RON AND I JOINED THE MARINE CORP IN 1965 AT THE AMERICAN LEGION IN THE CITY OF EL SERENO CA. WE REPORTED TO MCRD ( BOOT CAMP) SAN DIEGO ON 1 DECEMBER 1965. WE REPORTED TO CAMP LEJUNE AFTER COMPLETING INFANTRY TRAINING AT CAMP PENDLETON. UPON ARRIVING AT CAMP LEJUNE WE WERE SENT TO NORFOLK VIRGINIA AS THE ADVANCE PARTY FOR MESS DUTY ON THE USS OKINAWA LPH 3 AND DEPARTED TO THE CARRIBBEAN FOR 4 MONTHS. I LUCKED OUT AND WENT TO OFFICER MESS WHEREAS RON WENT BELOW DECK AND HAD TO SERVE REGULAR MESS. EACH NIGHT WHILE AT SEA I WOULD MAKE A (DOZEN) CHEESE BURGERS AND SELL THEM FOR $10.00 A PIECE TO THE MARINES BELOW DECK. I ALWAYS MADE A DOUBLE CHEESE BURGER FOR RON AND NEVER CHARGED HIM. HE WAS A GREAT COMEDIAN AND A HIT WITH ALL THE GUYS. THE WOMEN WOULD GO NUTS OVER HIS GOOD LOOKS WHENEVER WE LANDED IN THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES. UPON COMPLETION OF OUR CARRIBBEAN TOUR OF DUTY I WAS SENT TO VIETNAM. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME HIS BROTHER WAS IN MY UNIT IN VIETNAM. I LEARNED THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I LOCATED HIM ON THE WEB-SITE. THE LAST TIME I HAD SEEN RON WAS IN 1966. TO RECONNECT WITH HIM IS SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE TO ME. WHENEVER WE SPOKE TO EACH OTHER HE WOULDN'T LET ME TALK. A GENTLE MAN, COMPASSIONATE MARINE AND FATHER WHO LOVED HIS DAUGHTERS AND THE MARINE CORP. YOU KNOW RON THERE IS SO MUCH MORE I COULD SHARE WITH YOUR LOVE ONES AND MAYBE ONE DAY I WLL BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DO SO. THOSE DEPARTED FEEL NOT THE PAIN; IT IS THOSE OF US WHO REMAIN. MAY EVERY GREY HAIR ON YOUR HEAD TURN INTO A CANDLE AND LIGHT THE STAIRWELL TO HEAVEN. JOB WELL DONE MARINE! I SALUTE YOU AND KNOW ONE DAY WE BOTH WILL BE GUARDING THE GATES TO HEAVEN. ON WARD MY BROTHER IT'S TIME TO REST. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAH!!!!! JUST ME JD GARCIAUSMC RETIRED!