rlfj: Blog

Thank you to everybody who wrote to me on a variety of military issues. Several emails were about preferred weapons. Some preferred the M-14 and some the M-16. I even heard from readers who preferred the M-1 Garand and the M-1903 Springfield! I also received a number of anecdotes about the weapons, both for the good and bad. I even received some emails about the wonders of the M1911A1 Colt.45 vs. the M9 Beretta and vice versa.

Some interesting comments on the M-14 I brought up in the last chapter. Some readers swore by it, and some swore at it. I think there were good arguments on both sides. I think it probably comes down to personal preference and how well it is maintained, which could be said for any weapon.

When I was first writing this story, one of my loyal readers commented about never speaking English in front of the Iraqis, which I had already mentioned in an earlier chapter. I gather he or somebody he knew had pointed out the trust issue as well. Thank you.

At least one other reader was worried that I had written Riley Fox out of the story. He’s a favorite. Well, Grim was only on a two week leave. Riley is back.

A few comments about my moral fiber, or lack thereof, with the cliffhanger in chapter 28. I never really considered it that much of a cliffhanger, which has a usual connotation of drama. In any case, this chapter resolves that issue. Enjoy!

One of my readers commented that I had managed to showcase one of the issues of combat – 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror. We actually get to see that in Chapter 28. It extends for eight months through what Grim has begun to understand is now routine nightmare. Enjoy!