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Jerry MacCauley killed in Iraq

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Jerry MacCauley, a Southern California jumper, former Navy SEAL and member of the CRW team Ghostriders, was killed last week in Iraq in a drive-by shooting. I'll miss him; we was a good guy, and was one of the first skydivers I met at Brown Field when I first moved to San Diego. Blue skies Jerry.

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There was a photo of Jerry in Dec 2007 Parachutist - receiving awards for 9,000 jumps and 96 hours of freefall.

He was a great guy. At the 2005 Canopy Formation World Record camp in Lake Wales, Jerry gave a seminar instructing those like me who had little experience with hypoxia or with O2. We had O2 masks on the lead plane and he wanted us all to use it safely. He was a good teacher and I'll certainly miss him.

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Thanks Chris for posting the pics. This news is really sad.

Blue Skies to Jerry:(...He is joining a great team with Conway, Shannon, Krystal, Egon, Piers, Bruno, MarkF., Joe L., Taz, Q, Joel, Scott, Johnny, Gus (flying camera), Dale, Scotty, Lee, Beezy, Ganja aka Scott Weed, John Mauney, PapaChulo,..all of you please take care of each other.






_________________________________________

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Most definitely a deeply sad loss and was a shock to hear about it the day it happened...was so sure that the news had to be wrong. To us and so many others Jerry was a special guy and it was a great treasure to have known him.

Have also enjoyed the pleasure of spending good times with his wife & son since their move to NC and blessed to have them in our lives. We are always amazed at how much and in so many ways that his son looks like him, it sure is how he'll live on in spirit.

We are trying to use the next few days before the life celebration being held for him to gather as many photos as we can --it's a special request that was made and we'd like to make a nice album or collage from what we are able to get together.

Please get in touch if you have anything that might work and can send a file to print them from.

RIP Jerry...thanks for all the smiles you always shared.

Eliz & Frank

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My heart sank when I got the call last week. We used to do night jumps together as the "Moon Brothers". We would put glow sticks out of all of the holes in a Pro Tech helmet, looking like a lit up punk rocker. Jerry made me laugh so often, telling some pretty funny SEAL days stories. He always asked about taking the fire dept. test, and I encouraged him to do so and get out of the war business.

I heard his death was unconfirmed and I so wanted this to not be true...

Fly free Moon Brother...[:/]

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Oh no. Jerry took me through my ground instructors training. :(

He was good people and really made me work for it. I remember seeing him and another "Leap Frog" packing on the grass in their black suits in the SD sun. I made some smart ass remark and he winked at me and said "cuz the girls like it - bow chica wow wow."

B|:(



Is a chicken omelette redundant?

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Jerry was a very strong player (both physically and in his teamwork) on the CF World Record Team of 2005. We really missed him at the 2007 CFWR in November, which he could not attend due to overseas committments.

Jerry was a very accomplished CRW flyer and a good guy. He will be missed in the CRW Skies.

Kevin Keenan
_____________________________________
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?

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I'll relate a funny story and typical Jerry. My apologies if it offends.

One day our 8-way CRW team (the late Team Infinity) was practicing at Perris for the 2000 nationals with Jerry being #3. While packing on the grass near the school, a gal I didn't recognize said something or other to Jerry.

He asked "What are you good for?" to which she replied "I give good head." I looked at Jerry and said "Don't f*** up now Jerry. Think of the team." All of us, including this gal, laughed hysterically. You had to be there.

Bob

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A few updates:

====================
Not much detail on this one, but contractor (and retired SEAL) Jerome P. McCauley was killed along Route Irish on the 31st:

UDT-SEAL ASSOCIATION

Passing of Jerome McCauley

We are saddened to report the loss of one of our Teammates. Jerome "Jerry" McCauley was killed while serving as an advisor in Iraq. Details are not clear at this time and Jerry is being escorted home to Sligo, North Carolina where Jerry and Belinda have a home. He was "on duty" for us again after a full career in the Teams. He continued to serve his country using the same skills and dedication that made him a memorable Frogman. He will be dearly missed and our prayers are with his family.

Arrangements have not been finalized but for those serving in Iraq at this time, you are invited to attend a Memorial Service in Baghdad. Jerome's McCauley's Memorial Service this Sunday 03 February will be at 1500. Location is the Honor Chapel at 3ID HQs on VBC.

Please keep Belinda and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
======================

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I did my 32nd jump with Jerry, a CRW jump completing my first two-stack & biplane. The following day I participated in a 8-Stack with Jerry docking 8th. He was originally filming the event, but the last guy was unable to dock, so Jerry naturally "filled in" and us crewpups earned our CCR. That was my 37th jump.

At the debrief I was so ecstatic, having just participated in something very amazing; one I'll never forget. Jerry introduced me to his wife and I told her I am also a pilot and this experience was like I flying with the Blue Angels, only better in that I was one of the "pilots" flying a Navy canopy with the Leap Frogs. I had also completed a diamond formation with Jerry, Jim Woods, and Knox Taylor.

He inspired me at 32 jumps, as I had no idea what I was getting into, nor how tough CRW was. I owned a jumpsuit, helmet, goggles and altimeter. He provided the rest.

