Vern, in addition to being a longtime CCT and parachuting instructor at the USAF Academy, was a member of the combined Army-Air Force HALO team that set the world altitude record for a group freefall in 1963. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for that jump (see below).  Jim Howell was on the team as well.  This jump was made long before the invention of squares. They used round parachutes with a hefty opening shock and without a lot of canopy maneuverability you now have.

Photo Courtesy of Al Hooper

Project HALO Team Award Ceremony 1964

 

General Curtis E. Le May, Air Force Chief of Staff presents  Distinguished Flying Crosses to Project HALO jump team.  

At left, nearest  Le May is MSgt James Howell.  At front, center is Captains Garrity  (tallest) and Corey (shortest).  
Standing directly behind Garrity and  Corey are Staff Sergeants Vernon Morgan and George McLean.  

All  were long-time controllers, except Garrity who was a long-time Air Commando  Intelligence Officer and who was also a Butterfly FAC in Laos.