xtramelanin

September 3rd, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^

small point of order:  the air force wasn't formed until after WWII, maybe 1949.  until then it was called the 'army air force'.  so harmon would've in fact been a member of the army, as was my father during WWII for similar reasons. 

lsjtre

September 3rd, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^

He was in the Army, technically. He never served in the Air Force as a separate military branch only the Army Air Corps/Forces within the Army (much like the Marine Corps is today within the Navy).

Cobra5476

September 3rd, 2019 at 6:50 PM ^

You are somewhat correct.   During World War 2 the Air Force was part of the Army, they were not a separate "Branch".   The Navy and the Marine Corps are separate branches of the Department of Defense, with equal representation in the Joint Chiefs of Staff(General Berger and Admiral Gilday).  The Marine Corps though does fall under the administration of the Department of the Navy.

Blue Vet

September 4th, 2019 at 8:05 AM ^

AND the Marines use the Army's Military Police School. When I was training to be an MP, we were joined by Marine MP candidates. According to them, the Corps decided the Navy's Shore Patrol School wasn't tough enough, which may be accurate or bluster. Either way, the interwebs say the Marines still send their MP candidates to the Army.