May the ones we left on that God-forsaken rocky hilltop rest in their well deserved peace. The real heroes--Cliff Spiller, Gary Daffin, 'Pete' Schroeder and so many others from all the Companies of, and supporting units to, 2/26--never got the recognition they deserved. But we know them, their incredible feats and their ultimate sacrifices in our hearts and minds. God Bless and Semper Fidelis!!!

Thank you Steve. Right back @ you, all the DMZ Rats, along with your loved ones my Brother. May you have an absolutely wonderful Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous, year in 2022. God Bless and Semper Fidelis!!! . . . Larry

Oh so very well said Steve. LZ Margo continues to 'haunt' me even after all these years, fifty three (53) now, and my coping mechanisms have been far less than adequate--a 'lame' sense of humor to keep from crying, etc. Fortunately, the last few years I've done a better job of coming to grips with everything. I thank you, the rest of the DMZRats and so many others. Most of all though, I thank God. Semper Fidelis!!!

I fully expect to be there, the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

As much as some things change, they all really just stay the same.

May he rest in eternal peace. ~~ God Bless and Semper Fidelis!!!

Thanks Teddy.

Plan to be up there this Summer and see it in person.

Good to hear you're doing better Jerry. I assume the rest of the family is well; sure hope so. Also good to know you and Lauren are doing well Steve. Things have been so-so for me. Good health, but lots going on and it's not the kind of 'busy' I'd like to have. Had a friend of fifty five (55) years--since my Junior year in high school--pass away in July and he had asked me to be the Executor of his estate. So I am. It's the last favor I'll ever be able to do for him and he sure did plenty for me. All is going fairly well, it's not complicated since he knew it was coming--Agent Orange, the 'gift' that keeps on giving--so he paid off his house and bills. The only issue is dealing with the government, getting the VA death benefits to which he is entitled and arranging to have him interred @ a national cemetery. Shows the importance of prior planning since we all know that day will come. Take care of yourselves everyone. Keep positive, look for the good and pray. God has been good to me and I hope he has been good to all of you too. Semper Fidelis!!!

Steve and Mike, it's so good to hear from the two (2) of you and to know things are well. Yes we're getting old, but only in our mind and not in our body or in our heart. Weather is beautiful here in the mountains of Western North Carolina and I'm getting a little 'outside' work done in preparation for Winter, though I do have a lot of 'inside' work requiring my immediate attention too. Oh well. I'll just 'keep on keeping on' and using the years the good Lord has given me to the best advantage. God Bless and keep everyone. Semper Fidelis!!!

Tough day. But a good day. Any day I can honor my brothers, or help others, is a good day. Gld Bless them all. ~~ Semper Fidelis!!!

Thanks guys. Tough day for me. Thinking 'bout what was then, what happened over the years and what the future holds. Have I done my share? I like to think so. Will I do my share in the years I have left? Again I'd like to think so. Just know that I'm ever so thankful for the time I've had. Anyway, just got off the phone with Bill Griffith who was wounded, on the 15th, when Stan Pettit was killed. We both feel the same way. God Bless all of you. God Bless all who we served with. ~~ Semper Fidelis!!!

Likewise I'm sorry to hear 'bout the puppies. They are real part of your family. So the loss is intense. Knowing they're sick and getting the chance to say goodbye is most helpful. 'Bout fifteen (15) years ago a friend with a Golden Retriever who would jump all over me when I visited called and told me to come over and say goodbye to him, he was making his final trip to the Vet the next day. I went over, sat on the couch and he looked @ me, slowly trudged over, put his front paws on my knees and brought his head close. I looked down and he gave me a kiss, then went back to his bed. He died after everyone went to bed that night; never made it to the Vet. I cried. Such a sweet fella. Really smart too. On a positive note, hope it's positive @ least, how is that little one who was sick two (2) years ago? I never heard so she's still in my prayers. Semper Fidelis!!!

Thanks Ron. I've been a 'basket case' for fifty two (52) years now, though I function pretty well the greatest majority of the time. I'm doing better now than I did years ago and as bad as I do now I guess ya have a pretty good idea how poorly I did in the distant past. Thanks to all for putting up with me. God Bless and Semper Fidelis!!!

Great to hear all are doing well. Nice being able to spend time with the grandkids. I never had any, but my baby sister shares her's--six (6) boys and a girl, she's the youngest and DA BOSS, all under ten (10) years old--with me. Yes, approaching THAT TIME OF YEAR once again. One (1) more year that I've had that so many others didn't. I hope I continue to do honor to their memory. God Bless and Semper Fidelis!!!

Great to hear from you Steve. Glad you had a really good time. I haven't gone anywhere, other than a couple trips to NW Ohio. In early July I went to check in on my eighty eight (88) year old uncle who is bedridden with Parkinson's Disease and to see a high school/Marine Corps—a Viet Nam veteran—friend who was terminal with lung cancer. He said the doctors gave him six (6) months. In late July I went back to 'bury' my friend. Not even seventy (70) years old. We’ll put him in the ground @ Arlington when we can get on the schedule. Other than that, I’ve been enjoying myself here on my piece of the mountain. You made a comment that really resonates with me; ''. . . I've been struggling with all that's going on in our country right now. Sometimes it seems as if we've gone mad. I've quite watching the news because it's too depressing. . . When I start feeling down, my thoughts always go back to LZ Margo and how blessed I am.'' Same here. Fortunately, I'm @ peace with the world up here. It took me a long time to get to this place in my life. Lots still bothers me, but I know I’m blessed, so I deal with it. Thanks my Brother. Semper Fidelis and God Bless

Spending time with family. What a blessing.

Mostly pretty mellow here in the mountains of Western North Carolina; really enjoyable when I'm not on the road.

Keep up the GREAT work my Brother. Forget who it was who said it, but 'no man is gone until he is forgotten.' Your making sure our friends are not forgotten is most important.

Been traveling, for the first time in six (6) months. Thanks for the memories Steve--oh do I remember Con Thien on July 4th 1968; the moon was full and we had enough light that I was able to write a letter @ night. It was just about this time when we lost a couple Marines after someone threw a cigarette into an increment pit near one (1) of the artillery pieces @ Yankee Station. I heard one (1) of the guys didn't make it, but never did learned any names. God bless them all. ~~ Semper Fidelis!!!