The U.S. Marines Corps has been part of the U.S. Navy since 1834. Over all those years thousands of men and women have been part of America's fighting elite. Since its inception in 1947 there has only been one U.S. Air Force Marine. At least it appeared that way to Airman Larry Stoddard . Volunteering for an Air Force experimental program to train combat troops within their forces, Stoddard shipped out to Marine Boot Camp followed by a specialist combat training school. Soon he found himself ordered to the 3rd Marine Division fighting near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. In this personal story Airman Stoddard recounts his time as a rifle carrying Marine while officially in the Air Force. Wounded twice in combat, Stoddard offers a vivid picture of life in two very different worlds.