Is Doonesbury killing off a character?

Today’s strip makes me think BD’s buddy Ray (Hightower?) is gonna end up KIA. Hope not - he’s been a part of some great strips.

Wouldn’t shock me if that’s where he was going with it.

In real life, many, many soldiers who would have been KIA in previous wars are coming home crippled, maimed, and brain-damaged. So, chances are, Ray will return home permanently hurt. BD and Ray may meet up again.

Killing or seriously maiming Ray will leave GT with no characters in Iraq, wouldn’t it? I sorta think he’ll avoid that then, since the war promises to continue to be a source of grim humor for at least another few years.

Maybe not Ray, but I suspect someone in that Humvee’s going to end up KIA.

How come the black guy always gets it?

Regards,
Shodan

Lacey Davenport was black?

Isn’t Duke still there? Or is he off with his lobbyist/crook son now?

He’s in DC lobbying for some Central Asian dictator.

I lost track to what happened to Honey’s Iraqi boyfriend (husband?). He might become the new character for Iraq strips if Ray really does get the axe.

Looks like one of Ray’s buddies got hurt by the IED. Now BD wants to go to Germany (the big Army hospital in Weisbaden, I guess).

Not Wiesbaden, Landstuhl. It used to be the Second General Hospital. Don’t know what it’s called now. Fairly near the Ramstein AFB and the big logistics base at Kaiserslautern. Casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan too seriously hurt to be taken care of in-country go there. My first daughter was born there some 35 years ago.