It was final examination day for students of parachute jumping at the Army's Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill., and Private Harold L. Osborne was being borne aloft to make his final qualifying jump. Nervously he rehearsed his instructions to "bail out," to count to ten while he hurtled downward clear of the ship, then pull the ripcord of his 'chute. At a nod from the pilot of the plane, Private Osborne clambered half out of the cockpit, glanced once at the earth 2,000 ft. below, was seized by the "jitters." He dared not let go, he dared not turn back; so he...
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