was incredibly young when my big brother joined the U.S.M.C. and Viet Nam was just starting to ramp up. I remember the argument between Dave and Mom. Dave was going to quit school and join the Marines. Mom put her foot down and told him that he had to graduate from high school even if Mom had to walk him to school and sit next to him at every class until he graduated from high school. Dave thought she was kidding and the next day Mom walked him to class holding his hand and sat next to him at every class. David did graduate from high school and then he joined the Marines. He spent two tours in 'Nam I think it was 1965 to 1967, but I might be wrong about the exact dates. Beside our Dad, Dave was my idol. He returned home once his enlistment was over. He still was one of my heroes up to and including today, even though he died in 2006. He suffered a major stroke in 2001 brought on because of several issues, but I think it was Viet Nam and agent orange that killed him. I don't know how many thousands of Veterans died while congress kicked the agent orange issue away, and not helping the GI's get the medical care they needed. I will swear on a stack of bibles that Viet Nam claimed him just 30 years after he left Viet Nam. I'm glad the Desert Storm GI's didn't have to wait 30 years to get help. Once again congress left the GI's hanging in the wind but not as long as the 'Nam folks had to wait. I'm so sad that he is gone but I am glad that I spent several years around Dave after I was discharged from the USAF. This one is for Dave.