So I havn't had much time lately to read and am just now getting into Blood Contact. I just finished the "wet down". Ha! Fat girls need lovin too!

I think I know who George Cameron is. I'm going to say Ensign Bracaccio (sp??), don't tell me if I am right or wrong yet.

I have some lamentations. I know Mr. Sherman is old Corps and a lot of his experiences go into these books, which in these cases makes it hard for me to read.

The zero defect mentality reigns supreme.

Things like the "wet down", brawling Marines and pinning ceremonies are largely a thing of the past. While we do still get into the occasional (ok often) fight, we have become so sterilized and pc that you'll usually end up doing some kind of carpet dance. I heard of wet downs, never saw one. Im sure they still occur somewhere but, not very often at all. Pinnings are illegal. You get caught  you fry. I was very lucky to get my blood stripes, but we had to hide in our room.

Another thing gone, or at least I only heard of in legend, is that trial thingie where you dress in your blues or alphas and get drunk. Can't remember the name sorry.

You can't even drink under 21 on base anymore. That stopped a year before I enlisted. General Krulak in all his wisdom decided that we have to obey the law of the land (state) on Federal territory. I've even been to several Marine Corps balls where underage Marines were not allowed to drink. 

 But we could still whip one on overseas. So in Janurary you'll fry for drinking underage in Pendleton. In March you can crawl back on the ship and puke on the DNCO after a good time in Thailand and no one says a thing.

Your books make me nostalgic for the "Old Corps". Things may have changed though. I've been out for two years so who knows how war changes things.

BTW, this so far is my favorite of the six I have read thus far (including the Force Recon novels) next to book one.

Great Job!