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A Faded Photograph
by Jean d'Isle
' 
was browsing through some old
photographs last week when one in particular caught my eye. It was a very amateurish
snapshot of three young men standing by a sign that said "Hermit's Rest."
The memories surrounding the photo came back to me like it was yesterday. We were on our way to a tough football game against Arizona State and the team bus had pulled over to let us stretch and catch a view of the awesome Grand Canyon. The three faces grinning and mugging for my snapshot belonged to Denny, a tackle; Chuck, a fullback; and Richard, a cheerleader—a math major, a physics major and a pre-med student.
The irony of this snapshot is that within a few years, all three of these student athletes would give their lives in the service of their country. Though none of us could have predicted it at the time, all three would become naval aviators; and all three would take that final launch from an aircraft carrier and not return.
On this Memorial Day, I'm thinking especially of Denny, Chuck and Richard. They were indeed among our best and brightest--men whose promising futures were eclipsed when they answered the call to serve. Like so many of their shipmates and comrades in arms who placed themselves in harms way, they gave the last full measure of devotion. I salute them and their families and all those who have responded when their country called.
__________________________________________________
Jean d'Isle is a retired naval officer living in
Hawaii.
During his military career he served in a number of overseas
assignments, including Germany, England, Spain, Viet Nam and Puerto Rico. Following his
retirement, he was an adjunct faculty member of Hawaii Pacific University and is currently
under contract with the U.S. Navy at the submarine base in Pearl Harbor.
Jean's column, View From d'Isle, is a regular feature of VegSource On-Line Magazine.