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MIDDLETOWN — Jumping out of an airplane isn't too scary when you've already been to war or rappelled 120 feet out of a helicopter.

That was the verdict of three veterans who made their first jumps Friday, July 18, at Hook Field as part of the kickoff to this weekend's MidFirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Brad Morris, a former Marine awarded the Purple Heart after his time in Vietnam, said his only fear was waking up too late to make the 7 a.m. jump time.

"There's nothing scary about this," he said. "It's exhilarating."

The tandem jumps from 10,000 feet were made with assistance from members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, making the event a reunion of sorts for Middletown police officers David Kirsch and Eric Crank, both Army vets.

Kirsch served in the first Gulf War and Crank was stationed in Panama while the military provided assistance to Colombia in the battle against notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar.

"It was like the culmination of the training in the military," Kirsch said. "I was really calm."

Kirsch's wife, Nikki, said her husband woke up the happiest she's seen him in a long time; but, she couldn't make the same claim as she watched from the ground.

"I'm nervous. My heart is pounding," she said. "I'm much more nervous about him jumping out of a plane than him being on the street."

Lynn Crank was more anxious about getting a good shot with her camera than anything else. If her husband was nervous that morning he didn't show it, she said.

Crank was ready to go again by the time he touched down at the airfield.

"I could see how you'd get addicted to doing it," he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwells@coxohio.com.