[Seahawk]

I was driving up to the Pentagon two years ago, following a Marine LtCol (now Col select) who was working a program for me. It was mid morning, so traffic was light.

I get in a 1/4 mile trail as he settles in at just 10 miles over the speed limit.

As we top a rise, the Maryland State Trooper folks light him off with radar and then signal for him to pull over. For those not familiar, in Maryland, the State folks will light you off and then WALK INTO your lane to signal you to pull over. There is, of course, a squad car manned should one decide to fail to heed. Best to find the curb.

They do not signal me to pull over, but, in a moment of stupidity, I decide, since we are going to the same meeting and need to keep formation integrity, to pull over in front of my buddy.

The Trooper started with my buddy, but then looks at me, kind of cocks his head like a dog watching TV and approaches my car.

"Didn't signal for you to pull over."

"Yes, Sir, but I'm driving up to DC with the car you pulled over."

"He was speeding."

"Yes, Sir."

"So you were speeding too?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Stay here."

Now, it could have been our uniforms, our honesty or the fact that we hung together, but they gave my buddy a warning. The Marine framed the warning citation and gave it to me when we had our "hail and farwell" when he left my office.

It sits on my desk today.