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Published February 21, 2013

3 paratroopers rescued from trees near Rainier

bBY ADAM ASHTON

Thurston County firefighters Thursday afternoon rescued three Joint Base Lewis-McChord paratroopers who were caught in trees during an exercise.

The soldiers belonged to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, one of few Lewis-McChord units that practices airborne missions.

No one was injured, said Lt. Col. Brian DeSantis, a spokesman for the Ranger regiment.

Members of the Thurston County Special Operations Rescue Team were the first to the scene, said Lacey Fire Chief Steve Brooks. They brought the Rangers down from the trees in a wooded area inside the Army base.

“We’re glad they got there as quickly as they did,” Lewis-McChord spokesman Joe Piek said.