49 years ago yesterday I lost my best friends from my high school days. I remember the first day of our Freshman year. It seems like in every class that day they had us setting alphabetical. Every class there sat a redheaded kid named Gary right behind me. We joined the Naval Reserve together in January 1963. We both wanted to go to Hospital Corps School. I knew Gary wanted to join the Marine Corps, but his parents said no. So after graduation Gary and I reported to Hospital Corps School in June 1964. After graduation Gary received orders to the Naval Hospital, Oakland and I went to the hospital at Camp Pendleton.
As soon as he could Gary volunteered for duty withe the Fleet Marine Force. The Corpsmen going to the Marine Corps go to school at Camp Pendleton and he spent a weekend with me. Gary would go to Vietnam and serve with H&S CO, 3RD BN, 1ST MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF. He died on March 21st, 1966. I was aboard the USS America (CVA 66), on a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. His death hit me hard. He will always be a hero to me. I miss you and look forward to joining you. There beer in Heaven Doc? I took this picture of Gary while we were in Corps School.
