sprigpintail

They landed everywhere. Barns, trees, and even in the water. There was another student who landed on top of the neighbors barn,left there with a broken leg.

Dad was in the 82nd. He got out just before Vietnam War. He came home to Osceola and was working in the Twin Cities, when he was introduced to Butch Shell. He was also in the Airborne. Some how they got a couple chutes from the Army. (Story has it Dad was getting out, so he stole a couple.) Both thought it was a good idea to see if the chutes worked. Dr. Linholm town Vet owned a plane in Osceola. Dad convince Doc to give him and Butch a ride around the Osceola area. When Doc saw them wearing their rigs. He wasn't sure what they had in mind as a ride. Dad told Doc it was a one way ride. Doc thought they were both nuts, but he gave them a ride anyway. That was the start the St. Croix Valley Skydiving Club. "This story is the best of my knowledge." If there is more to the story, I would love to hear about it. Has anybody heard the story about Art, Dick Allen and another Guy jumping into downtown Osceola on a bet? The bet was to land on the street between Cascade and P.Y's Bar. For a case a beer. (Remember they were round chutes at the time.) Art called the bar and told the bartender to have the beer on the steps in 20 minutes. So everybody from both bars ran outside blocked off the street. 25 minutes later Art, Dick and the other guy was drinking a PBR on the steps of the Cascade. That was my Dad's 1000th jump.

My Dad was the owner till the spring of 1990. We had a house fire and sold the land to the club. He started the club in the early 60's out the Airport in Osceola. Then bought the farm in early 70's. I heard about the fish story. Funny stuff!! There was always some kind of prank going on between Osceola and Superior. I have one Ernie story. It had to be 1992. The news came on about a plane crash in Southern Minnesota. My Dad was sleeping in his chair, when news reported the pilot of plane crash was Ernie Joyner. Dad jumped out of his chair and said, "That SOB walked away from another crash!!" Then he laughed and went to bed. Mike

Wow, I was trying to look up some older skydivers, to see if they were still jumping,and I found this forum. Here is my story of Osceola. (Looking through a 5 yr old's eyes.) I remember waking up on a Saturday morning, hearing the planes taking off. It was either Ernie, Adrian, Bob, Pat, Geno, and of course JQ. It didn't matter to me who was flying the plane, I just knew they were jumping today!! Most kids my age were probably watching Bugs Bunny, or the Jetsons, and I was going to watch Skydiving. I would ask my Mom, if I could go out to the DZ. She said "Yes, but stay out of the way!!"