The story behind the song.......... August 5th, 1949. Its a broiling hot day across Montana. The thermometer in Helena reads 97 degrees. But its even hotter in Mann Gulch - a funnel-shaped canyon that adjoins the Missouri River 20 miles north of Helena. In the afternoon, a fire is reported on the south ridge of Mann Gulch and 16 smokejumpers take off from Missoula and fly 120 miles east to the jump site. One smokejumper becomes ill on the bumpy flight and remains on the plane. The remaining 15 jumpers hook onto the jump line and hurl themselves into the wrath of nature. That day, 13 young men would lose a desperate race with an unpredictable fire.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 11:36:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015