THEN AND NOW

Parachute training, Ft. Benning, Ga., a long time ago

There were about 7 guys in a class from the Navy. In those days they were known as Underwater Demolition Teams and they were tough, in incredibly great physical shape and cocky as hell. You couldn't hurt them no matter what you did but they sure hurt a lot of good Army guys by out- performing them physically. Real pains, too. Whenever they finished an exercise they would shout, "UDT!" instead of the obligatory, "AIRBORNE!" That usually got them 25 push-ups which they did one-handed. Real pains.

One day an entire new group of instructors showed up and everyone started to run. In the end, no one was left standing. The Airborne broke the UDT just to show them it could be done. I think the guy that did it was a sargent named Crespi. He ran next to the UDT guys sceaming the most foul insults you could possibly imagine and they screamed right back...until he turned around and ran about a mile backwards screaming every step. That broke them. They realized they were dealing with a crazy man and they broke. But there wasn't a man on that field that didn't want them on our side.

Today, the UDT are now called SEALS and from one who, for a short period of time worked in the World Trade Center, a big "UDT" to you. And the best part? When someone in the future asks, "Hey, what ever happened to Bin Laden," the honest answer will be: "Bin Laden? Eh, he sleeps with the fishes."

It was a good day. Tomorrow, back to business.