Dear Dad,

I turn 53 today. It was 49 years ago, today, that I remember you making a snow fort for me and putting sparklers in it for my 4th birthday. That is my only real memory of you as you left the next day for your assignment in Vietnam.

Nanny & Papa told me that you had to look up where Vietnam was, at the Library, when your orders came through. You arrived in Vietnam on March 10th. You were shot down and killed on March 15th, 1964.

Fate’s wheel has turned and created another chapter on these anniversaries. Your grandson, and namesake, is shipping to Marine Corps Boot Camp in San Diego on March 10th. He will begin his training on March 15th.

Dad, he is a great kid and I know you’re proud of him. Thankfully, he looks like his mother with his blond hair and blue eyes. He is tall — much taller than me at 6’2”. Thankfully, he is also more athletic and is already besting my times in running. He should earn his Eagle, Globe and Anchor a few days before he turns 18.

I never pushed service on him. I never glorified it or made it sound grand. Yet, about a year ago, I noticed he had received some flyers from local recruiters that could only have come from his request. I did my best to talk with him about the choices in the different branches of our Armed Forces — then I got out of the way and accompanied him as he met with Recruiters.

You may be groaning, Dad, but he wants to be a Marine. I know you and Papa were Army Air — that both of you had attended VPI. I guess that makes me the Black-sheep for going to VMI and choosing the Corps. (I also want you to know that I found out you stole VMI’s mascot “Moe” the Kangaroo and that he died of pneumonia. I forgive you Dad, but if you see Chesty up there in heaven you may want to give him a wide berth!)

Your grandson (we call him Colin) will be a damn fine Marine, Dad. He wants to start off in Infantry and then go into Recon or MARSOC. His godfather, Ed Daniel, was Recon and ran the Scout Sniper School and no finer man and career could Colin model himself on. You know the kind of work I’ve done — more like Papa than yours. I’m glad that Colin is more like you than Papa or myself. Both you and he are good souls and not the hard-nosed bastards that Papa and I can be. Colin’s good nature will make him a natural leader and someone others will follow easily and well.

I’ll not lie to you Dad — the world looks pretty screwed up now. Not since 1938 or 1859 have the storm clouds gathered so dark on the horizon. It causes a knot in my stomach thinking my son will go into that morass but if he is to do so I am comforted by the fact he’ll be part of the finest light Infantry in the world — the United States Marine Corps.

Dad, my body is failing me. I live in never ending pain brought on by TBI and I have cancer surgery next week. None of us know when our time will come. For me, I welcome the thought of meeting you in Heaven and getting to know you better. Maybe you and I can play cards with Papa. (You already know, though, that the ‘Old Goat’ cheats at cards as he rooked me many a time at Old Maid as a child.) Until that time I pray you’ll continue to watch over my family.

Final thought for today, Dad: when Colin graduates and has earned the title I will point skyward to let you know I’m aware you stood watch over him as he becomes a Man.

Thank you for always being there for me Dad.

Love, “D”