The Gun Line MkIII

There are some folks out there who took my post entiltled “Privateer…”, and thought that I was beginning to pine for the combination of fast gunboats, hevy automatic weapons, and the possible monetary advantages offered to private contractors in that line of business…

Let me just say, don’t worry…  While the glamorous aspect of such an operation makes the young machine gunner’s heart go twitter patter, this old dog isn’t going ot be shipping out any time soon…  My adventures in privateering will be limited to the 16th century, along previously established guidelines…

But  like the way you all think…

In other news, spent 5 glorious days in Qatar, on a pass.  Spent the days in Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and flip-flops, with “Margaritaville” playing in the back of my mind.  I have since returned to Balad, and have found no new brushfires to be extinguished.  All is well, and we continue to progress towards the end of this deployment.

While in Qatar, I enjoyed the company of some fellows closer to my age.  A Lieutenant Colonel, a Major, and a Chief Warrant Officer (Jeff, Kevin, and Mike, respectively).  We watched the antics of the younger soldiers of our group (everyone who traveled together from here seemed to gravitate towards one another) in terms of attempting to secure companionship of the opposite gender, only to be shot down in glorious flames.  I very much enjoyed the opportunity to  converse with gentlemen of my same age, and learned quite a bit about the ways of the regular Army.  There’s just something about sitting around with a beer and corking good war stories.

Currently reading “Killing Rommel” by Steven Pressfield, which accounts the exploits of the British Long Range Desert Group’s mission to track down and eliminate the German Afrika Corps’ ultimate leader.

Oh, and I missed this year’s Milblog Conference…  That’s twice!!!  Maybe next year…