I've been an active duty Marine, I've been an Army National Guardsman, I've been an Air National Guardsman and, so I'm told, I've always been a little weird. If you're among those who didn't know that, this book will quickly get you up to speed, so to speak, with the knowledge, that 'he ain't plumb with the world'.
Since the Marine Corps is technically 'Department of the Navy', I consider myself to have been in every branch of the service with exception of the Coast Guard.
I began this book just before going over twenty years of service. You're probably wondering why the word 'Marine' is in the title instead of 'Soldier' or 'Airman' or 'Squid'. Nothing against the rest, they were good to me as well. I was a Marine first, and I'm most proud of that title. If you don't understand, you're not a Marine, and you're not expected to understand. Once a Marine, always a Marine. I hope you don't mind that I began this book with two chapters that occurred before I joined those leatherneck ranks. If it makes you feel any better, I always knew that I was going to be a jarhead.
I don't want to admit too much here. I'm sort of the arrogant type. I used to say, "As much self-esteem allowable by the Lord", but that's a front. Don't misunderstand, I think a whole lot of myself, I'm just not as invincible as I used to be in my younger years.
Writing a book like this does many things for me. First, it sort of scared me to think that lots of people could find out that I really was 'out there with Neptune' in my younger years. Mostly, It's a box I wanted to check off on my 'things to do before I die' list. I also want to claim 'author' or 'writer' on my business card(s). I suppose I could 'claim' anything I want. My friends poke fun at me, deservedly so, because I continue to personally manufacture more versions of business card for myself than anyone they ever met. I suppose that's a result of possibly liking myself too much, or changing jobs too frequently.
I don't really concern myself with making any money off of this book, the goal is to just get it out there. That would be good. Great would be to have a library of congress number assigned to my work. Making money at it would be Stellar. Being able to retire doing this would just get me into more trouble, but would probably provide me more material. I'm not holding my breath.
That's me in Moron, Spain during Operation Enduring Freedom, 2002.
I have to begin this dedication by saying this book would have never been possible without many people. The material for the stories all started with my father, idol, and hero, Dr. James E. Ossian and my three brothers, Andy, Rick, and in particular my younger brother, and best friend, David. My encouragement and support system throughout much of my life, my loving mother, Mrs. Beverly J. Ossian, and my sister, Angie, also deserve mention. The material for stories was bolstered significantly by my band of brothers in The United States Marine Corps; in New River North Carolina, Bob Curtis and Ernie Delgado, and in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Kevin Goddard, and Ron Valesano.
Other major contributors were my fellow soldiers in The Nebraska Army National Guard, Detachment 2, Company D, 109th Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska; Ben Leduc, Tim Shaner, Shaun Busskohl, Brett Crossley, Troy Pabst, Trent Fuller, Scott Oehm, Tom Oliver, Mike Hoover, Paul Rezac, Craig Bradley, Paul Borzekofski, Barry Read, Terry Read, Perry Read, Ted Christ, Roger Christiansen, Dennis Groshans, Darryl Green, Randy Okra, Dave and Carrie Foster, Joe Husky, Mark Cole, Dean Molzer, Jim Taylor, Jeff Etheridge, Tim Maihlin and Mike Murphy. There are other Army Guardsmen who weren't in Det 2 that deserve mention as well. Derek Whisenhunt, Steve Stanislav, and Dave Seyvold. I'm sure I missed somebody.
Air Guardsmen from the 155th Air Refueling Wing who assisted with material for chapter 11 are deserving of mention. Billy Rowell and James Koelzer were with me on the first Puerto Rico trip, but I can't forget to mention Jerry Block, who made the shooting team a possibility for David and me. My brother claims that anything good that ever happened to him in the Air Guard involved Jerry Block. I think he's right, and I can attribute a good portion of my air guard success to Jerry as well. I think almost all of those mentioned can bear witness to the weird shit-o-meter.
There are two special ladies that will probably be surprised to see their names here, but I also want to include Ms. Marcee Muller, a high school math teacher who inspired me to teach, and Mrs. Margrede Allschwede, the professor who inspired me to write.
Almost last, and certainly not least, my wife, Deb, for marrying me in spite of my history, and my children, Staci, Samantha, and Carter (11, 7, and 2 as of this publication), deserve mention. Not because of the time they sacrificed, because I didn't borrow a tremendous amount of time from them to make this happen. Not because of their contribution, because they aren't included in any of the stories. I mention them because I love them and because of the 'sick humor' blood-line that will inevitably be inflicted upon them. I can only hope and pray that my daughters, Staci and Samantha, don't ever Join the military or God forbid, live close to a military base. Additionally, I hope that Carter Louis Ossian, my only son as of this writing, doesn't become a magnetic victim for anything beyond his control. Most importantly, I dedicate all I do to the big IC.
"He doesn't have the sense to pour piss out of a boot with instructions on the heel." Dr. James Ossian
Dad and me posing together after receiving my Master's Degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, May 2000.