Today is the day set aside to honor those who have sacrificed thier lives for our great nation. To be honest, I've always struggled a bit when someone wishes me a "Happy Memorial Day." There's really nothing "happy" about today for me. A friend wished me a Happy Memorial Day the other day and my response was, "Every day is Memorial Day to me." It's been nearly 55 years since LZ Margo. Seldom a day has passed since then that I haven't thought about it or those who died. Sometimes it's a sound, a smell or a song, but it doesn't take much to take me back to that day. Admittedly, there are times I wonder why God spared me that day and has blessed my life so much.

I recently finished speaking to high school students about my experiences in Vietnam, and how LZ Margo changed my life forever.…

There are times when it's difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that you've been gone for so long. In hindsight, those days are almost surreal to me. It seems like yesterday that we were 19-year old Marines who had a chance encounter just hours before you were killed. You are eternally 19, and I'm growing old. (I'm not complaining because God has blessed my life beyond belief.) It's ironic that our brief conversation turned into a life changing event for me. Not sure why, but the impact was profound. Our conversation haunted me for years. I could remember the trivial things we talked about on the afternoon of September 15, 1968, but I couldn't (and still can't) remember your face. After meeting with your brother, John, I've come to peace with that. It's important to me that you know you haven't been forgotten. Regardless of how…

To those gentle souls we left behind nearly 54 years ago, you have not been forgotten and will live in my heart until I take my last breath. Semper Fi

Did anyone know L/Cpl. Charles M. Gattis, Jr? Chuck was with I Co., 3RD. BN., 26TH.Marines, 3RD. MARINE Division. He sustained wounds on June 27,1967, near Khe Sanh. Chuck was from Crete, IL. If you have any information please be so kind to contact me at: jbandymarine@gmail.com. Semper Fi