A Guadalcanal Marine
John,
As I told you Ted Hetland and I, from Rhode Island were in Boot Camp in 1957 together.We were also honorary members of the WWII, DI’s. Our friend Mike Portella, is one of the few members left. His old uniform is on display at the DI school, as you can see in this picture. Mike is a veteran of Guadalcanal, and wanted Ted to take him back to PI one more time to visit what he calls, “his room.” So Ted volunteered to take him back. They were there last week.
Also, in two of the pictures you will see Mike, and Ted, with former S/Sgt. Chuck Taliano, who is famous as the DI in the Marine Poster, “I didn’t Promise You A Rose Garden.”
How many Marines from Guadalcanal, do you think are still around? Very few I would guess.
S/F…Jimmy