The nearly 60 years, HAL, HCS, and 84/85 have answered the U.S.’ need for a capability that could fill the missions that did not fit into Navy’s big gray “ships at sea” model. 

They flew the hand-me-down aircraft from other services. They got themselves “invited” to Baghdad. They “Space-A’d” their way to war.

They fought in the jungle, the desert, in the Horn of Africa, at the CNO’s office, and in the Halls of Congress.  They attracted super-stars, misfits, and part-timers – all of whom who when given the chance were the first to say “Send Us.”