“Your job is to be the hardest motherfucker in your platoon," he said while pointing at me across the desk. "Do that, and everything else will fall into place."He added that I was assigned to Bravo Company, call sign Hitman, and wished me luck.”

“VJ had gone to the Naval Academy, where he competed as a powerlifter and developed a distaste for military customs such as short hair and addressing people by rank.”

“Hardness," I was learning, was the supreme virtue among recon Marines. The greatest compliment one could pay to another was to say he was hard. Hardness wasn't toughness, nor was it courage, although both were part of it. Hardness was the ability to face an overwhelming situation with aplomb, smile calmly at it, and then triumph through sheer professional pride.”

“Do nothing but be prepared to do anything.”

“Faye burst into the room. She ignored Homer and went straight to the couch.Now what in hell's the matter?" she exploded.Darling daughter," he said. "I have been badly taken, and this gentleman has been kind enough to let me rest for a moment."He had a fit or something," Homer said.She whirled around on him so suddenly that he was startled.How do you do?" she said, holding her hand forward and high up.He shook it gingerly.Charmed," she said, when he mumbled something.She spun around once more.It's my heart," Harry said. "I can't stand it.”

“They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me.”

“Death should take me while I am in the mood.”