I spent eleven years in the United States Army. The Granddaddy of them all. The Air Force began as the Army Air Corp. The Marines were begotten from the US Navy, but we had ground forces first, the Army.

I have had the pleasure of dealing with all branches of the Armed Forces during my time the the 82nd Airborne Division. The Air Force always carried us to our drops, although, one thing that I have never gotten over is how can three highly trained Air Force pilots, fly east to west over Sicily drop zone, which runs north to south, and has been at Fort Bragg for over 50 years. But thank God that the Air Force finally listened to the Army and kept those A-10 Wart Hogs, there is no prettier sight in the world than seeing those Devil's crosses flying overhead to take on those tanks in the open. Watching them rain fire and destruction down, the sight is indescribable.

We also had the fun of storming the beaches thanks to the US Navy and their LCMs. They would drop us off, and high tail it back to the sea out of harms way. But I will give the Navy credit, the Naval gunfire that I had the opportunity to call for support could level any ground.

The Marines, our Brothers-in-Arms, although we routinely kicked the butts in War Games, they are the real deal. The LRRPs are just as bad as the toughest Ranger. We often traded spit, punches and blood with one another, but there is no one I would rather have watching my backside or lying next to me in a trench than a Marine.

dmk