In July 1998, Morgan and I visited
my Uncle Ron (Dad's older brother) in Oceanside, California, near San
Diego. Ron is a retired Marine Captain and past-president of the Third
Marine Division Association. He is a Vietnam Vet who spent many months
near the DMZ fighting for his life and his country. I've not met many men
who command the kind of respect as Ron Burton. I love listening to his
old war stories and just spending time with him.
Morgan and I got to stay a week
at his home near the beach and we had a great time. We hit the beach
several times, went to Disneyland, and visited old and new San Diego,
among other things. It was Morgan's first plane ride, first trip to the
beach, first trip west, and first trip to Disneyland. It was a memorable
experience and we hope to get a chance to do it all again some
day.
An interesting couple we met were Bernie and Phalla (pronounced "Paula"), who owned a donut shop on Oceanside Boulevard. We stopped there often, mostly for the donuts but also to see Phalla, who was quite beautiful. Bernie and Phalla were refugees from the Khmer Rhouge in the Cambodian killing fields. They met in France, immigrated to America and now make the best donuts on the West Coast. They were very nice and the story of their survival was truly amazing.
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