what is a good Charismas gift for a 83 year old retired Marine?

Answer 1

Get a stack of index cards, or greeting cards...etc, whatever works for you. On each card fill in something that you will do for him.
All he needs to do is redeem his cards when he wants to.
Things like:
I'll spend a weekend with you... tell me your stories. (I'll bet they're facinating!)
I'll take you out to dinner tonight.
I'll drive you to your doctor's appointment.
I'll pick up your prescriptions.
Let's go camping or fishing, hunting...etc.
Think of things you'd like to do for him.
Often they just want someone to pay attention to them, listen and care.
My grandmother is much the same way... what to do for her? At someone elses suggestion I'm doing this same thing.
Good luck...

Answer 2

I REALLY like the index card answer....in addition....

you specifically mention he's a retired Marine.....those years are important to him....and it is said there is no such thing as retired Marine, just one who isn't on duty at the moment.....

if he was WW2, go get a copy of William Manchester's "Goodbye Darkness"..Manchester was the best historian of the last 50 years; he was the heart of the liberal East Coast Ivy League Establishment, a professor at Wesleyan and a friend of the Kennedy's.....and one day in the 80's he woke up and realized, "I'm STILL a Marine, and I have to go back to the Pacific and make sense of it all".......read it first to see what the Corps did in the Pacific, then give it to or offer to read it to him so he knows WE know and don't forget......

and the US Naval Institute has great DVD,s CDs and Oral History tapes

and maybe offer to make a tape of him recounting his years and send it to the Institute.they would like it.......

Answer 3

You could find out what Unit he was with and give him his Unit Patch, it will give him Fond memories and open up with some very interesting Stories.

Answer 4

a nap