Four Year Old Ranger Completes Mission

CHARLESTON -- The wind blew strongly against pint-sized paratrooper Dayton Black’s deployed parachute Saturday afternoon.

Nevertheless, the 4-year-old completed his mission: taking part in Charleston’s annual Halloween costume parade on the square. In fact, he won grand prize with his camouflage outfit topped with a plastic tubing facsimile of a deployed parachute.

Dayton was one of dozens of children who marched in the parade, sponsored by the Charleston Jaycees, Junior Women’s Club and Kiwanis Club.

His mother, Rhonda Black, said the costume was inspired by Dayton’s uncle Mike, who is a paratrooper with the U.S. Army Rangers.

“He loves uncle Mikey,” Black said.

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