Chuckler hastened to explain. “I wasn’t being wise … I meant, had you ever heard of the place before you got here?” His astonishment startled us. An idea was dawning, gladly. “Y’mean …” “Hell, yes! Guadalcanal. The First Marines—Everybody’s heard of it. You guys are famous. You guys are heroes back home …” We did not see him leave, for we had both looked away quickly—each embarrassed by the quick tears. They had not forgotten.
