Local WWII, Korea, Vietnam veterans go skydiving in Taft

Natalie Tarangioli
8:50 AM, Feb 13, 2018
11:11 AM, Feb 18, 2018

Nine World War II, Korea and Vietnam vets took Honor Flight to a whole new meaning on Saturday at Skydive Taft.

Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

TAFT, Calif. - A handful of local veterans took to the skies on Saturday, accomplishing a first in their lives. 

Thanks to the local Comrades and Canopies program, World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans were able to skydive at Skydive Taft. 

Victor Maddox was one of the nine veterans who were able to skydive on Saturday.

"They say that I'm going to get an airplane ride, and if I don't like it, they're going to throw me out," Maddox said.

The Korean War veteran's sense of humor kept any nerves about skydiving at bay. 

What started as an idea with three veterans skydiving in August, turned into a reality beyond expectations, Chad Garcia the vice president of Comrades and Canopies said. 

"We do it for the smiles and because this is adrenaline, this is controlled chaos, it's a good kind of scary," Garcia said.

Comrades and Canopies held fundraisers during the week to help cover the $1,800 cost to pay for the veterans' jumps. 

The skydiving veterans landed with smiles on their faces, asking to do it again.  

Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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