Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Mark Crumpton of Birmingham, Alabama (right) sports a University of Alabama cap and patch as he meets author Andy Harp, who sports bitter rival Auburn University’s cap, welcoming five of today’s most critically acclaimed thriller writers to a USO-sponsored “Operation Thriller* meet and greet at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, November 8, 2010, the first of their events in a week-long tour of the Persian Gulf. During their time on the front lines, the authors will share insider writer techniques, pose for photos and shake hands with troops. USO Photo by Mike Theiler