Ray was a HM3 (Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class) on active duty with the U. S. Navy and he was leaving in a day or two for Vietnam where he was being deployed with the Marine Corps in country. Shortly after arrival in Vietnam he was seriously wounded by a mortar shell that exploded near him, sending shrapnel into his head, torso, arms and legs. He was evacuated to a Navy hospital in Japan and then to the Navy hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. He was medically retired from the Navy in 1968.

Ray and Lynda married on January 18, 1969 and I was his best man at the wedding. They are still married in live in Davie, Florida. The three of us all went to Palm Springs Junior High and we were all in Hialeah High's Class of 1965.

How ironic that this photo was numbered 1165 on my cell phone because all three of us worked at Sears, Roebuck & Company at Northside Shopping Center in Miami and the Sears store number was 1165.

Update March 5, 2016:: Ray passed away this morning after he endured a strong 3+ year battle with cancer that started with prostate cancer. He underwent numerous operations, aggressive radiation treatments and chemotherapy but he lost his battle in the end. Rest In Peace Ray, thank you for being my great friend for so many years and for all the wild and crazy things we did back in our youth. We were so fortunate to visit with Ray and Lynda at their home the late afternoon of the day before Ray died and I got to say my goodbyes to Ray. We shook hands goodbye and his grip was strong and firm. My last view of Ray was him waving goodbye to us from his wheelchair on the front patio area of their home. Ray's death truly sucks and I am really depressed as I am writing this.