I'm still stunned.
on the "VBS order" -- that was before CTcorp offered it for sale to individuals. Technically, you weren't supposed to do that Swoop.
This was all the more impressive since when he wasn't deployed, Andy was one of the main guys running the USMC VBS labs -- in other words, he shelled out $1000 for a personal copy of what he used every day at work. During his first deployment, he ordered some superexpensive alienware laptop so he could play.
He was an astonishing guy. My "boss" elsewhere comments that he "helped us out". That help wasn't so much technical as enthusiasm. As I found out, he was so eager about everything related to VBS that if I made to him a passing mention about something I was fiddling around with, a few days later we would hear through the "official path" that "the marines were very eager to have" what I was working on, and concern that I hadn't told the proper channels about this stuff. So for the last year and a half, or so, I had to maintain some distance. He was a great advocate for training using PC-based COTS software, and as such an agitator, he was great help, even if I couldn't work with him as close as I'd have liked. He had a vision of using video games to save lives, and he was the example we would use on how economical these systems are. I would not be surprised to find out that much of the USMC's implementation of VBS derives directly from Andy's work. His passion and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.
He had a greater passion, that of being a Marine.
