CAMP JOSEPH H. PENDLETON
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
United States Marine Corps Corporal Lon Choi marches along in a column with the other Marines of this infantry battalion. This march was unexpected. They were supposed to do something else until a first lieutenant came by and rearranged their schedule.
Though Choi never served abroad, he knows that this battalion had served in Iraq last year. He had heard about their experiences from the senior enlistees, including Gunnery Sergeant Matthew Vinick, who was leading the march along with the lieutenant.
Suddenly, the march stops. The corporal wonders what is going on.
He sees the lieutenant lying down on his back, with Gunnery Sergeant Vinick standing above him.
Corporal Choi knows this is definitely not part of the schedule.