Wednesday, October 18, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
The Bunkhouse
Chronicle
Craig Rullman
Columnist
Grunt
The graduation of a
female from the Marine
Corps’ Infantry Officer
Course has left many of my
fellow veterans conflicted.
To be clear, there is no
short-shrifting her accom-
plishment thus far; IOC is
the most difficult infan-
try school anywhere in the
world. But we are conflicted
because we are, most of us,
raised with no small pride in
the notion that the infantry
is the last place left exclu-
sively to men.
We like it that way, a
lot, but we are conflicted
because we hold the simul-
taneous notion that women
are as capable, if not more
capable, than men when it
comes to life’s challenges.
We were raised that way,
too.
But this, we say, is
the infantry — Marine
Corps infantry — which is
undoubtedly an entirely dif-
ferent universe. It isn’t driv-
ing a truck, holding down a
radio, or pulling an artillery
lanyard. Anecdotes about
Russian or Israeli female
soldiers aside, knowing
what we know about the
life, it might be reasonable
for us to harbor questions
about the wisdom of inject-
ing females into Marine
Corps infantry battalions.
The life of a Marine
Corps infantryman is
defined by friction, which
is a nice way of saying it
requires the willing embrace
of total misery, which is an
even nicer way of saying
that it means living for long
periods of time in condi-
tions of utter filth, injury,
disease and, most often,
severe physical and mental
discomfort.
And that’s when no one
is shooting at you.
It means frequent 20- to
40-mile conditioning hikes
in full combat gear, which
means carrying all of the
mortar tubes, 60-pound base
plates, heavy machine guns,
gigantic radios, spare bar-
rels, spare batteries, ammu-
nition, water, and anything
else needed to sustain a
marginal existence in hostile
places for very long periods
of time.
It means never sleep-
ing more than an hour at a
time, and rarely eating any-
thing not covered in dirt,
lead, blood, and gun oil. It
means frequent fights with
hypothermia, heatstroke,
ringworm, a host of other
horrific infections, bizarre
injuries — no one is more
creative in ways to get hurt
than an infantryman — and
feet so badly blistered they
are held together with ben-
zoin, which is essentially
leather glue that a corpsman
can inject into your flesh
with a needle.
Most importantly, it
means leading a group of
40 men who carry bottom-
less hatred and discontent
under their helmets — and
who are experiencing some
or all of this misery at the
same time — into the dark
night to locate an objective
many miles away and then
to kill the people standing
on it while they are trying to
kill you.
It’s not for everybody.
Having said all of that,
I hope this young woman
succeeds. I also think it was
wise for the Corps to keep
her identity under wraps
— at least for now. She
is already a distraction, a
newsy sensation, and the
last thing any branch of the
military needs, in a time
when our armed forces are
stretched farther and thinner
than ever before, is more
distractions.
I hope this young butter-
bar lieutenant arrives in the
fleet — she’s been assigned
to the First Marine Division
— strides across the parade
deck, takes command, and
See GRUNT on page 29
Starts Friday
Fri., Oct. 20 – Thurs., Oct. 26
Oct 19 / Th / 7 PM
Taarka
and
Hot Club of Bend
Acoustic “supergroup”
presenting deep Americana
and Gypsyjazz string music!
Oct 27 / Fri / 8 PM
HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA
David Jacobs-
Strain and the
Crunk Mountain Boys
A fi erce slide-guitar player,
and a song poet known for
his virtuosity and spirit of
emotional abandon.
— Sat., Oct. 21 —
Doc Ryan and
The Wychus Creek Band
6:30 p.m. doors 7 p.m. show
One night only “The Docs of Rock”
— Tues., Oct. 24 —
Jeff rey Martin
CD Release
7 p.m. doors 7:30 p.m. show
$8 in advance | $15 door
Local Portland
singer/songwriter
oldstonebend.com
157 Franklin, Bend
Nov 4 / Sa / 8 PM
Only the Brave (PG-13)
Fri 4:00, 7:00
Sat-Sun 1:15, 4:00, 7:00
Mon-Thurs 4:00, 7:00
Victoria & Abdul (PG-13)
Fri 4:45, 7:15
Sat-Sun 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Mon-Thurs 4:45, 7:15
The Mountain
Between Us (PG-13)
Fri 4:15, 6:45
Sat-Sun 2:00, 4:15, 6:45
Mon-Thurs 4:15, 6:45
Viceroy’s House (N/R)
Fri 5:00
Sat-Sun 3:00, 7:30
Mon-Thurs 5:00
Lucky (N/R)
Dusu Mali Band
Fri 7:30
Sat-Sun 1:00, 5:15
Mon-Thurs 7:30
Nov 18 / Sa / 7:47 PM
Movie times and titles are
bsite
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or call for
Improvisational African blues
rock & roll, creating unique
live music experiences.
