My Dad was born on April 17, 1926, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 7, 1943, when he was only 17 years old. He fought in the Pacific and received such prestigous medals as The Legion of Battle for the U.S. 2nd Marine Division in the Battle of Tarawa, Nov. 20, 1943, and The Bronze Star for his participation in the Battle of Guam. He was an educator who had a passion for history and a vibrant and wonderful person, whose former students still speak of him fondly. Always healthy and with a zest for life, he was diagnosed with ALS in May 2002. He died with peace and dignity on Oct. 31, 2002.