First came the plague. A genetically engineered virus that brought civilization crashing down, while turning its victims into mindless carnivores. We fought. Retreated. Died. Lived. Advanced. Started rebuilding the United States. The scout teams went out, seeing what was left of the world, moving far ahead of the Army, seeking survivors, checking infrastructure, salvaging precious relics of our history. Then the second plague, loosed by a dictator in a desperate bid for power and control, and the cycle repeated itself, this time with even smaller numbers. Still, we held on, and rebuilt again, the United States reduced to a few million people living in Upstate New York and Lower New England. I had thought we were done, hung up the weapons and settle down to farming and trading, but for a soldier, that itch never goes away. The adventure just around the next corner, the thrill of combat and defeating your enemies, the call of the unknown. So I went out, one more time. ~ Command Sergeant Major (R) Nicholas Agostine, US Army Reserves Brevet Colonel, US Army Stillwater Island, Stillwater, NY Year 36