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 [...]

I was looking at the number of posts I have added since we got here…  Not that many, actually… Compared tot he work-up, and the story of my journey to get here, it’s almost anti-climactic.  The Ernie Pyle in me was expecting a series of “Joe Blow” stories; piece regaling to heroic exploits of daring-do, [...]

Inspired by Lex’s post: “Not Ready To Play Nice…” It starts the same old way… A freighter, American – flagged, 17,000 ton, her reliable engines chugging along at a solid 15 knots, engaged in legal commerce along the coast of Africa.  Her crew is aware of the dangers posed in these waters, and are in [...]

When I joined the Armed Forces of the United States, I swore an oath…  An oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…” Now, I can see how individual Mexicans (and others) might want to enter the United States to try to find their fortune, even [...]

Part of the reason for my prolonged silence is that I’ve had my evenings taken up by two college courses, both geared toward Microsoft Networking Certification.  Now I’m not sure if I’m going to continue that effort, but I have earned an awful lot about the way computers talk to each other! Pulled own a [...]

It’s funny, if you think about it…  Haven’t heard anything from the ol’ Gun Line? That’s because nothing has happened! Think about it. A war zone..  And there’s nothing to report… Yes, yes, I know – I couldn’t report it if there were anything to report.  Well, that’s not true.  I could say that something [...]

Halfway there… Loyal readers will remember the beginning of the journey, when I was contemplating re-entering the military environs… Now, halfway through the maelstrom, I can tell you that the experience has changed me.  I knew that it would. I am thankful that the changes have been for the better.  I do not fear having [...]

America is in trouble, folks… Not because of who is in office, not because we’re bad people, but because there are too many folks ou their who are either taking full advantage of the rights we are guaranteed and not exercising any of the associated responsibilities, or because they are happy just to sit back [...]

As far back as I can remember, Mom used to buy me Barnum’s Animal Crackers every time she went to the commissary.  I would wait until we got back to the house, and then I would be allowed to hunt through the forest of brown paper bags until I found that little box with the [...]

We call things by different names here…  Some are obvious, and some reflect the uncanny ability of a grunt to pervert derned near anything…  Here are a few words, and their definitions: Musket:  A regular sized M16 series rifle, unlike the sleek, sexy, and short M4s we carry. Fobbit:  Anyone whose primary mission is inside [...]