While researching this article, I came upon a very popular slogan: “Who needs superheroes, my dad is a Marine”. Talk about summing it up nicely. Is there anyone more superheroic in our real world than the men and women of the armed services, who push themselves to the limit and sacrifice everything in the name of protecting the innocent and fighting bad guys? They wear awesome uniforms, sometimes get cool code names and they have powers and abilities far surpassing the average person.

Every soldier can be a superhero.

“Wonder Twin powers, activate!”

So it makes perfect sense to turn soldiers into superheroes in the world of comic books. Who better to take a stand and fight evil on a superhuman level than the men and women who’ve already dedicated their lives to that cause? Sometimes superheroes are nerdy science geeks like Spider-Man, or rich playboys like Batman. And sometimes they are the ass-kicking, freedom-saving men and women of the armed services.

In honor of Memorial Day, here are 6 people who don’t need the colorful costumes or super-powers – but it helps.

6. Red Hulk

Don’t try pinning any medals on that chest

Did you know that Hulks come in red now? Or that when they do, they’re also 4-star generals? Meet Red Hulk, possibly the highest ranking military superhero in all of comics, because he is secretly Air Force General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross! Remember the old, white-haired general who was always hunting Bruce Banner in the two Hulk movies? Well in the comics, they made that guy into a Hulk of his own. Red Hulk is as strong as the green version, but he gets to keep his intellect and tactical military genius, making him a powerful addition to the Avengers.

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5. Green Lantern

Given all the powers of the cosmos; uses it to make guns

Don’t let Ryan Reynolds fool you, not all Green Lanterns are whiny, self-obsessed pretty boys. Meet John Stewart, one of four human beings who have wielded the Green Lantern ring. Hal Jordan was just the most famous one, securing Hal the lead role in the 2011 movie. But John Stewart got the starring role in the Justice League cartoon series from a few years ago. Stewart is a former Marine sniper, who frequently relies on his military training and sniping skills when it comes to making Green Lantern constructs. Hal Jordan made a big race track and a fist in the film – John Stewart makes sniper rifles and army battalions. You tell me which is cooler.

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4. Ms. Marvel

Not the standard issue uniform, but I don’t mind

Where can you find one of the toughest, strongest and all around coolest superheroines in all of comics? In the Air Force, of course! Carol Danvers loved flying, and graduated with top honors from the Air Force Academy. She quickly rose to the rank of major due to her combat skill and natural intellect. From behind the cockpit, she went on to work for the CIA and eventually NASA, where she became Security Chief for Cape Canaveral. This impressive resume led to Carol getting the top job of investigating alien visitor Mar-Vell – though her version of ‘investigating’ involved falling in love and knocking boots with the alien warrior. Still, that hook up led to Carol getting blasted with a fancy alien science gizmo, granting her a whole host of super-powers. She’s back in the air flying again, only now she doesn’t need a jet.

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3. War Machine

Why yes, that is a shoulder-mounted gatling gun

Almost as long as James Rhodes has been War Machine, he’s also been a member of the military – he was a Marine in the comics, and was with the Air Force in the movies. Either way, military service has been key to the character, giving him rigid discipline and heavy combat skills. Rhodey was a lieutenant colonel who served as a combat pilot in East Asia, making him the perfect candidate for the second super-powered, armored flight suit designed by Tony Stark. And you’ll notice that his armor packs a lot more weaponry than Iron Man. Because War Machine is practically a walking, flying tank. Now that’s one military badass.

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2. Captain Atom

Them Air Force boys are always finding fancy ways to fly

Air Force pilot Nathaniel Adam is a living nuclear bomb! That makes him one tough hero, on par with Superman. Only instead of just standing “truth, justice and the American way” out of the goodness of his heart, Captain Atom proudly serves in the U.S. military. There was one episode of the Justice League cartoon where Adam even sided with the military over the Justice League, and was ordered to fight Superman when the Man of Steel tried to break into a secure government facility. Now that’s dedication! Captain Atom has had his origin changed a few times, but they all involve a top secret Air Force experiment that grants him his powers and unique look. There’s also the danger of going nuclear at any moment, but he takes that in stride.

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1. Captain America

I feel compelled to take off my hat just looking at him

The first, the best, the granddaddy of them all: Captain America! Here is a superhero cut from the Greatest Generation, fighting on the frontlines in World War II. How many heroes can say they’ve actually punched out Adolf Hitler? Small and puny Steve Rogers wanted so badly to do his duty in the war that he agreed to take part in a military experiment, turning him from a 90-pound weakling into the hero that is Captain America! He even got his iconic shield from President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself! Captain America not only kicked Nazi ass in the funny books, but his comic was actually sent overseas with the real soldiers fighting the real war! Captain America is the embodiment of what makes this country great, just like all our service men and women in the armed forces!

Now if only we could equip each one of them with an indestructible Vibranium shield!