RELEASE NUMBER: 041214-02
DATE POSTED: DECEMBER 14, 2004

1,000 Soldiers jump, give gifts during Operation Toy Drop at Fort Bragg

By Spc. Ryan Smith
Fort Bragg Paraglide

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 14, 2004) — For the past few Christmases, Santa has gotten a bit of help from Fort Bragg paratroopers, and this year was no exception. The Randy Oler Memorial Toy Drop gave Soldiers a chance to help needy children and earn foreign jump wings at the same time during the operation’s main airborne operation Dec. 11 at Sicily Drop Zone.

"The sole intent of Operation Toy Drop is to put toys in the hands of children in need at Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Fayetteville and the surrounding communities," said Maj. Robert Sentell, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) and the airborne commander of Operation Toy Drop. "Additionally, it gives American paratroopers and jumpmasters an opportunity to work with foreign jumpmasters, this year from Poland and Germany."

The overall operation, which consists of at least 10 airborne events, ran from Dec. 3 to 14 here.

Soldiers donated a new, unwrapped toy Dec. 10 for a chance to win a slot on the main Dec. 11 jump, Sentell said. The slots were then raffled off.

This year, Operation Toy Drop became the Randy Oler Memorial Toy Drop after the founder, Sgt. 1st Class Randy Oler.

"(Oler) passed away in the spring while jumpmastering," Sentell said. "(The name change) is to honor him as being the founder."
"Randy Oler put this together seven years ago, and he was really the nucleus of the operation," said Col. Brian Stephenson, director of operations, XVIII Airborne Corps plans office. "I think it's really tremendous how they've been able to carry this on in his honor.

Sentell said over 11,000 toys have been distributed through Operation Toy Drop to date, and over 1,000 Soldiers made the jump this year.

Stephenson said in addition to providing toys for needy children and foreign jump wings for Soldiers, Operation Toy Drop helped promote post camaraderie and international cooperation.

"This is a great opportunity for units in XVIII Airborne Corps to work with units in (U.S. Army Special Operations Command) and demonstrate unique Fort Bragg Camaraderie," he said.

"I think both the Polish and the Germans are representative of the type of multinational spirit we have in the Global War on Terror," he continued. "We see it here at Fort Bragg, we see it in Afghanistan and we see it in Iraq."

1st Sgt. Thomasz Swierad, of the Polish army's 6th Abn. Brigade, said he was excited to participate in the operation. "This is the first time we have taken part in an operation such as this - the first time in the United States. We're very impressed by all the things you're doing here, especially the hospitality," he said. "The thing you are doing for children is outstanding. Also the cooperation between the Polish, Americans and Germans is awesome."

Lt. Col. Martin Stahlschmidt, XVIII Abn. Corps German liaison, agreed.

"(Operation Toy Drop) benefits kids, and we like to support such an operation," Stahlschmidt said. "It's also good for camaraderie."

Spc. Scott Klaas, administrative specialist, Company A, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, said that he enjoyed participating in the jump.

"It was fun; something different," he said. "It's always a nice gesture to help out whenever you can."

Staff Sgt. Michael Johnston, air operations sergeant, HHC, 1st Corps Support Command, agreed.

"It's the best thing going," he said. "It's just awesome for local children."