I would like to share something that happened today that was a first for me except when I was in the USMC. While in the Corps, 65 to 69, I met a few Guadalcanal vets but none since. Today while taking my wife for a radiation treatment I noticed an elderly gentleman leaving the hospital in a wheelchair boarding a nursing care center bus with the help of a young lady, probably a granddaughter, great-granddaughter or a nursing care employee. He was wearing a hat and all I could read on it was WWII. I went over to shake his hand and before I could say anything he said Semper Fi; I had on a hat with USMC on it. Then I saw the Eagle Globe and Anchor on his hat with the First Marine Division patch and Guadalcanal under the patch. He told me he landed with the First Marines on August 7, 1942. As he was in process of boarding the bus I didn't get his name but he smiled when he said Semper Fi and I am not ashamed to tell you all it put tears in my eyes. He is certainly one of the very few left that served on that hell hole island and it was an honor and a treasured moment for me that I will not soon forget.