My dad passed in Nov of 2002. He was a forward observer and never forgot how proud he was to have served his country as a U.S. Marine, nor has this daughter forgotten how proud she was of him. He served in 3 major invasions he said....we recently returned many of his artifacts ...the Japannesse writings and photo pictures to the embassey , the art pieces to the mueseum in Piti Guam. When I told him in the hospital he was terminal with cancer and had only a few weeks he said many of his fellow Marines died in the fox hole next to him as young men and never had the chance he did to live a long life. He accepted the news, and with a chuckle wanted to take me out for lunch and a beer. He died with dignity and without regrets...as lesson I as a physcian will not forget. Dr C Cernak