Thread: Excerpts from letters home

Tweet

Excerpts from letters home

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My middle son (18, 19 on 12/4) is at Parris Island USMC Recruit Training. He's 5 weeks into his training and writes regularly. We were missing him especially today being the first Thanksgiving without all of the boys home. so we were going through his letters to us. Here are some excerpts from a few of them. He'll be gone for his birthday, Christmas and New Years too. Can't wait to see him in mid January.
The last few are a bit more upbeat than the early ones. We're taking this as a good sign.

" It sucks here. Every day is bad, and some are worse. If today was horrible, then we figure tomorrow might only be bad. I was made platoon leader of 77 other recruits. It sucks though because when they screw up, I pay for it. Got screamed at for two hours yesterday because one of them messed up. I also eat last so I only have 5 minutes to eat chow."

"Today we learned how to break a guy's neck, and other ways to disable an enemy. It really is all about death and destruction. I have to admit I feel like a bad--- carrying a rifle around all day. The drill is constant. A lot of the guys still don't get it."

"Hurt my thumb so I'm having trouble with the rifle drill. I also got bronchitis so had a day off and a couple days of light duty. Hope I get cleared on monday because it's swim week and we also have a big test. I want to score a hundred percent so we can move on to phase two. Don't want to be here any longer than I have to."

"I have a best friend here. Same personality and we both have a girlfriend back home. We look out for each other and are determined to make it through.
He asked a DI if he could go to the dental place because he was having pain. The DI told him {I'm not the ---toothfairy ----. Get away from me}. I got in trouble because I laughed. The senior drill instructor likes me a lot so I'm glad for that. He keeps the green belts off us a little but we still can't screw up or he'll kill us. Dad, no offense but while I'm here, he's my daddy. I miss you guys so much and love you all, especially you mom. You're the best! Can't wait to see you."

"Today was the Marine Corps Birthday and we had a good day. Just class in the morning and then free time, which we never have. For dinner they gave us shrimp, lobster tails, steak, a really good cheesecake and we each got three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which we went nuts for. My friend had to have his wisdom teeth out so he could only have jello and chocolate milk. Sucks to be him. It's starting to come together a little and we're seeing why we're here. The training is tough but there's a reason. I know I'll make it. Please keep writing as often as you can. I love getting mail.
Your future marine"

"Today we heard singing and looked outside one of the windows. We saw another company running across the parade deck and they had just completed the crucible. They were now United States Marines. It was hard not to get teared up watching them and wishing it was us but we know that each day that goes by we're one step closer. What are you doing for Thanksgiving? I hope they have something for us."

"Every Friday is graduation day and we watch the new Marines see their families for the first time. It's so emotional and I tear up. Stupidly, I find myself looking for you guys but know you're not there. I'll get there and will be a United States Marine. You really bond with the other recruits and you would give your life for any of them. I hope we all make it but we've already lost a few. I think we'll probably end up with about 60. We have a few "private Pyles" and they make it tough on the rest of us. Of course it's realy hard on me since I take ---- for their screw ups."

"Well probably the last letter for awhile. We have our first big test and I'll be studying my --- off to pass. Please pray for me!"



We're planning to have his girlfriend meet up with us at his graduation in January. Her mom's brother was in the corps and lives in N.C. so they are thinking of going down too and surprising him. He'll go nuts!
Hope this didn't bore you. Just thought I'd share his experience in some way.

Wow, those excerpts were really touching and at the same time kind of scary.
I'm sure it must have made you proud but at the same time touched your 'parent heart'.
My supervisor at work has a nephew doing the commando training here in Holland. She frequently tells stories about his training and what he's had to do. Days without eating and then having to carry a body so many miles. The fact that they voluntarily choose to do this earns my respect and admiration!

MsM

Be strong and be proud, you've raised a fine young man.......

Ex Military here..
Thanks for sharing, jdubbya.
It saddens me slightly that my own son (same age) was not predisposed to carry on the family tradition of military service...It's a grand career for a young man.

All the "character building" stuff your son is facing at the moment will stand him in good stead for the rest of his life, and he will emerge from it as a fine young man and a credit to both himself & his parents.

Thanks for sharing J-Dub. I went through something similar. My son was at U of Hawaii during 9/11. That event changed a lot of lives. A lot of kids went straight into the Military after graduating. He chose the Army. It was rough, this was before Sadaam was caught. I couldn't attend his Grad ceremonies; Ft. Jackson, SC is a long way from Samoa. He wound up serving in Korea with the 82nd Airborne. After he got out of the Army, three years, he used the GI Bill to get his Masters, and is now a teacher. He used the VA Loan program to buy his first home last Spring. Hang in there, buddy.

Thanks for the replies. We are very proud of him. His field after basic is Presidential Security so there is a chance he may be stationed in Washington, D.C. at least for part of his hitch. He does have to do one year of infantry. He also plans to attend college after his hitch is up and go into law enforcement but things can change. He is doing well (got another letter today) and we are just wanting to see him again!

Love reading those letters. What a great Marine he is already turning into.

I remember seeing my brother off when he joined the Marines. He left as a skinny tall guy. 3 months later on Graduation Day my mom and dad had to point him out to me. He looked totally different! He was so much bigger! Like Marine bigger. Thick neck, broad shoulders..... it's weird how much they change physically after that training.

thanx, jdubbya, for sharing those. Brought back memories of long ago, when I went through Basic training with the USAF. Of course, the AF training is a piece of cake compared to the Marines. But I remember being homesick and a little scared. Letters from home were very important to me.
Your son sounds like a great man! Please share more of his letters.

Man jdubbya those are hard to read - I can't imagine how much harder for you guys. Tell him we're all proud of him!

Thanks! We can only guess as to how much he misses home, but I know he has very little free time to sit around and think about it. We recieved another letter yesterday.

"Dad, swim week went well. I thought it would be hard but it wasn't that bad. I broke my thumb doing pugil sticks. I made the mistake of trusting another kid to pop it back into place. It still hurts but it's getting better. I think I'm going to ride back home with you guys. I only ask that you are able to change your plans if needed. Some kids do get held back but mostly for injuries or failing stuff but so far I'm on track. I'll let you know how my test went. Keep praying for me!"

The holidays will come and go and we're actually looking forward to them being over as we are just wanting to see him again. Making a few plans for Christmas/New Years but just focusing on the trip to S.C. in January.