Inside the Beltway

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By John McCaslin

HANG IN THERE, SIR

"I apologize for my laryngitis today. The good news is it's going to be a short speech."

— A hoarse Vice President Dick Cheney, addressing students and faculty of Virginia Military Institute over the weekend. During the 42-minute flight to the campus, Mr. Cheney's White House physician, Dr. Lewis A. Hoffman, was seen opening several cases of medical supplies.

FAIR, AT LEAST

It could not be confirmed whether Vice President Dick Cheney couldn't help but chuckle when, at the campus entrance to the Virginia Military Institute, a lone man welcomed him with the politely worded sign: "Cheney and USA deserve a fair trial."

FILTHY HEROES

He was one of the infamous "Filthy 13" of World War II whose wartime experiences and heroics influenced the popular film "The Dirty Dozen," but just days before he was to be feted at the American Veterans Center's 11th annual conference in Washington Miguel "Mike" Marquez died at the Beaumont Army Medical Center in Texas.

Shortly before his death two weeks ago, his obituary in the El Paso Times says, Mr. Marquez "told his family he thought it was ironic the American Veterans Center wanted to honor him because he never saluted Army officers during his time in the service."

Four of his fellow Filthy 13 — the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, who despised washing, shaving and cleaning their uniforms — were on hand for this past weekend's conference, along with dozens of other military honorees who have fought in U.S. wars, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We just didn't do everything we were supposed to do," Jake "McNasty" McNiece, commander of the real life "Dirty Dozen," told the Washington audience. "We were just always in trouble."