Red Metal

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the hours of research, thought, and support from the valuable community of professionals and friends who helped make this book as accurate as possible. Any inaccuracies inevitably are the authors’ and not owing to those thanked here, as we use ample creative license throughout.

The whole team of the 66th training squadron at the United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, for their support and help, specifically including: Maj. Edward “Nooner” Brady (A-10 instructor); Lt. Col. David “Chunx” Chadsey (Sqn. Comdr.); Lt. Col. Brian “Shfing” Erickson; Maj. Scott “Furball” Redmon — we will not forget our time at the Hog Trough… hangovers included; Maj. Travis “Fog” Ryan (USAF bombers expert and all-around GTG guy).

Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson — for just being the best damn leader the Corps has seen in a long while, and Rip’s commander in Fallujah; Brigadegeneral Klaus Feldmann (General der Panzertruppen der Bundeswehr) — Vielen Dank, Sir, für die Erklärung des modernen Panzerkriegs; Col. Rick Angeli; Maj. Robert “Donnie” Barbaree (USMC Air & Ground advisor); Lt. Col. Owen “Nuts” Nucci (USMC aviation); Lt. Col. Ben Pappas (USMC); Captain Anonymous (USA, Apache pilot, who wishes to maintain her anonymity but gave us the goods to create Glitter).

CDR Scott Boros (USN and all things Navy that fly); LCDR Luke Olinger (USN Silent Service and all things nuke propulsion and weapons); CDR Lee Ensley (USN, Ret.).

The men and women of Conference Group-3, Marine Corps University, Command and Staff College, for putting up with an old, broken infantryman; Dr. Doug Streusand, Rip’s partner in crime and a damn fine professor; the Rawlings and Felger families for their strength, love, and devotion; Capt. Josh Smith (USMC, Ret.); Lt. Col. Laurent Bonsept, French Special Forces; the Tellaria, Friedman, Hoang, Cerritelli, Dashtur/Haksar, and Westbrook families — loyal readers and friends; Joshua Hood; Scott Swanson; Mike Cowan; Taylor Gilliland; Brandy Brown; Igor Veksler; and Boniface Njoroge.