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October 17, 2006

Ted: Finding a Niche

The genetic disaster that gave rise to Johnson's malformed spine also gave him a remarkable flexibility, night-vision, and flipper hands. When he went to enlist, the recruiter passed him along only because the month-end quota was looming. The pecker-checker failed him as soon as he saw Johnson standing in his skivvies with the other kids at MEPS.

But one crusty old gunny pulled the doctor aside. He had seen Johnson's type before. After a few words, the doc stamped Johnson's papers "special duty approved."

Johnson joined the USMC for the sole purpose of being a tunnel-rat, and he was magnificent.

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