Independence Day

I arrived in Baghdad on the 4th of July.  My first duty assignment was a urinalysis: a droll reminder of the duality in soldiers...  often heroic yet sometimes debauched.  U.S. Army urinalysis regulations require an "Observationist."  As in "we'll begin as soon as the 'Observationist' arrives."  There were 15 soldiers waiting for testing.  Once it was my turn I signed for my issued cup and the Observationist escorted me to the porta-john.

"I hope no one asks me what I did for the Fourth this year," he said.

I told him he was a great American.