“Unusually Cheerful.” For someone who is miserably hot, possibly dehydrated, and dirty, I am unusually cheerful.

“In the Radar Scattering Net II.” It is hot underneath the net, but without it, we would bake from the unrelenting sun.

“Gunner with Horns.” With grease pencils, actually. You have got to admit, that is a handy place to keep it.

“Passed the @#$% Out.” I now understand why lions sleep as much as they do.

“Marine and the Half-Blood Prince.” Ryan reading the sixth volume of the Harry Potter series.

“Trans Fat Meals.” Each one comes with at least 10 grams of delicious Trans Fat.

“Ernest’s Close-Up.” He tells me of his plans to become an architect and to study art at Cooper.

“Ryan Reading.” Ryan held captive by a book.

“Ernest Smiling.” A romantic, he has a fondness for Oriental girls, especially Filipinas.

“Dinner Chow.” From the left: Justin, Travis, and Ernest.

“Michael Waits to Eat.” It is a tradition in the Marine Corps for Marines of lesser ranks to eat first before their seniors.

“Benjamin and a Cane.” Some people were going to use the cane as kindling at a campsite, but we convinced them to let us have it.

“Sakura Tattoo.” She never told me who the artist was, but she told me that the tattoo was to remind her how beautiful life is. And how fleeting.

“Benjamin and Jesus.” On his left shoulder, that is.

“Michael in Asylum Shirt.” The design and colors on this one is actually kick ass. Shirt design by Benjamin Brashear.

“Freakshow in Asylum Shirt.” “Sanity is for the Weak!” Shirt design by Benjamin Brashear.

“At the Wedding Reception.” Of course, Benjamin is styling.

“Freakshow Before the Wedding.” Freakshow’s friend is getting married and we were there to help celebrate it.

“Benjamin Dressed Up.” Our little group was definitely the best-dressed in the entire wedding party.

“Michael Cleans Up.” Michael cleans up and wears a suit tailored in Okinawa. He claims his girlfriend has never seen him in a suit.

“Camel Riders.” Benjamin and Michael are camel riders. Note the ridiculous expression on Benjamin’s face.

“The Night Before.” Karaoke, whiskey, vodka, tequila, and pints of beer.

“Asylum Tattoos.” Benjamin and Freakshow show off their tattoos. “Asylum” was the name of our squad in Iraq.

“Freakshow the Night Before.” It was nice hanging out with him again.

“On the Way.” It was quite a long drive to get where we were going, but well worth it.

“Fierce Glasses.” It is not really. It is more “hot sex” than “fierce.”

“Aheram in Gear.” I look tired.

“Travis and the M249 SAW.” The squad automatic weapon goes, “Badda badda JAM! Badda badda JAM!”

“Beneath the Helmet.” Levi peeks from beneath his helmet.

“Travis Chilling.” Travis relaxing during a lull in training.

“Ernest in Black and White.” Ernest lounges about.

“Pounding the Stake.” Ryan making sure the stakes are pounded in deep.

“Struggling with the Netting.” Marines fixing a netting brought down by the wind.

“Travis Smiling.” Posing for photographs for Mandy.

“Lull in Training.” A couple of Marines listening to another off-camera.

“Makeshift Field Armory.” Someone came up with this nifty contraption to lean our weapons against.

“Martin Napping.” Martin two hours before finding a huge sun spider inhabiting his flak jacket.

“Levi Napping.” Why stand when you can sit? Why sit when you can lie down? Why merely lie down when you can sleep?

“Field Shower.” Travis taking a field shower.

“Victor in Gear.” Victor looking incredulous.

“Ernest at Formation.” And apparently, aware of the camera.

“Photographer and Subject.” Will is photographed by Jayel Aheram, whose silhouette is seen in the shadows in the background.

“Will Flexing.” A shirtless Will shows off his body for the camera.

“Michael Smiling.” Being a corporal, he is the one doing the shave inspections now.

“Geraldine in Black and White.” Geraldine during an unofficial Asylum party.

“Frowning.” I think he might be eager to get off work.

“Police Call.” The much dreaded “police call.”

“Furtive Shot.” A little peek over someone else shoulder.

“The Platoon Sergeant.” “Look to the front and who do I see? A motivated staff sergeant leading me!” Supposedly, he can run for hours.

“Gear and Marine.” A pretty expensive gear it is.

“さくら　二 (Sakura II).” I went to Japan for my pre-deployment leave and spent three days with my family.

“The Viewing.” They were viewing the cherry blossoms.

“Joey and Blossoms.” My little brother Joey sits amidst the fallen petals.

“Greedy Little Monkeys.” They snatched the peanuts from my hands. And clawed and bit each other.

“Joey in a Pouch.” My little brother Joey in a kangaroo’s pouch… like a little joey.

“Up Close.” The lioness was a mere foot away from me.

“John Smiling.” My stepdad smiling at a remark made.

“Frowning Joey.” I am not sure what is upsetting him. He was probably hungry.

“Stephanie’s Close Up.” Stephanie, looking through rose-colored glasses.

“Leashed Child.” He is actually in one of those child-leashes.

“Dustin in Shades.” With my reflection in it!

“Kinda Smiling.” Will kind of smiles at the camera.

“Dominic in Shades.” Well, it was sunny.

“Windblown Hair.” Her hair tussled by the breeze.

“Bobby at Formation.” Being silly, of course.