Marines have a cynical approach to war. They believe in three things; liberty, payday and that when two Marines are together in a fight, one is being wasted. Being a minority group militarily, they are proud and sensitive in their dealings with other military organizations. A Marine's concept of a perfect battle is to have other Marines on the right and left flanks, Marine aircraft overhead and Marine artillery and naval gunfire backing them up.

War makes strange giant creatures out of us little routine men who inhabit the earth.

I try not to take any foolish chances, but there's just no way to play it completely safe and still do your job.

If you go long enough without a bath, even the fleas will let you alone.

Thoughts are wonderful things, that they can bring two people, so far apart, into harmony and understanding for even a little while.

There is no sense in the struggle, but there is no choice but to struggle.

But to the fighting soldier that phase of the war is behind. It was left behind after his first battle. His blood is up. He is fighting for his life, and killing now for him is as much a profession as writing is for me.