Double-amputee to parachute into ceremony

By JBLM Release on June 15, 2010

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. - Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, the first Active Duty double amputee in Air Force history to successfully perform a personnel drop, will lead members of his unit's command element as they parachute onto McChord Field as part of the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron change of command ceremony June 16, 10 a.m.

During the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron change of command ceremony Lt. Col. Michael J. Flatten will assume command from Lt. Col. Bryan H. Cannady. Cannady assumed command of the 22nd STS June 2008 and will be reassigned to Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.  Flatten, a Texas A&M graduate comes to JBLM from his most recent assignment with the Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlbert Field, Fla.

Background on SSgt. Shaun Meadows -

Meadows made Air Force history this Monday, as the first active duty Airman and double amputee, by successfully performing a parachute jump as part of a 40 member C-17 personnel drop at JBLM McChord Field.  Monday's jump was a practice exercise for Wednesday's ceremony, and was Meadows' first jump since his injury. Wednesday's jump will be his last jump before he separates from the Air Force.

Meadows lost both of his legs in late July 2008 during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan when he was hit by an improvised explosive device.