Chapter 13
0600, 21 May 2004
Edson Range
Camp Pendleton, CA
Private Case, along with 200 other recruits, placed himself in the sitting position at the 200-yard line of Edison Rifle Range on a beautiful southern California morning at Camp Pendleton. His movements were practiced and precise. Everything that morning felt fantastic. The weather seemed perfect, with a slight ocean breeze. His M16A2 rifle was perfectly clean, lubricated, and adjusted. Even his fresh digital camouflage uniform felt good against his skin.
This day, however, felt different from all the rest. In fact, it proved different from any other day in Jeremy Case’s life. He had never before been able to focus on anything the way he concentrated this morning. Private Case became a different person at the rifle range.
Ea
