<p>This is one of my favorite books ever...I was wondering if the author has ever done a follow-up on some of the books characters-such as George Rash, Whitey Herzog, Cecerelle, etc? That would be interesting. If anybody has any info please post.</p>
<p>The author actually posted here once. This would be a good time for him to answer. I'd love to see a follow-up on the main characters of his book.</p>
<p>From a May 2004 interview with the author David Lipsky:</p>
<p>*Can you give us an update on the whereabouts and going ons of the cadets and officers you profiled? *</p>
<p>David Lipsky: Thanks: I feel I should throw in a "Beat Navy" before I answer, so here it is: Beat Navy! </p>
<p>I've kept track of all the people in the book, and added a last chapter to the new paperback because so many readers had written letters asking what happened to George, Huck, Major Vermeesch, Chrissi, Ryan, Whitey, and LTC Keirsey. </p>
<p>The short answer is: Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ryan Southerland went to Fort Lewis to work with the new Stryker Brigade. His until deployed in December; Ryan was nervous and excited, and eager to see how he did and his men did under trying circumstances. </p>
<p>Huck Finn didn't get to play with the New York Giants; he's in Afghanistan right now, helping in the search for Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. </p>
<p>George Rash survived Engineer OBC, found someone who actually wanted to go to Fort Polk, and traded them for their slot in Korea. He came back about two months ago, and is now posted at Fort Lewis, Washigton, where he can have a Bravo Company, Beast, 2000 reunion with Ryan Southerland once he returns from Iraq. </p>
<p>Chrissi spent a year in Kuwait with the Quartermasters. She found it very hot, and didn't get a chance to cut her hair, and found that West Point had, if anything, overprepared her for the challenges of leadership. </p>
<p>Whitey Herzog is a Captain now, leading his company in Iraq. </p>
<p>One of Hank Keirsey's sons had joined up with the Rangers, and was headed back for Iraq; his younger son had just gone into the Infantry; so to do his part to make them safe, Keirsey found a slot as a contractor and went to Iraq to do his part. </p>
<p>Col Adamczyk - the BTO, Skeleltor -- retried from civilian life (de-retired) and the commandantship of Valley Forge Military Academy, and also shipped as a contractor (what he calls "a shirt") for Iraq. </p>
<p>One of my favorite things in the new chapter in the paperback is right on the last page: It's a photo of Huck Finn, in Afghanistan, with three Afghani kids, mountains in the background. It reminds me of how much we have to be proud of in officers and graduates like Huck, and what the mission if of our military forces around the world. </p>
<p>*Are any of the soldiers you followed currently serving in Iraq? *</p>
<p>David Lipsky: Basically, all of them are either in Iraq or Afganistan now, or headed there, or on their way back: Iraq and Afghanistan have become like the twin hub cities for the military airline. Every Army career is headed in their directions. </p>
<p>Of the main people whose stories the book tells, only George Rash hasn't been to Iraq or Afghanistan yet. (He went to Korea.) Even Max Adams -- the guy from the 100th Night show, if you remember it from the book -- spent a year in country. Jake Bergman -- the big-hearted musclehead kid from Diamond Bar, CA, who pulled and pushed George through that first year -- is in Iraq now. Word is he's doing his job incredibly well and still finding the spare half-hour or hour to work out. </p>
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<p>Yeah, I loved the book. Thats very interesting info aspen, thanks for that. I also really like that picture of Hank in the back of the book too, it makes me feel proud even though it isn't me. I see that as a future me :D</p>
<p>Thanks Aspen I should've known you'd come through! hooah!(did I get it right?)</p>
<p>thanks for that extra information , that book is the best i am goignot go buy the paper back book just to read the last chapter</p>
<p>You always get it right Bossf51</p>
<p>Whitey Herzog is the grad that went Aviation then Finance, right? I noticed that it just said that he is a Captain in Iraq. His story was the only one that really didn't sit right with me; it seemed that, through a lot of unfortunate experiences, he got roped into doing something that he really didn't want to do (maybe that was just how he was portrayed, though). I was kind of hoping that he had followed his original dream and transferred to infantry. Oh well, just a little sidenote.</p>
<p>Yes he went to Aviation then Finance. He was right though, in Aviation his plane can just misfunction and crash and kill himself, but in Infantry he didn't need to always take those extreme risk. </p>
<p>PS: Wish my luck at the Florida State Tae Kwon Do Championships this Saturday, this Sunday when I have driven back from Lakeland, I'll tell you guys how I did. I will be leaving right after school tommorrow. :)</p>
<p>BleednSoulja: If you find yourself trouble, remember these three little words: Vulcan. Neck. Pinch.:)</p>
<p>envee06> Argh, I cannot figure out what thats suppose to mean. Any hints? Haha.</p>
<p>Aspen, thanks! I didn't know about this new chapter.</p>
<p>I read the original hardcover book and then decided to buy it. I just happened to buy it right after the new version with the updates came out. Very interesting to read. I would suggest that if you don't have a copy yet buy the new one!</p>
<p>The Vulcan Neck Pinch is a what you do when you try to pinch someone at the base of the neck, temporarily cutting off blood flow and causing them to black out. For a demonstration, watch "Spaceballs" (one of Mel Brook's best films). Those Tae Kwon Do people won't know what hit'm! ;)</p>