It is with continuing I'm sorry that I have to report to the VDHAfamily the passing ofour former Web Masterand BX manager DaveBroeker. After a longand courageous battle,Dave left this worldbehind and I am sureis reunited with hisloyal K-9Companions . Our sympathy andprayers go out tohis wife Patricia and family. Words alonecan't describe thecontribution thathe made usorganizationthroughout the past20 years. His wisdomand counsel will be missed by all. As we experience thisMemorial Day,Please take a moment.and remember all thosewho have the ultimatesacrifice on the battlefields of Vietnam.Also remember thosewho came home andfor years fought thegood fight to makeAmerica the land ofOpportunity beforesuccumbing to thescars they brought home.Travel, the US militarycoined the phrase “Joinand see the world.”Well in 1966 when I joined  the Marine Corpsthey lived up to thepromise. My firstexperience was aCaribbean cruise aboard the USS Guam,an LPH otherwise knownas a landing platform forhelicopters. We trainedthroughout the Caribbean,including the lovely Island of Vieques.The hot and humidThe weather was great.training for my nextexperience in one placecalled Vietnam.Early on we wereintroduced to aculinary delightknown as C-Rationsa/k/a “Meal Combat”Individual.” There weretwelve basic meals ofcanned meat, fruit orcake, and crackers.Included was anaccessory pack withcoffee, cream substitute,sugar, gum, matches,                                                                                                                                           cigarettes and theinfamous toilet paper.If you remember the toilet paper consistedof 10-12 three-inchsquares wrapped ina brown paper cover.The term “paper thin”I believe originatedfrom the descriptionof the paper wrappedin those little brown packages. To saythat you could seethrough it was anunderstatement. Thejoke was to make surethat the user kept atiny little piece asideto clean out from undertheir fingernails whenfinished. Actually, theThe term toilet paper wasan oxymoron, unlessof course you wantedto call the small holeyou had just dug on theside of a trail with youre-tool, a toilet. At this point you are askingwhy are we discussingtoilet paper.This week is one ofremembrance , thegood, the tragic andthe funny . I recentlyreturned home froma month of travelingaround parts ofEurope. I foundthat toilet paperin Europe was notall that different than the paper wefound in our C-Rations. I was asked whatdid I enjoy the most and my immediate response was the wine and thincrust Pizza in Rome. TheThe second question was,What was the matter?that I missed most abouthome. My immediateanswer was “Charmin,extra wide, ultra soft," I never did you understandhow to use the fauceton the bidet.Anyway, I am finally home where I can wipewithout the paper fallingapart, and I no longerhave to save that tinypiece to clean out ofunder my nails.