I really like this completed one-shot. Just one thing though (as this is helping not criticizing) colonel needs to be Colonel. Always capitalize, in the military, because that shows that the title the person holds in the military, not just a proper noun. I'm not criticizing, just helping you out. :)

I had an idea like this once a few years ago, but I never wrote it down. I'm rather glad, too, because you did it better than I ever could.

really good story