1 I recall the unabridged opening to The Stand as the only place I can remember with anyone actually in the military being in King's books. It even struck me as wrong at the time. The situation he outlines is of a know nothing grunt manning a post, where all he knows is that if the clocks turn red, the gate is supposed to automatically lock and he is supposed to refuse entry to anyone. Well, the clocks turn red, the gate malfunctions... and he runs away? Runs home and goes AWOL? I know (and are related) to people with some pretty high clearance, and I know that even the gate guards at places like that have pretty high clearances, and for any of them to abandon their post, especially in the very situation they were briefed on it being vital that they man it in was just plain silly. At that point, I realized that King knew nothing of the military or the people in it. I'm guessing that is why this was the only character I can remember him using -- you write what you know, and he doesn't know military.