A few days ago, I climbed up over the rocky hill on the way to my neighbor’s house. I carried a couple of cigars, a bottle of scotch, and two cups. Rick Brown retired from the Marines as a colonel a few years ago and recently agreed to my offer of drinks and a smoke in exchange for a story about his service.

I’ve no doubt Rick would have offered his story for free, but the drink and cigar created a great excuse to get together with a neighbor and reminded Rick of one aspect of his service in the war in Iraq.