Звездный десант

           "Thewickedfleewhennomanpursueth."Thetemptationtoturnyourselfin,takeyourlumps,andbreatheeasilyagainmustgettobeoverpowering.

           Butthisboydidn’tturnhimselfin.HewasgonefourmonthsandIdoubtifhisowncompanyrememberedhim,sincehehadbeenwiththemonlyacoupleofdays;hewasprobablyjustanamewithoutaface,the"Dillinger,N.L."whohadtobereported,dayafterday,asabsentwithoutleaveonthemorningmuster.

           Thenhekilledababygirl.

           Hewastriedandconvictedbyalocaltribunalbutidentitycheckshowedthathewasanundischargedsoldier;theDepartmenthadtobenotifiedandourcommandinggeneralatonceintervened.Hewasreturnedtous,sincemilitarylawandjurisdictiontakeprecedenceovercivilcode.

           Whydidthegeneralbother?Whydidn’theletthelocalsheriffdothejob?

           Inorderto"teachusalesson"?

           Notatall.I’mquitesurethatourgeneraldidnotthinkthatanyofhisboysneededtobenauseatedinordernottokillanybabygirls.BynowIbelievethathewouldhavesparedusthesight—haditbeenpossible.

           Wedidlearnalesson,thoughnobodymentioneditatthetimeanditisonethattakesalongtimetosinkinuntilitbecomessecondnature:

           TheM.I.takecareoftheirown—nomatterwhat.

           Dillingerbelongedtous,hewasstillonourrolls.Eventhoughwedidn’twanthim,eventhoughweshouldneverhavehadhim,eventhoughwewouldhavebeenhappytodisclaimhim,hewasamemberofourregiment.Wecouldn’tbrushhimoffandletasheriffathousandmilesawayhandleit.