Ferg is an interesting character who sprang into my mind from a mix of Vietnam vets that I know including my uncle who was a Ranger and a LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patroller) and some that I was trained by in the Marine Corps. I guarantee they are saltiest group of combat veterans you'd ever meet.
I made him a farmer because of the old military saying "he bought the farm" which was from WW1 and was a common reply when you asked a doughboy what he was going to do when he got out. In later wars (in typical soldier/marine fashion) it came to mean "He bought the farm" referring to a 6 feet deep by 6 feet long piece of land. In this case I thought it was amusing to have Ferg literally buy a farm (probably from his CIA contract money). It's also quite true that you never know what those vets brought back or kept. Things were a lot more loosey goosey than they are now ;-)
Chapter 35