The unseen.  What happens when valiant actions occur, eminently worthy of the Medal of Honor or the Navy Cross, and they go unreported?  Most often - nothing!  To the Marine Corps' credit, a good number of awards have been made years after the action occurred.  We are all witness to one his month, I recommend you read this month's "Sting of Battle" offering on pp. 69-72.  Retired Col. Bill Dabney, in a tribute to the stalwart support of the Purple Foxes of HMM-364, takes the reader on a wild ride on Hill 881S during the siege at Khe Sanh from late January through the end of April in 1968.  Then - Captain Dabney was nominated for the Navy Cross for his actions on Hill 881S, but the papers were lost when the battalion XO's helicopter crashed.  Nothing was done about the nomination - until recently.  On the 15th of this month, Colonel Dabney will receive his richly deserved Navy Cross at a special ceremony at his alma mater, the Virginia Military Institute, in Lexington, VA.

For Col. Dabney, for all of our heroes who have earned the Navy Cross, and for all of those Marines whose actions were every bit as brave and courage- ous, but have gone untold, you have earned our admiration, our eternal gratitude, and our appreciation.  We salute you all and feel blessed to be counted in your company as fellow Marines.