Central NY 10 months of the year.

Those are some hard MFers. No podcasting-vet bro culture for them.

One the Marine Corps' best minds. However, his life illuminates another issue prevalent in the turn of the century corps - the destruction of alcoholism and how it was accepted, tolerated, ignored. His last days, on some god forsaken island, do not go well.

Long shot: It might be argued that the Marine barracks environment and functions - guard duty, manning naval guns, sea duty, patrolling-protecting assets overseas, shore incursions - actually codified / culturally instilled basic Marine values that would serve later wars.

And what journalist has the courage to ask SecDef or POTUS the who-what-how-why of this despicable act? Make them own it.

FYI. Yesterday I was at the 1st Tanks reunion at Pendleton. Spent some time walking around the mechanized museum with Master Sergeant Talawaga, aka Top T. He was a Marine tanker, at Hue - talking to me about the "mule" and Ontos. You're doing great work.

FWIW. For reference, believe my PLC OCS (Camp Upshur) was last to be issued ERDLs - 1981. Speed laces like 1984ish? Pretty sure M16A1s. I bet 1977-1980.

The Fort Schuyler Club could use some of that.

When you are a Virginia-class Nuclear attack sub -- that's all that needs to be said. And being on the crew of these subs is the baddest mofo jobs in the military.