104-year-old WWII veteran loves jumping out of planes

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — At 104-years-old, Ernie Columbus could be called a thrill seeker — especially after his latest adventure taking to the skies.

KXAN caught up with the WWII veteran in San Marcos as he geared up for his second-ever skydiving trip.

“I don’t remember doing this the last time,” Ernie said as the instructor strapped on some new devices.

“This is your Altimeter, look at it anytime you want and you will know how high we are,” the instructor told him.

Ernie served in the Army during WWII. After the war, he moved over to the Air Force to serve out the remainder of his 26-year military career. In that time, he never skydived, but now he said he's hooked.

“I just decided I was going to jump, and that was it,” Ernie said.

Ernie was paired with instructor Victor Krusi for the jump, who says tandem jumping gives almost anyone the opportunity to go skydiving.

“It is much easier now with tandem skydiving," Krusi said. "We just strap you to someone who is very, very, very experienced."

Ernie says he enjoyed every second of the free fall, but especially the view from so high up.

“I could see everything around, and the guy back there was talking to me and I was all tied up to him,” Ernie said.

KXAN asked Ernie if he would be jumping again anytime soon.

“Someone asked me if I was going to do it again and I said, 'I don’t know,' but I think if the opportunity comes up, I may just do it,” said Ernie.

Ernie says if he does jump again, he would like to do it on his 107th birthday.

KXAN photojournalist Jordan Belt goes to church with Columbus and says he is quite character and friends with everyone.

Belt says when Columbus told him he was jumping out of a plane he asked if he could tag along and tell his story.