Page 14 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine

Troy Rich A “Rich” Life –

Flirting with Death

by Larry A. Williams

Troy graduated from
McAdoo High School
in 1944 and was
drafted into the Army
on March 26, 1945.
After completing eight
weeks of basic training
at Camp Walters near
Mineral Wells, Texas,
his unit was ordered to
ship out for overseas
deployment. After
undergoing a series of
immunizations, Troy
“came down with a
107-degree fever and
nearly died.” The
deployment proceeded
without the young
soldier, and “many
men in my unit
were either killed he used them instead to lead
or wounded, and I American forces who would
would have been one occupy Japan. The adventurous
y his own reckoning, of them.” The 11th young man was “only making
WWII veteran James Airborne suffered 2,431 casualties $50 month, but if you could
B“Troy” Rich “nearly died during WWII. America had lost qualify as a paratrooper, you
15 times – more lives than a many of her young men, but V-J could earn $100.” The physical
cat.” He “was always a bit of Day on Aug. 14, 1945 brought training was quite intense, and
a daredevil”, but not all of his welcome relief. Troy said that Troy remembered that “we had
close encounters with death were he “jumped up and down and to do double-time (running) all
due to his risk-taking. He was shouted for joy when he heard the time. Even if we stopped,
born on November 8, 1926 near the bombs were dropped on we had to walk in place.” After
McAdoo, Texas to Ezra and Ada Japan.” The war was finally over. five jumps, Troy earned his
Rich. His father, parachute badge and the much
a farmer, was a Leaving from needed extra $50-per-month pay.
veteran of WWI Oakland, On one jump, he landed on top
who, among other California, Troy of another paratrooper’s canopy
responsibilities, and his outfit and “had to slide off and move
shoed horses sailed for Japan. away from the other jumper, or
for the Army in General Douglas they both might have plunged to
Bulgaria. Troy’s MacArthur had their death.” On another jump,
brother also served picked the 11th a wind shear hit him about 100
during WWII as an Airborne to lead feet from the ground, and even
airplane mechanic the invasion of though he tried to correct his
in the Army Air Japan, but after landing, he “landed hard on a
Corps. the Japanese big mound of dirt and bent my
surrender, tailbone under.” Instead of being

14 Lubbock Senior Link