Paratroop Parson

He is the only parson paratrooper in the U.S. His formal title is Lieut. Raymond S. Hall, and he is chaplain (Episcopal) of the Provisional Parachute Group at Fort Benning.

When he was assigned to Fort Benning in January, middle-sized, softspoken, muscular Chaplain Hall did not plan to do any jumping. But some of the boys suggested that he might make a jumper, and so he went into training.

He was a football and track star in high school, an All-American swimmer at Brown University. Now 33, and the father of two small boys, he was rector of St. John's Episcopal Church at Lowell, Mass, when he decided to join the Army. When first he went to Benning, he was lucky to get a dozen men for Sunday service. Now he draws 175.

Before making his first jump from a "free parachute'' tower last week, Chaplain Hall observed: "You know, I'm honestly nuts to get up and jump and I'm crazy about this outfit. But it's a little funny. I've never been in a plane in my life." He jumped, sprained both legs. Undaunted, he will jump from a plane when his legs mend.

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