.I knew Jim wanted to fly when we were 19 and and stationed at DaNang Air Base. He found and high graded an 4F-B Operations manual, read it cover to cover.  We joked about taking an F4  off the flight line and heading home. We were worried about runing out of fuel do we dedided aginest that.  

I tried to find Jim since the day i got out of the Marines in 68 with no luck. To have his son Paul call me the morning Jim passed left me with very mixed emotions. 

Paul. Thank you for finding me this morning. I have been looking for your father since 1968 when I left the Corp. 

Jim & I were very good friends when we served with MAG 11, MAB 11 in DaNang Viet Nam. Since that time I've looked for him but had given up hope of ever finding him. I wish I had been able to speak to him before he passed but it was so good to talk to you about his life after RVN. 

I recall many stories of Jim during our time in DaNang. One was of the night he saved me from a serious beating during a fight that broke out after leaving the club. I was hit from behind and knocked out cold by another Marine. Jim jumped in and saved me from being kicked once I was down and out. When I came to, the first voice I heard was Jim's. Being 20 feet away from the action I couldn't see who was on top but figured it was your dad. I took off at a run grabbing the guy on top in an arm lock around the neck, pulling him off the Marine on the bottom. As I pulled back to hit him I realized it was your dad.  As we walked back to our tent we found he was covered in blood. None of it was his. 

I've missed his friendship for many decades. Thanks again for locating me.