U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Wings of Blue, the Air Force Academy’s parachute team, helped the Texas Rangers kick off their Major League Baseball season with a jump into the team’s home opener at Globe Life Park April 3, in Arlington, Texas.
The WOB took participated in the pregame ceremonies before the Rangers competed against the Cleveland Indians.
Five Academy parachutists jumped: Maj. Chase Scully, Master Sgt. James Cain, and Cadets 1st Class Gabriel Dawson, Everett Joiner and Jordan Glover.
For Dawson, a native of Lake Jackson, Texas, the jump was a return to his old stomping grounds.
“My family has been to the home-opening Rangers games every year since I was born,” he said. “In 2008, I watched Dana Bowman -- Army double-amputee -- jump into the Rangers stadium. That jump inspired me to join the WOB. Now, not only have I had the opportunity to jump alongside Dana, but I’m also getting my own opportunity to jump into the Rangers stadium. This jump is a dream-come-true for my family and me.”
Along with Dawson, Scully and Cain are also from Texas. Scully is from Spring, Texas.
“It is an honor and a privilege to jump into an opening day game for the Texas Rangers,” said Scully, a 2007 Academy graduate. “I’m a Texan getting to jump into a stadium full of Texans. to support a sport I love and grew up playing. Not sure it gets much better than that.”
Cain hails from Odessa. The KC-10 in-flight refueling operator completed more than 2,500 parachute jumps. He said landing on the Texas Rangers’ field is the “best way to top off a great assignment [at the Academy].”
A lifelong Rangers’ fan, Cain dedicated the jump to his wife, Misty, and family.