March 2006 Cover

ON THE COVER: Photographed for Texas Monthly  by Craig Cutler (with apologies to the creators of Full Metal Jacket).

March 2006

Table of Contents

Features

If the war is an unpleasant abstraction in the rest of the country, it’s omnipresent at Killeen Shoemaker, where many of the children of the enlisted men and women of Fort Hood are enrolled—and pray for peace every single day.

As a captain in the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion, all I think about is the future of Iraq. Here’s what my world looks like.

A real-life G.I. Joe, Master Sergeant James Coons hardly seemed like a candidate for post-traumatic stress disorder. But when his demons got the best of him, there was nothing anyone could do—not that anyone really tried.

With the military stretched thinner than ever, Staff Sergeant Christopher Schwope’s skill as an Army recruiter is undeniably important. And it’s a thing to behold.

Like Cindy Sheehan, Gary Qualls lost a son in Iraq. Unlike her, he doesn’t oppose the war.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, demonstrators gathered in Crawford and made their feelings about the war quite clear.

Columns

Behind the Lines

How Rick and Melissa Noriega served their country—and their constituents.

Back Page

After four years in Afghanistan and Iraq, I’m finally a civilian again. I thought that was what I wanted.

Reporter

Reporter

Thousands of miles from my hometown of Castroville, I’m conducting incredibly dangerous house-to-house searches in Baghdad—and blogging about it when I get back to the base.

Book Review

Book Review

Music Review

Music Review

Music Review

The Filter

Pat’s Pick

Pat’s Pick

Season’s Eatings— Timely treats for your culinary calendar.

Web Exclusives

Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth talks about Master Sergeant James Coons and the soldier’s battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Executive editor Mimi Swartz on talking to high schoolers in Killeen about losing a parent during wartime.

Editorial director Christopher Keyes talks about this month’s special issue on the Iraq war.

Senior editor Pamela Colloff on spending a day in Crawford and talking to war protesters.

Contributing photographer Peter Yang talks about Killeen, his first impression of Shoemaker High School, and the students who have lost a parent during wartime.

Photographer Thomas Dworzak talks about going to Iraq, spending a typical day with Captain Jonathan Moss, and photographing war.

Eastland is the perfect place for a day of leisurely sight-seeing and fact-finding.

The Lipan Apaches were a strong presence in Texas—until the Comanches arrived.

In Texas, springtime equals blue—and lots of it.

A review of Chili From the Southwest: Fixin’s, Flavors, and Folklore.

Recipes

A recipe from Bice, Houston.

Recipe from La Mora’s.

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