Super-Paratrooper
- Thomas Smugala
- 7 minutes ago
- 5 min read
We often go through life thinking that taking the time to explore new things or learn things just to follow an interest or hobby is a waste—what good is it if you don’t get paid to do it? I can tell you from personal experience that following one's interest just because you’re interested is the way to positive growth, no matter the subject. Passions and hobbies turn into dream jobs every day.
A local Civil War reenactor hobbyist turned period film wardrobe expert, Craig Priday, has earned credits in multiple big projects, including Taylor Sheridan's "1883" and "1883:The Bass Reeves Story". Recently, Craig partnered with Motion Dog Films on their latest feature, The Spring, to help breathe life into scenes depicting moments of the Civil War.
Today, Craig has been working hard on shifting some of his focus to WWII, a shift from the Civil War, but he is throwing all he has at the new venture—we love people who are ALL in.
On June 6, 1944, the D-Day invasion of Normandy, 13,100 American paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were dropped behind enemy lines to fight back to the beaches.
My name is Craig T. Priday, and I live near Fredericktown, Missouri, where I was born. I am a sixth-generation Madison Countian on the Priday line; our family came from North Carolina and Tennessee, settling here in 1856. Needless to say, my roots run deeper than the soil in this region of the Missouri Ozarks, clinging to the granite below.
Nearly 5000 Allied troops where killed by the Germans on D-Day.
Through the years I've had many jobs through several trades; I've worked as logger and in several sawmills, drilled water wells and core drilled for various mines around Missouri and Colorado, worked concrete, was a union laborer, a union roofer doing flat roof, hot tar, etc… I cowboyed on ranches both here in Missouri and Wyoming, was a welder in fab shops and any place else I worked that required welding to repair or build something.
I worked for a while in Tom Sloan's saddle shop before moving on to Tom Ramsey's training stables, where I learned what I've considered my very first trade, that of a farrier. No matter what job I had when I had one, I was always shoeing horses and mules. All the things I've learned from every job I’ve had have culminated in my current trade as a union millwright.
There is nothing natural about walking out of a plane at 1500 feet.
A few years ago, a casting director asked if I'd like to do a video audition. I said, "Sure." - though I'd never done one and had no idea how to do it. She sent me the part I was to do, so I employed some friends to help act out the parts and to video it for me. I tied my mule up close to the bank I was to rob, and we played it out. In this scene, I was to come out of the bank, then get shot in the leg, but that was all it said. To me, it made sense; I'd get shot as I was mounting, so I could fall off and say my line. I do my own stunts. Not convinced that I could adequately portray being shot in the leg, I asked one of my friends to shoot me in the leg with a BB gun at the same time my other friend shot his pistol with a blank. The BB gun had the desired effect I made it as real as possible.
I sent the video in and got a call back informing me I got the part. This took me to New Mexico, where we filmed a sizzle reel that never really took off, but what I came away with were some people I now call friends, a love for acting and movie production, experience, and contacts. Since then, I've been in seven more productions, the most notable so far being Taylor Sheridan's “1883” and, more recently, "1883: The Bass Reeves Story". Getting to work for Sheridan and getting to meet, as well as work with, Sam Elliot, has definitely been a major high point in my movie experience.
...but what I came away with were some people I now call friends...
Today I am focused on WWII. The Parachute School is a part of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team. We are a historical organization that operates as a non-profit with more than 250 volunteer members. Our mission is to execute the substance of our motto, "Remember, Honor, Serve." This is accomplished through our participation at air shows, Veteran's reunions, and individual efforts. We do this to inform and educate the public- especially our young people- about the sacrifices made by the soldiers and airmen of the Greatest Generation during WWII.
Jump school slide show.
There is nothing natural about walking out of a plane at 1500 feet. You must focus on your training and the reasons you're there. Trust your training and your instructors; they are professionals and have many, many years of combined experience. Discipline is key. Without a doubt, completion of jump school and earning your wings makes returning to your everyday life seem just a little more mundane, but you can walk a little taller because you did what few have ever tried; you can be proud of the fact that you've accomplished something great. There is no greater feeling than overcoming your fears- no matter what they are.
The parachute school is a nine-day course. It's located in Frederick, Oklahoma, at the airfield. The hangar was built in 1940 and was used to train bomber pilots during WWII. Students attending the parachute course stay in the barracks located in the hangar. You get three meals a day, a place to stay, as well as training and five jumps. This also includes membership with the Airborne Demonstration Team. Considering all that goes into training a person to become a qualified Basic Parachutist, that's not really that high. Students provide their own boots, helmets, and HBTs. Classes are capped at 25 students, and courses are offered twice a year: July and October.
Right now, I'm planning to return in April, July, and October of 2026 to help with the school, further my training, and do more jumps. My goal is to have 35 jumps so I can meet the FAA requirements to qualify as a jumper at airshows. As of now, I have five confirmed jumps in my logbook.
My goal is to have 35 jumps so I can meet the FAA requirements to qualify as a jumper at airshows...
Get Out There! Create something. Learn something new. Jump from a plane. Start a business. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you.
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