Marines face U.S. probe in Afghanistan deaths

Marines are in the spotlight again, this time in Afghanistan where they’re accused of shooting and killing civilians after a suicide bombing.
What a lot of civilians don’t understand, and what any Marine who has ever held a weapon in a combat zone will tell you, is collateral damage is a sad fact of war. We [...]

Dulab goodbye

Corporals Alexander, Sheedy, and Frew and I reflect on the past tour in Dulab and express our heartfelt goodbyes to those we’ll leave behind.
Rated PG13 for accidental strong language.
Dulab goodbye

Nine year Marine Corps anniversary

Some reflection on the last nine years of my life in Corps, as well a spattering of currents events and future ops.
Rated PG
Nine year Marine Corps anniversary

Deep thoughts at 2am

Corporal Sheedy, formerly known as Lance Corporal, and I think deeps thoughts on a late night radio watch.
Rated PG13 for strong language
Deep thoughts at 2am

Getting to know 1st Squad

I figured it was time to introduce everyone to the motley crew I work with. Listen at your own risk…
Rated PG13 for accidental strong language
Getting to know 1st Squad

Icksnay on the itingwray

“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.”
The powers that be put the kibosh on the posting of my daily journal entries, citing violation of operational security. I don’t think they know my journal was post dated a week in the past. Oh well. Mine is not to ask [...]

Last call

Rated PG
Last call
Recorded from written text in Ramadi, Iraq. A wrap up, really, of a few things that stood out during my tour and what I did to cope.

It’s been seven short months since I put boots on the deck here in Iraq, and I’ll say will no hesitation I’m happy to be leaving. For [...]

Memorial Day - Iraq

For most, Memorial Days past have been those of facts and figures and numbers. It is a day most often described by X number of service members who have died in Y wars in Z years. Memorial Days past have been of remembrance, maybe casual or solemn depending on the individual, and reflections of loss [...]

Foot in mouth disease

Knock knock!
Who’s there?
The Insensitive Guy.
The Insensitive Guy who?
The Insensitive guy who cracked a joke about a 15 year old Thai hooker and got his ass chewed by a female Marine Corps Captain.
Question: How do all offensive jokes begin?
Answer: By looking over your shoulder.
It’s official. I’m “rude,” “crude,” “inconsiderate,” “offensive,” and socially unattractive to boot. Coming [...]

Twenty-nine is fine

It’s 2:20 AM and I’m on watch. Radio watch, that is. The squawk box barks at me as the American perimeter observations posts religiously call in radio checks on the top and bottom of each hour. It’s a checks and balances system, really. Information dissemination. It’s the “we heard gunshots, did you too?” kind of [...]