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Semper Fi and God Bless America!
Fifty years ago, I (left) was a First Lieutenant serving with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines Expeditionary Force aboard the USS Nashville. The above photograph was taken during amphibious operations and training exercises on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, with the Atlantic Ocean stretching behind us.
The Marine in the center is First Lieutenant Lee Farmer. A few months later, on September 11, 1976, he stood beside me as best man when Kate and I were married.
From July 3 through July 8, 1976, duty carried us north to take part in the International Naval Review during America’s Bicentennial celebration in New York City. President Gerald Ford landed via helicopter aboard the Nashville for an inspection—an unforgettable moment in an unforgettable year.
Half a century has passed, but the memories remain vivid: the Marines, the Navy warships, the magnificent ocean, the sense of duty, and the pride of serving our country.
Semper Fi and God bless America.
Marc DePree