PEOPLE OF INTEREST
85
DANA BEACH
Age: 63
Lives in: Fort Pierce
Occupation: Retired; U.S. Air
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Force, St. Lucie County Fire
District
Family: Daughter, Jessica
Childs
Education: Barry University,
Miami; two associate degrees
and a bachelor’s degree
What inspires me: “Being able to go to these events and do
the World War Two military style jumps and honor the veterans,
and that includes all vets in all wars.”
Something most people don’t know about me: “I graduated
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U.S. Army Special Forces SCUBA School 1981. I was a
military diver in pararescue for 21 years.”
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Beach gets ready to jump with other team members in a vintage C-47
plane, the same one used for paratroopers in World War II.
“It’s heartening how appreciative the French people are to
Americans, British and Canadians. They’re still appreciative
for liberating them. They were occupied for four years.”
Many of the grateful residents were growing up at the
time of the war and welcome the group members into their
homes. They tell stories of the trauma but also the comfort of
overcoming German occupation, thanks to the Allied forces.
Seeing these young men dressed in American uniforms helps
bring back those pleasant memories.
Another heartwarming aspect of the team’s exploits is
meeting with vets both here and abroad during events.
“About 13,000 paratroopers participated in D-Day. Vets
become very important to the jump team because they can
reveal details about battle.”
On his visits to Belgium, Beach did not jump but toured
:orld :ar ,, battlefields, including Battle of the Bulge sites.
Two vets who were there joined him for the visit. “When
you get to meet a World War Two veteran that fought in that
battle, that’s an inspiration.”
Beach joined Liberty Jump in 2016 after hearing about it
from a friend who had earlier jumped over Normandy. The
Air Force vet learned jumping at Fort Benning in Georgia,
and he has also jumped at the post in recent years, such as
during National Airborne Day, celebrated Aug. 16 each year.
“I attended jump school 37 years ago. It’s a real honor to go
back there and jump,” Beach says.
After serving four years in the Air Force, Beach went back
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