A Special Independance Day Story

Back in 1967 a 17 year-old boy made a decision to quit school before graduating. Instead, he joined the Marines. Talk about graduating! Following are some excerpts from Roland Marchand's story, and on this 4th of July holiday weekend, it seems quite appropriate to share it with you:

"My Graduation date would have been w/1967. My Father and I were having issues so I went into Mr. Horn's office one day and told him I was quiting school and going into the Marines. I was 17 and just could not handle the fighting at home. You probably remember my Brother Dan Marchand he graduated 1968 and my Sister Joan Marchand in 1970. Dan went into the Marines after graduation but when I got hit and they thought I was not going to make it the Marines decided to keep him stateside so less pressure on my Mother and Father.

I went into the Marine Corps 1966 and was discharged 1968 Honorable under medical Conditions. Served with 1/5 Recon and Mortars Platoon 81's. Lost my right leg Below knee and massive internal injuries due to ambush Hue City 1968 during the Battle of Hue Tet 1968.

Coming home from Vietnam with a Artificial Leg and all the other medical and mental problems at the end of 1968 was a culture shock for sure. After doing a lot of volunteer work with Handicapped Adults and Children I still felt there was something I need to do to heal the deep wounds I buried so many years ago. In 2003 I found out about a ride Vietnam Vet's do every year across the United States on their motorcycles."

In 2010 Roland participated in the Run For The Wall for the seventh straight year. These days he serves on the Riverside Memorial Honor Guard "Semper-Fi," Riverside National Cemetery, RFTW, Patriot Guard, visits wounded Marines coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and drives the D.A.V. Van at Loma Linda V.A. Medical Center in Loma Linda, Ca. to transport Veterans who have no way to get to the V.A. for their doctors appointments.

I don't know about you but I don't care that he didn't actually graduate from Narbonne, and as with a handful of other classmates who missed that ceremony, I've invited them to be a member of NarbonneHS.Org because they were, and always will be, our friends.

You can read all of Roland's story HERE.

A special thanks to Roland Marchand for granting permission to post excerpts from his story here on the NarbonneHS.Org member blog.