BELFRY BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
Mexican Gunfi ght
PUB OPENS 1 HR PRIOR TO SHOWS
BelfryEvents.com
541-815-9122
WWW.SISTERS
MOVIEHOUSE.COM
541-549-8800
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entertainment & EVENTS
WED...OCT. 18
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every
Wednesday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Sisters Saloon Texas Hold
’Em Tournament 7 p.m.
Every Wednesday! For
additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
THURS...OCT. 19
The Belfry Live Music with
Taarka and Hot Club of
Bend 7 p.m. Enjoy the
Americana and gypsy-jazz
string band, plus classic swing
manouche, gypsy blues,
and latin jazz! For additional
information call 541-815-9122
or go to belfryevents.com.
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night! 9 p.m. Every Thursday,
no cover! For additional
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
FRI..OCT. 20
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m.
Every Friday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
SAT...OCT. 21
Paulina Springs Books
Author Reading with
Wendy Crisp Lestina
6:30 p.m. The Ferndale
Enterprise newspaper
columnist will read from and
sign her memoir, “A Bit of
Earth.” Free, with refreshments!
For additional information call
541-549-0866 or go online to
paulinasprings.com.
Sisters Saloon Live Music
with Bill Keale 8 to 11 p.m.
No cover for Hawaiian! For
additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Live Music
with Allan Byer Project
7 to 9 p.m. No cover! For
additional information call
541-549-2675 or go to online
to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every
Saturday (if no live music is
scheduled), no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
TUES...OCT. 24
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at
6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday!
For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
The Belfry Sisters
Science Club Presents
“The Neuroscience of
Pleasure and Love” 6 p.m.
social hour; 7 p.m. lecture.
OHSU neuroscientist Dr.
Larry Sherman will speak
on creativity and the human
brain. $5 donation at the
door (teachers, students and
science club donors are free).
For more information go to
sistersscienceclub.org.
WED...OCT. 25
Sisters Saloon Texas Hold
’Em Tournament 7 p.m.
Every Wednesday! For
additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
Hard
Hardtails
H
a rdta
taililss Bar
Ba r & Grill
Grililll
Gr
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every
Wednesday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
THURS...OCT. 26
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night! 9 p.m. Every Thursday,
no cover! For additional
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
FRI..OCT. 27
Downtown Sisters 4th
Friday Art Stroll 4 to 7 p.m.
Sisters galleries & shops will
feature live entertainment
and refreshments! For info:
sistersartsassociation.org.
The Belfry Halloween
Extravaganza with
David Jacobs-Strain &
The Crunk Mountain
Boys 8 to 11:45 p.m. Don’t
miss the party! For additional
information call 541-815-9122
or go to belfryevents.com.
Hood Avenue Art
Artists’ Reception for
JoAnn Burgess & Breezy
Anderson 4 to 7 p.m. Plus
live music! Info: 541-719-1800
or go to hoodavenueart.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night! 9 p.m.
Every Friday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
SAT...OCT. 28
Hardtails Bar & Grill
7th Annual Halloween
Costume Bash with
The Hwy. 97 Band 9 p.m.
to 1 a.m. No cover for the
best in classic rock. Cash
prizes for best costumes! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Sisters Saloon Halloween
Party with The Mostest
9 p.m. to midnight! For
additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to
sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Live Music
with Rhonda Funk 7
to 9 p.m. No cover! For
additional information call
541-549-2675 or go online to
corkcellarswinebistro.com.
TUES...OCT. 31
Fir Street Park Annual
Halloween Parade 3 p.m.
Kids ages one to 10 are
invited to meet at Fir Street
Park for the annual trick-or-
treating through town! Must
register in advance (forms
are at the Sisters Library or
Sisters public schools), be in
costume with adult, and bring
a nonperishable item for the
Sisters Food Bank. For more
information call 541-350-3085.
Sisters Fire Hall Annual
Halloween Party for Kids
6 to 8 p.m. Sisters-Camp
Sherman RFPD volunteers and
staff present games, haunted
maze, prizes, candy & more!
For info call 541-549-0771 or
go to sistersfi re.com.
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at
6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday!
For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
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Deadline to submit items
is by 5 p.m. Fridays to
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