Where to start...

Born and raised in Pensacola, I spent my youth years playing soccer and giving my parents a run for their money.  After high school graduation, I attended the University of West Florida in Pensacola and graduated with a degree in sports medicine.  During my junior summer of college, I decided that to make it in professional soccer was not in cards and took up the Marine Recruiter's offer of a wonderful and exciting job in the Marine Corps.  I quickly found myself in Quantico at Officer Candidate School--Alpha Company and the hottest summer that Virginia must have ever produced.  You don't remember much from the first few weeks of OCS, mostly running here, running there, and not having a lot of time to do much of anything else.  But what I do remember is the guy who was in the rack next to me--everyone else looked the same at OCS, except this guy.  He must have been a 100 years old.  He didn't say much--didn't really pay anyone much attention, but could get dressed in the morning 50-times faster than anyone else, had boots that--although older than I was--had a shine that my rivaled my mothers dining room table.

One day while cleaning something--boot, rifle, floor--who knows--when we weren't moving around, we were cleaning--I struck up a quick conversation with this old timer.  We quickly realised we were from the same town, went to high schools right next to each other, and even had the same taste in Pensacola nightlife.  However, at the time, Jason was living in Washington State, but always talked about going back to Pensacola--and I didn't care where I went, I just wanted out of Qunatico!

We graduated from OCS and parted ways for a year to finish up our senior years of school and then were reunited at The Basic School--not in the same platoon this time, but some company--again Alpha Company--and this time the coldest winter Virginia had ever produced.  It was at TBS were I realized how old Jason really was.  He knew of all the "hot spots" around town--if your over 45 years old.  He drove the fastest silver mustang--and oldest silver mustang I had seen.  And was the gamers, gamer--playing computer games for days straight. 

Early in my time at TBS with Jason, this wittle weassel of a kid lived right across the hall and looked like he needed a friend.  Enter Steve Field.  Little Stevie was an NASCAR engine builder from some town in North Carolina no one has ever heard of and couldn't find on a map.  Little Stevie must have been raised by an indian-gunsmith because he was quite the marksman and could find his way out of the tickest of training areas.  Beyond that--Steve was about useless but became my side-kick none-the-less.

I remember introducing Steve and Jason....  It was the weekend and Jason and I were heading to Hooters of all places, so I figured I drag Steve along with us.  Walking to Jason's room was a lot like walking through the nursing home to visit your grandparents.  I told Steve that Jason was very old, hard of hearing, very fragile, and had been in the Marine Corps since the Revolutionary War.  The rest is history.

We all lived together in Pensacola during our time in flight school.  Steve later moved to Texas for training--and Jason and I stayed in Pensacola.  It was in Pensacola that I realised Jason's true passion for Hooter's hotwings, Coors Lite, and Everquest--the computer game that eats your brain for days at a time.

Jason and I actually decided on the same day that flight school was a better fit for others, and that we needed real Marine Corps jobs--Steve later followed suit.  Jason and Steve were reunited as roomies in California and got the pleassure of going to Camp Lejeune.  Jason and Steve lived in a one-bedroom loft and slept in the same bed for the better part of three years...a little strange but we know the Marine Corps policy--if they don't tell, we can't ask.

Here we are almost 10 years later and still the best of buds.  Jason is credited with keeping the circle connected--Steve and I aren't the best at returning phone calls....

Just like a good dog, Jason and Steve are the best friends a guy could have.  Jason is responsible for introducing me to my now wife Paige and teaching me that life in Marine Corps ain't that bad and that no matter where the Marine Corps sends you, good friends are always in reach.