Morning Roll

By Stephen Richter | 4:52 a.m.

Good morning, hard-chargers.

As we approach the month of October and our beloved Marine Corps birthday, I must admit that our numbers are swelling here in town. More Marines than I ever imagined are moving about the city of Santa Cruz. 

Staff Sergeant Strong once told me that camouflage is a progressive art. The purpose is to imitate and reflect natural world around us. We strive to become a seamless deadly thorn, on a real bush, that the enemy will fatally slice himself on in passing. So here’s a toast to all you Devil Dogs scurrying around the city seamless, masquerading as Joe civilian.



1. To the hard-charging Devil Dog behind the desk of Apple Computer’s Genius Bar on University ave, Palo Alto, California. – Nice work there, killer. (nice wrist-lock too, on that customer who wouldn’t wait in line for his appointment. I bet he won’t be waving that USB drive in anyone else’s face.)

2. To my motivated MSG Marine I met in Trader Joe’s from the USS BELLEAU WOOD (CV-24). Considering that she was decommissioned 13 Jan 1947, you are looking damn good there, killer! Keep up the Pilates. At first I was a little funny about it, in a knee-jerk sort of way. But, if I can be charging half as hard at 91, I’d be open to whatever kind of progressive P.T. program they threw at me.

3. To my swift silent and deadly park ranger out at natural bridges last Saturday. Some of the people in the crowd said your “Aussie repel” from the cliffs was gratuitous. I thought it was out-fucking-standing. It demonstrated esprit de corps the likes of which you rarely see in civil service.

Semper Fi.