Two Marine Reservists survey part of the border fence road west of Naco, Ariz., as part of their deployment. Yes, that is Mexico behind them. These two were from Portland and had been in Arizona for only a few days. Needless to say I think they were missing the weather back home. They told me they are two of only about 100 surveyors in the Marines, and that because of that their repeated requests to go to Iraq have been denied.

Their group was a mix of those who had been to Iraq and those who had not. As more of them found out I had spent 13 months in Iraq, they warmed up to me. I found that, up to that point, the Marines working on this part of the border were the nicest group of people, as well as the most supportive of my project, that I had encountered.