I found out this morning that one of the Marines killed yesterday  — Gunny Sergeant Thomas Sullivan — served with my little brostetter  in Korea. Tim shared this picture above  of his buddy — he’s the festive marine slash snowman on the far right. Tim was gone over last Christmas, and it was tough, but he promised us over Skype  that he and his Marines were celebrating accordingly, apparently in MASSIVE SNOWMEN COSTUMES, which I am ENDLESSLY DELIGHTED BY. Isis and gun control and worry and fear and WHAT THE CRAP IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY aside — I’m moved by how Marines commemorate each other when they pass away. It is always an honorable death, no matter what. There’s no Why God Why, there is just acceptance, and a sort of peace. Tim shared some beautiful words about his bud, and wished him to Rest Easy in Fiddler’s Green — a mariner’s afterlife where there is unlimited drink and dance. It’s probably a special Marine thing that I’m not allowed to say, but hell. On behalf of my bros: Rest Easy, Thomas. Thank you for all that you did. I found these words for you:

At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true
When here they’ve done their duty
The bowl of grog shall still renew
And pledge to love and beauty.