My Marine

Right now, my brother is holding the fort in the middle of the desert in California at 29 Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. That bastard is firing M-16s and getting the workout of his life while I'm getting EEG paste stuck underneath my nails. I'm still learning all the military jargon ("trash" = "stuff," as in "Bring that trash with you," and "cover" = "hat"), having to decipher 1/3 of the words that now come out of that boy's mouth, but I have uncovered that he is finishing up his Military Operations Specialty training as a radio field operator at 29 Palms, then going on inactive status to finish his bachelors, then going back to train in the officer flight program, where he'll one day be flying some bad-ass planes. What a track. The best part is, though, he's finally coming to visit the big brother in Chicago after he gets out of Cali! This will be his first time up here, so I'm excited to see him and show him around. Can't wait.

In the meantime, here are some photos of him to peruse. I'm proud of you, bro!

Pvt. First Class, soon-to-be Lance Corporal, Jonathan Ortiz, shaking the hand of General Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps & Joint Chiefs of Staff member. In other words, he's the top dog. (Jon told me not to make fun of him in this picture, but I think we can go ahead and laugh at his goofy teeth anyway.)

Group shot in camis (Jon is third from left).