My family and I arrived at Ft Bragg , NC, in the oppressive heat of July 1994, NC. I was a newly certified and residency-trained Army physician . My previous 18 years in the Navy and 12 years as a SEAL were only memories now. I had a new Army job and a new mission. Heal the sick and injured. I was immediately invited to recertify in static line parachuting so I could be assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division if it went to war.

The PROFIS (Professional Filler system) is used by the military to fill voids in medical personnel needed when a unit deploys to combat. There were ten other jump-qualified doctors in the Bragg system, but they would need more if they got the call to go somewhere ‘hot.’

The 82nd Airborne was America’s ready force, able to be airborne in 48 hours. I was assigned (

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