We walk along with the little Marine.
    "I'm Joker, sir.  Corporal Joker.  This is Rafter Man.  We work for Stars and Stripes."
    "My name is Bayer.  Robert M. Bayer the third.  My people call me Shortround, for obvious reasons."

     During the past week the Phantom Blooper has wasted... Funny Gunny Bob Bayer...

    We liked this treatment.  We could not believe our incredible good fortune.  In gratifying abundance, God was raining down the bennies on the good ol' boys in Recon.
    We were standing in front of an abandoned building, Bob Bayer's Plumbing & Hardware...

    Two detectives take me into a dirty little room and yell at me and read me my rights.
    The bad cop is Michael Bayer.  He's irritatingly feisty and is wearing a sports jacket that looks like it was cut from a low rider's seat covers by blind midget tailors...
    Detective Bayer says, "You've got the right to remain silent, punk, so shut the fuck up."  Detective Bayer says to Sergeant Hunt, "No wonder he quit the force.  He's got an attitude.  His mind ain't right.  He needs a little taste of resisting arrest to get his mind right."

    Bayer tapped his toe against a Marine-issue footlocker stenciled with Hasford's initials.  "It was fun being Gus' friend," he said, shaking his head reflectively.  "It wasn't always easy, but it was always fun."