Twenty-four years ago this month (July 2002), Edward Gargano raised his right hand and took an oath to the United States of America ~ to become a Marine. That's all he talked about ~ being a Marine.

Edward was born on May 5th, 1962, the son of Joseph and Mary Gargano of Quincy, Mass. After completing boot camp at Parris Island, Edward served as an artilleryman with the 10th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and also with the 12th Marine Regiment at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. During July of 1983, Edward completed Infantry Training School at Camp Lejeune. As an anti-tank assaultman, he was reassigned to the 22d Marine Amphibious Unit. While enroute to Beirut, Lebanon to relieve the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit, Edward's unit was detoured to the island of Grenada to aid in the evacuation of American students. After Operation Urgent Fury was completed, the 22d MAU headed to Beirut and relieved the Marines of the 24th MAU. After serving only 53 days in Beirut, while on a work detail at the U.S./United Kingdom Embassy, Edward was struck down in an ambush on January 8th, 1984.

Edward's decorations include the Purple Heart, Navy Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with star.