Aww, yes...the Good Times. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but it was a phrase coined often by the men and women of the United States military while fighting in Iraq. Here in this picture, yours truly is grinning ear to ear due to the hilarity of the situation. On my left (with no M-16 in his hands) was the CBS News White House Correspondant, John Roberts, on official assignment during the opening salvo of OIL (Operation Iraqi Liberation), later changed to OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) for all the obvious politically motivated reasons.

As a ground radio operator for the famed 2nd Marine Division, the hilarity of the situation was even greater in magnitude. 2nd Light Armored Reconaissance was the batallion John Roberts was attached to during the opening weeks of the invasion to Iraq, and despite all our outdated Army hand-me-downs, at least our military issue Humvees withstood the test of the desert terrain of Iraq. The CBS News crew rolled with their very own civillian issued Hummer, complete with tweaked out satellite communications system (covered in khaki canopy on vehicle). Three days in, however, the civillian amenities of the Hummer became its downfall, and the vehicle ceased to roll. Now the news crew had to join the rest of us civil yet unruly characters called "US Marines", and quit the daily hideout in their air-conditioned Hummer. So as I grin big in this picture, understand the hilarity of the pathetic media's initial sponsoring of this event, and the humor of when it has to get real for them!!

The Good Times always roll, no matter how dicey the situation...and there'll be plenty more here at this blog!! Stay posted, and remember that MC is keepin' you in tune!!