US, French, and Djiboutian paratroopers recently celebrated St. Michel, the patron saint of paratroopers. The event was no small affair, beginning with a jump and ending with a Catholic Mass:

The airborne forces began the celebration with

a static line and a high-altitude low opening (HALO), or free fall, jump at a nearby drop zone. Following the jump, participants attended a mass at the French air base to honor St. Michel and a ceremony where several American jumpers were awarded French jump wings.

It’s an interesting multicultural military experience, and one with explicit religious overtones as an official part of the US military operation.

Kind of makes you wonder why such a situation doesn’t warrant the scandalous outrage as does, say, a Bible sitting on someone’s desk. Perhaps Chris Rodda approves of this kind of Catholic Christian proselytizing, and that makes it alright.

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