I arrived at Danang in late Sept. 1966, and began work on VMFA 115's flightline as a plane captain.

A few months later, while strapping squadron CO LtCol Guy Campo into his F4 for a war sortie, I asked if perchance he had a son named Anthony. Could tell by the colonel's brogue and Italo name

— for sure he was from NJ.

"Tony's my nephew!" he replied.

I explained that I'd graduated high school

(Camden Catholic) with Anthony (class of 1963).

We were amazed by how small the world seemed, despite us being halfway across the globe warring with hordes of godless commies. Meanwhile, Tony was back in "the world" attending college, then later med school. Thereafter he became a doctor — but he missed the time of his life in our generation's offshore war.

At 6 ft 4 in, Col. "Moose" Campo was the only dude in 115 able to see eye-to-eye with Duke Wayne.

>>>  Click to view prior photo

Source of photos:  Two of VMFA 115's cruise books (1966~67, 1969), fetched from a grizzled seabag stored 30 years in the rafters of a Los Angeles garage.