[trisham]

My connections at Camp Pendleton are through a son of a long-standing friend, who's a corpsman there (i.e., he is in the Navy). He's getting, if anything, even gloomier as time goes on.

****************

Has he been to Iraq? My nephew, a Marine, is on his second tour of duty there. He's pretty upbeat.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Has he been to Iraq?

Gearing up for a third tour now. The GMT he's getting now about things such as "don't file misleading or dishonest reports" and the billionth or so reiteration of the ROEs is the main thing depressing him--there seems to be too many examples that are drawn from actual experiences in Iraq.

Ever had your illusions about how one's fellows are without exception virtuous, honorable sorts of people? That's what this kid's going through. (I can't believe I'm calling a 24-year-old man a kid--amazing what being 61 does for your sense of age.)