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Jumping From War Into The Fire

A profession as dangerous as smokejumping--parachuting into remote areas to fight fires--is bound to suffer a few casualties. 

Malvin Brown was the first man on record to die as a smokejumper; he died in training near Roseburg in 1945. 

Brown was a member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Unit in World War II, composed of all African-Americans.  He and other jumpers will be memorialized in a plaque at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum near Cave Junction in early June.  Mark Corbet, J.J. Corbet and Roger Brandt from the 555th Parachute Infantry Association visit with some of the history of the unit, the famous "Triple Nickels."  

 

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Geoffrey Riley is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has hosted the Jefferson Exchange on JPR since 2009. He's been a broadcaster in the Rogue Valley for more than 35 years, working in both television and radio.