A Champion's Journey Episode 8: Original U.S. Army Parachute Team member, Jerry Bourquin

This past December marked the 60th anniversary of the US Army Parachute Team, “The Golden Knights.” During the team’s biennial reunion celebration, I had the great honor of spending a day and having a conversation with one of the original members of the Golden Knights, the legendary, Gerald Bourquin.

Jerry’s incredible military career includes service in the Korean War as an Engineer and in Vietnam as a Huey and Cobra helicopter pilot. Jerry is an iconic pioneer of our sport, a Champion parachutist, and an International Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame inductee. Even more impressive than his incredible list of achievements, Jerry is a true gentleman - genuinely kind, sincere, and exceedingly humble. 

Jerry is the embodiment of an ideal soldier and teammate who, 60 years ago, set the standards of personal and professional excellence that, to this day, all members of the Golden Knights strive to achieve.