The Veteran’s View: By Dennis Mitchell October was the month most of America celebrated Halloween. That joyous day when kids dress up as ghosts and goblins to threaten the neighbors with tricks if they don’t get treats. This year I threatened to dress up as a truck driver and visit my broker’s office in hopes of receiving bags of cash for my efforts. Well, that didn’t happen, so I can’t be held responsible for what might have happened on Devils Night! Don’t you wish trucking was that easy. I believe I saw a few of you drivers roaming around the truck stop wearing costumes. I’m sure someone out there wore that dreaded “Trucker’s Dream” costume – you know, the pink Tutu with cowboy boots and a magic wand. But instead of collecting cash in their bag of goodies, the best they might have hoped for was to collect some fairy dust and unicorn powder. I have heard that’s the stuff the big strappers use to power their raging beasts and keep those 18 wheels rolling these days. That may be a little mean spirited, but October is now behind us, and we’ve moved on to November. As always, I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving – and hunting season. The White Tail deer is king in the Midwest, and venison is the nectar of heaven. When I’m not in the woods or on my deer stand I, like so many of us, have placed my faith in an industry that is run by the few who have turned its back on the working men and women behind the wheel. The heart and soul of this nation is rolling full speed ahead down life’s superhighway. Drivers deliver the goods needed to all points west of the Atlantic, east of the Pacific Ocean, and through every small town or village along the way, powered not by ambition, but by necessity. What may have started as a dream has descended into a revolving door of fear, with the entrances and exits leading to the same house of horrors. Normally, I write in a positive vane or shine light in the darkest of corners. My purpose is to bring hope to those who may need support in a time of crisis. Have no fear, this month is not the exception, even if last month I dressed up in the darkest of costumes and mocked the absurdity of our own demise, I will still make light of the situation and work to help others find their place. Many of us attended a celebration of fright night within the last few days, and some of you may still be traumatized by the experience. Some may have even paid good money to see the wonders of a haunted house and roam the rooms of terror until they fled in disbelief, all the while knowing it was not real, but still shocked by the reality of it. This is a great time to get to the subject of this month’s theme. October was the month we recognized Devil’s Night (October 31st) or the celebration of the obscure. In reality, we have 364 other days of the year when we devote our time to living a better life, or at least to understanding the reasons for trying to make our life and our family’s lives easier. I titled this month’s article “Faith From the Foxhole” for a reason. I’m reminded of it because it was 50 years ago last month that I transitioned from unemployed student to Marine Corps recruit. That was a traumatic experience, but one that set my feet on the road to where I am today. To the younger readers who may not be familiar with the whole “foxhole” analogy, you first need to understand where the idea came from. To all my brothers and sisters in arms, past or present, I need not explain to you the importance of this symbolism. First, what is a foxhole? I’m not referring to the den of that bushy-tailed oversized rodent, but that is where the idea came from. I often walk in the early mornings about the time the sun rises. My strolls take me down a hedge line of trees along the river in front of my home. This area is home to many forms of wildlife, most of which don’t want to be seen or hunted. Whether it’s the deer who bed down amongst the low hanging branches or the rabbits that burrow beneath the thick foliage, they keep a constant vigil. It’s the protection of their camouflage that keeps them safe. This message goes out to all my Marine Corps and Army buddies, all of which are well versed on the use of and the importance of an “E-Tool” (I’m not forgetting the Air Force or the Navy, but it is difficult to dig many holes on the 50 10-4 Magazine / November 2025 FAITH FROM THE FOXHOLE
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