{"id":70412,"date":"2020-09-10T21:23:59","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T21:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/10\/paratrooper-killed-in-static-line-jump-identified\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:22:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:22:58","slug":"paratrooper-killed-in-static-line-jump-identified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/disaster\/2020\/09\/10\/paratrooper-killed-in-static-line-jump-identified\/","title":{"rendered":"Paratrooper killed in static-line jump identified"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 82nd Airborne Division<\/a> released the name Thursday of its paratrooper who died after experiencing a static-line parachute malfunction<\/a> the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pfc. Jean Cruz De Leon, 20, was participating in airborne training onto Galahad Drop Zone at Fort Stewart, Georgia, when he died. Army officials provided no other details about the malfunction except to say that the incident is under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldier, whose name-tapes show he went by \u2018Cruz,\u2019 was an infantryman assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCruz was a great Soldier, always made everyone laugh when everyone was down, constantly raising the team\u2019s morale. He consistently strived to better himself and was always there for his battle buddies,\u201d said his weapons squad team leader, Spc. Brandon Arnold, in a prepared statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\t