Greetings Ione

For some, the journey comes to a close; for others, it's just beginning. A little over 3 months ago, my elder son rattled me when he announced he'd just enlisted in the Marines. Drove to MCRD PI for his graduation at the end of April (feeling of deja vu being at Parris Island again some 37 years later). He's now two thirds through MCT at Camp Geiger, then on to his MOS school (most likely either Pensacola or Twenty-Nine Palms). And then...???

Been reading a book titled "We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder With the Marines Who Took Fallujah" by Patrick O'Donnell and kept seeing all the repeated mentions of a Sgt Conner. Finally, it struck me--that's Clare's kid! I can't wait to tell my son, 'cause he borrowed the book from me to read while he was home on his first 10-day leave after bootcamp.

While he was home on leave, took him to the Globe & Laurel (just up the street from the main gate at Quantico) for a celebratory dinner. At the long table next to ours were a group of Marines who'd just returned from Iraq, and the evening resonated with long toasts and the clinking of glasses. Sadly, the G&L is scheduled for demolition soon for widening of the Rt. 1 corridor, and it appears that Maj. Spooner and his wife have decided to retire and not relocate the restaurant.