his "brain" at autopsy

Nah. Strap one of the damaged chutes on 'em and toss 'em out at 12,000 ft sans reserve chute

[Eaker]

Why aren't they packing their own chutes?

Because that would be MUCH more deadly. Riggers pack chutes, jumpers check them when they can. I jump and would not dream of packing my own chute. However, I make close friendships with the packers.

Stay safe; stay armed.