Once we recognize our shadow's existence we must resist the enticing step of going with its flow.

Victory in combat is like sex with a prostitute. For a moment you forget everything in the sudden physical rush, but then you have to pay your money to the woman showing you the door. You see the dirt on the walls and your sorry image in the mirror.

I knew many Marines had done brave deeds that no one saw and for which they got no medals at all. I was having a very hard time carrying those medals and didnt have the insight or maturity to know what to do with my combination of guilt and pride.

The Marine Corps taught me how to kill, but it didn't teach me how to deal with killing.

When the peace treaty is signed, the war isn't over for the veterans, or the family. It's just starting.

We all want to be special, to stand out; there's nothing wrong with this. The irony is that every human being is special to start with, because we're unique to start with. But we then go through some sort of boot camp from the age of zero to about 18 where we learn everything we can about how not to be unique.

Once we recognize our shadow's existence we must resist the enticing step of going with its flow.