A few years later I mentioned to him that I wanted to get my AFF Instructor rating. Again he taught and inspired me to become a good instructor. He told me, "my information is valuable, and what you learn from me you pass on from others." He smiled and said, "It's the gift that keeps on giving."

To this day when I train students, coach/AFFI candidates I tell them/teach them what Jerry told me.

In his honor I will be making contributions to the UDT-SEAL Assoc., as well as the NSW Foundation.

Fair winds, and following seas, Jerry,

Mark

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Blue Skies Jerry. I only got to meet you a few times, but they were memorable, you're one heck of a personality, and the comradery and friendship you offered shows in those memories and smiles of those that call you "friend".
----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

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A few months ago after Jerry moved down this way and started jumping with us at Suffolk. I'll never forget the first AFF jump I did with him. I was reserve side. The student went to do his practice touches at about 11.5k and just as the student reached back, I saw Jerry's head pop up and give me this very strange look with a big cocked eyebrow. I had little time to be puzzled by the look on his face as the student was ripped from my hand as he threw out his pilot chute on the first touch. That's what that look was for :D. Then he actually shrugged at me in freefall. I laughed soo hard. It was a really short skydive for the student but Jerry still impressed me, he gives one hell of a debrief for a 15 second skydive!

Thanks for letting me absorb some of your knowledge and experience Jerry :( just wish I had time to absorb more.

-Simon

108 way head down world record!!!
http://www.simonbones.com
Hit me up on Facebook

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Jerry always struck me as a personality larger than life. One of the first pro's I met when I walked on the Perris DZ as a newbie, yet one of the nicest...pulling you into the conversation because you were one of the 'team'.

Last time I saw Jerry was at one of the Perris CReW Camps in preparation for the World Record 2005. He'd come back home to qualify for the event and help out where he could. I talked a bit with Jerry, then, about his duties in Iraq. He was very enthusiastic and was looking forward to going back. He enjoyed his work there and saw its potential. He did not want to stay in the States as long as he could do good there, where he was needed.

This impressed me so much, yet was also so out of my reach to understand. Jerry will always be larger than life. Thank you for sharing with us what that's like.

Lori

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

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I have know Jerry for 20+ years he had been working for me at Skydive Suffolk for the past two seasons. Man he was a hoot. He use to do this thing with new Tandem passengers as he would be waiting to board the plane or as we were walking out to board. He would turn to the student and ask HEY you want to meet the guy that runs this place? Of course I am no more than five foot away.He would say let me see if i can find him for you he really likes to meet his new jumpers. And he would make this big ordeal of looking for me and after just a min he would point to me and go "Oh shit here he is " And bring the person over to shake my hand After a few times of this I would start to make my retreat and he always got me "Oh there he is" No matter how many times he did it we always got a good laugh. One thing Jerry always did that impressed me was he always got the person that jumped with him to fill out his personal log book and sign it. He was my friend and I will truly miss him. I think between him and Brad Foster God has his hands full about now.

This is all the information I have on the services



UDT-SEAL ASSOCIATION

Memorial Service for Jerome McCauley

The memorial for Jerome McCauley will be held between 1000 and 1400 on Friday 08 February 2008 at the officers club at Little Creek NAB Norfolk Virginia. The family has requested the attire for the memorial be casual dress.

Please keep Belinda and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Larry Pennington
Teach by the way you live
www.skydivesuffolk.com

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Quote

Jerry MacCauley, a Southern California jumper, former Navy SEAL and member of the CRW team Ghostriders, was killed last week in Iraq in a drive-by shooting. I'll miss him; we was a good guy, and was one of the first skydivers I met at Brown Field when I first moved to San Diego. Blue skies Jerry.




Man this really sucks!! I've known Jerry for many years, hell even built him and the Ghost Riders custom CRW rigs to their exact specs, what a character. I found out about it from Anne Helliwell on a flight to New Zealand (we're both there now) and this is the first oportunity to pass along our sadness and condolences at this news. BSBD Jerry you will be missed by all:(

Mick.

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sigh
i was hoping the rumours i had heard were not true.
i guess this end was pretty much inevitable with all the time he spent in Iraq.
Even a SEAL god such as Jerry could have fate smiling on him for only so long.

as someone else wrote
"jerry WAS larger than life"
all you had to do was ask him ;)

blue skies bro

kleggo

BV, please pass the word if there will be any memorial service @ PVP.



Chris J, if you see AH and Mick, have a brew in his memory

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Was a sad, sweet, warm and special remembrance for Jerry last Friday 2/8. Belinda and the kids extend many thanks to all that have called, emailed, showed their regards and affection for Jerry.

A site is now available for anyone that would like to visit it --

http://jerome-mccauley.last-memories.com/

Light a candle for Jerry and his family.

http://jerome-mccauley.last-memories.com/index.php?co=candles&poz=0


Leave a favorite memory.

http://jerome-mccauley.last-memories.com/index.php?co=memories&poz=0

Post favorite photos.

http://jerome-mccauley.last-memories.com/index.php?co=gallery

Send a note to family email. (CORRECTED EMAIL ADDRESS)

[email protected]

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