Our American society and the government structure under which we reside receive my first thankful acknowledgement, as it would be foolish of me to not recognize how important both aspects were to the creation of this work. In terms of grand scale we live in a country on the global map that permits its citizens, under most circumstances, to voice their opinion and have open discussion about what we individually deem to be problems or challenges within our ranks. We as that society are not perfect, nor should we be so arrogant as to believe otherwise, but we are allowed to write books that may bring some of those imperfections into question without fear of repercussion such as being tortured or sent to the gallows for doing so.

The countless members of our armed forces, both past and current, deserve recognition for their assistance as well. They continue to provide a blanket of security which helps to maintain our way of life, and I have the upmost respect for each and every one of those brave men and women that serve our nation. To that end, I owe a special thanks to a friend of mine. He has asked me to list him simply as Richard H., U.S. Army 1982-2006, Combat operations. Through many discussions, he helped me to properly list certain military terms such as equipment or weapon identification that I mention within the body of this work.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife Cathy. As per the norm, she has stood by me during the entire pursuit of this most recent endeavor. Cathy showed patience during the sometimes frustrating moments, and joyful support during the many triumphant hours. I could not have done this without her.

And now, it’s time to get on with the show.

Kurt