Just spoke to Cpl. Blondie, at 5 PM CST: she says the rain has been coming down slantways, first from one direction, then the other. The winds are at about 80 MPH, and the eye of the hurricane is expected to pass over Cherry Point at about 10 PM EST, tonight. It’s not too bad now; everyone has been sent to their quarters and told to stay under cover tonight. She is going to stay with a friend of hers in the married housing area.

She was on the list to deploy to the Gulf Coast for Katrina recovery, but tells me that the Marines who were sent there earlier, have already come back— their job is done!