Author Archives: Marty Ryan

A Pattern Begins to Develop

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Marty Ryan

Prior to graduation from basic training, orders came down from above. Before we were provided with individual orders, a permanent clerk in the company read from a list the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and next base assignment for each of … Continue reading →

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How’s Your Pension Doing?

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Marty Ryan

A favorite question to ask a Democrat in Iowa right now is: “What candidate are you supporting in the 2020 Iowa Caucuses?”  I don’t have an answer, yet.  I don’t watch debates.  Debates, which is a misnomer today, have turned … Continue reading →

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Bear With Me

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Marty Ryan

He’s back at it.  That damned bear I encountered as a young boy is still putting a responsibility on me that triggers shame and guilt.  It started out when I was a child.  “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!”  Me?  … Continue reading →

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Go Away, Sunshine

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Marty Ryan

Each time I feel like I’ve written about every hare-brained thing I did in basic training, and that there is no more to write about, something comes up that reminds me of one more thing. I was halfway through basic … Continue reading →

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Indoctrination

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Marty Ryan

The United States Military is at its best when indoctrinating troops.  You’ll only make a mistake once.  I had more shit placed in my brain during nine weeks of basic training than in four years of high school.  Of course, … Continue reading →

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The Grammar Policeman

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Marty Ryan

After a few conversations this week between me and others, I had to check into my grammar usage.  I’m not a professional writer – yet, but I always seem to think I know enough to write some decent articles and … Continue reading →

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