I got a ping on my cell phone and I knew somebody had sent me a text message. As I reached for my phone, it pinged and pinged several times before I could see who sent it. I was sent some pictures from Marshall Hancock of Appomattox. Marshall sends me pictures when he catches some nice crappies and other fish. These pictures were different, they came from the Last Frontier — Alaska.

Marshall was in Alaska on work-related business. Marshall was a spectator, not a competitor, in The U.S. Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition — the best Army National Guard soldiers across the 54 states and territories. Virginia had one soldier competing in the Best Warrior competition. This was the best of the best competition in physical fitness, weapons proficiency, soldier skills proficiency, obstacle course, mystery events, and anything that could be tested on the total soldier concept.

I am looking at these pictures in awe. In the little spare time Marshall had, he was able to book a spot on the J-DOCK Halibut & Salmon Fishing Charter (www.j-dockcompany.com).

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