Service Rivalry — Always

There were three senior officers hiking in the wild of western Virginia when they unexpectedly came upon a raging river nearing its high water mark. They needed to get to the other side but were clueless about how to get the job done. The Air Force colonel lifted his arms and raising his eyes toward heaven loudly prayed: “God, give me the strength to cross this river! Amen.”

Suddenly the Air Force colonel had muscled arms and strong legs and was able to swim the river. It took him about an hour, however, and he almost drowned during the swim across.

The Army colonel then raised his arms and looking toward Heaven prayed: “God, give me the strength and the tools to cross this river! Amen.” Suddenly a one-man survival raft appeared with an oar and the soldier used it to cross the river. It took him quite some time, however, and he almost capsized a couple of times.

It was finally time for the Navy captain to cross the river. Having carefully observed all that had transpired on the bank of the raging river, he raised his arms into the air and prayed: “Please God, give me the strength, the tools, and the intelligence to cross this river! Amen.” Suddenly God transformed the Navy captain into a Marine Corps lance corporal, who promptly consulted his map, hiked upstream a few hundred yards, and walked across the bridge.