The Midnight Hour

I wrote the following story about three months into my deployment but didn’t feel comfortable posting it until I returned.
It took us over an hour to get to Camp Smitty. The trip from Camp Fallujah had been a grueling 30-35 mile per hour ride with 3/5’s logistics train convoy. I vastly preferred hauling [...]

This morning Wired.com posted an informative article on the political impact of military bloggers and their perception by military leaders. You can check it out here. I also want to welcome all the new visitors to The Midnight Hour that are linking from Wired.com. While I returned from Iraq two months ago, [...]

Today I passed a kid selling candy bars in a shopping center. I didn’t care to donate to his particular cause, but being one to always try things differently, I decided on an original way of telling him that. When he asked me if I wanted to buy a candy bar I looked [...]

Migrating to the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI, the Marine Corps’ one-stop solution for all our computing and internet needs) is possibly the best thing the USMC has ever done. The taking of Mount Suribachi came close, but the implementation of NMCI has had much further-reaching impacts than the defeat of fascism.

Before I tell you why [...]

My wife and some friends recently particpated in the Bootcamp Challenge at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. It’s a 3-mile race with obstacles and Marine Corps drill instructors providing verbal motivation. Thousands turned out for the race. Take a look at the DI above (blue shirt) giving race participants a littany of reasons why [...]

I enjoy Nicaraguan cigars because tobacco from Nicaragua seems to share a smooth, rich flavor that succeeds in creating a medium-full bodied cigar without the spiciness associated with some full-flavored smokes. Maduro wrappers and double maduro inner/outer wrappers seem to intensify this effect. My favorite Nicaraguan smoke is the Remedios 92 and 95 [...]

It’s like you come back from Iraq and people expect you to be this entirely different person. I don’t feel different. For example, the other day we were having dinner at the Olive Garden, which was lovely…wait, I’m sorry, I don’t know where I was going with that.

Seriously, I was actually surprised how quickly I [...]