... how to dress!! Great photo, Top. There is no better looking uniform in the American military than the USMC dress blues.

For those who don't know, the "top" rank that Top achieved in the U.S. Marines is the highest rank that a non-commissioned officer can hold (in formal military terms, the rank is Sergeant Major or E-9). Don't know the exact numbers, but only a VERY SMALL percentage of all Marines ever make Top Sgt. And, you have to be one tough son-of-a-b*tch to do it.

My Dad was a Master Chief Gunner's Mate, the Navy's equivalent E-9 rank. I am far more proud of him for that than I ever was for becoming a commissioned officer myself.

----- jim o\-S

United States Military Academy, West Point, Class of 1967
U.S. Navy 1967-1971 (separation rank of Lieutenant)