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

Vol. 15 · No. 130 · Sunday, 1 November 2026

Veterans

Spirit Halloween store to become pop-up ICE detention center

DHS praises seasonal retailer's expertise in occupying abandoned buildings and disappearing overnight

Army FRG unveils haunted house featuring spouses saying ‘I’m fine’

Hasan execution venue double-booked with Comic-Con

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Vol. 15 · No. 130

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Duffel Blog

Established 2012 · Deployed worldwide

Vol. 15 · No. 130 · Deployed worldwide

Sunday

1 November 2026

2002 Zulu

Next edition Monday

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· Page 2

Heartwarming steel reserve Super Bowl ad welcomes soldier home to empty house, 40oz beers

Filed · 1543

FT STEWART, GA — Critics are hailing a new 60-second television advertisement from Steel Brewing Company set to air during the Super Bowl, which features the tear-jerking story of a soldier's return home from Afghanistan.

The commercial opens with the soldier stepping off a plane in the Atlanta airport. Other soldiers around him are met with wives, husbands, and families all crying and hugging each other.

After not seeing his parents who promised to pick him up, the single soldier turns his cellphone on to see a voicemail from his dad. He smiles and listens as his dad says, "Hey son, sorry we didn't tell you earlier but we're not going to be at the airport. We actually flew out to California to see your brother, he's been feeling homesick at college. Also, we didn't want to tell you while you were away but your dog died three months ago. Well, love you son, bye."

The next scene shows the soldier taking a taxi to his one-bedroom apartment. He opens the door to reveal a dark and dusty room, not touched in months. "Well, I'm home," the soldier says as he places his bags on the kitchen floor, then glancing towards the counter to see a stack of unpaid bills.

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