Ralph W. Bottriel (died December 26, 1943) became the first American military person to jump from an aircraft using a manually-operated backpack parachute on 19 May 1919. He later received the Distinguished Flying Cross for this feat. Bottriel was considered "the dean of parachute jumpers" and made over 500 jumps.[1] He died on December 26, 1943, of natural causes.[2][3]
