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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 132 · Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Pentagon

Pentagon confident U.S. will be ready for 2027 war with China by 2035

Officials cite historically proven American strategy of entering wars completely unprepared

Hegseth wears Eisenhower's globe as Halloween costume

Spirit Halloween store to become pop-up ICE detention center

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Vol. 15 · No. 132

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Vol. 15 · No. 132 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

4 November 2026

0513 Zulu

Next edition Friday

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· Page 2

Platoon out in field wowed by 2nd Lieutenant’s flashlight shadow puppets

Filed · 1536

KAHUKU, Hawaii – Marines serving with Communications Platoon, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines say they were treated to a show of field theatrics last week when their platoon leader unleashed an impromptu shadow puppet display during midnight downtime.

Second Lt. Warren Schillinger decided to make the most out of a mundane situation, and share his talent with the bored Marines. Sources say he made no announcement of his plans, instead opting to unfurl his poncho liner, tie it to some trees, and contort his hands into a pterodactyl while cawing like the long extinct beast.

The Marines were instantly awed and aimed their flashlights up at the poncho liner like pseudo spotlights, sources confirmed. Many of them oohed and aahed with every flap of the wings, as their leader gave life to a land before time deep in the Hawaiian fields.

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