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07/23/2006 10:46:24 PM · #1
Can't stay to talk. I'm taking my boy to the hotel where he will spend the night then be off in the morning to Marine Corp basic training. His mom and I are proud and sad and scared all at the same time. Our boy/man is leaving us.



We're gonna miss him.
07/23/2006 10:50:34 PM · #2
Congratulations. I know that you will miss him, but you are now going to be part of a much bigger family. I've been in the military for 15 years, and I know that my friends and their families have become part of my family.

So, as your son is off to boot camp, I wish him the very best. It is a great thing to serve your country. And may his service be as good to him as mine has been to me.

Mike
07/23/2006 11:13:42 PM · #3
This will be the hardest day of your life and certainly one of the most emotional. Just 9 short months ago I drove my son to the hotel where my boy spent his last nite as a civilian. Oct. 31st. 2005. He was barely 18 and I cried all the way home and part into the next week. Torn about his decision I sucked it up and cut my emotional umbilical cord that night and gave my boy to God and our country.

I am happy to say that my son is now getting ready to graduate from his MOS (military occupational specialty
) training and preparing for joining the Fleet.

We attended his bootcamp graduation at Parris Island and it was the single most proud moment of my life, my husbands and everyone who attended. Wait till you see the changes in your son. Unbelievable!!

Don't worry dad. If your son is anything like mine, he is looking forward to what's ahead and it will be one of the best choices of his life. The marine corps training is amazing and my son loves being a jarhead and is thriving now. Gotta post a few pics...cuz you know I'm a really proud mom. My car is slathered with Proud Parent of a U.S. Marine stickers. All I need is the battle hymn of the republic playing and I'll be a rolling recruiter mobile.

Keep us updated on your sons progress. You won't hear from him for a couple of weeks, but then the letters will start rolling in and they will be very emotional. Buckle up dad. You can get through this. Email me if you need info or support during his boot camp training.

Semper Fidelis

Kelly



Message edited by author 2006-07-23 23:32:09.
07/23/2006 11:18:45 PM · #4
Me and mine would like to give our most sincerest thanks to you and your son. It's brave men and women like your son that help to keep this country the home of the free. My hat's off to both of you!
08/16/2006 09:52:30 PM · #5
Following up with a post now a few weeks later. There was a delay in his initial start date and we had to say good bye again a week later. But he's been there two and a half weeks now and we just got our first letter.

Among the multiple "I really miss everyone's" and the "It's really tough here" I hear character and pride in his words. He tells us that he has ten seconds to get out of bed and three minutes to dress and clean house. As the parent of a teen-ager/musician turned Marine recruit, I can tell you that he has never in his life made it out of bed in ten seconds, nor dressed in three minutes (and you can forget even talking about house cleaning). So I know they are doing an incredible work with him. He also reports that he now can kill a man five different ways with a bayonet...

I'll stop rambling now and just report that I swell with pride as I report on my son's progress as a Marine Corp Recruit.

Thanks to all for the kind words. I'll continue to update my boy's progress here. I understand that it is more important to me than to you all, but this community has become a part of my every day life - even though I tend to lurk more than post, and it's nice to have a place where I know I'll be read by folks I respect.
09/30/2006 07:38:02 PM · #6
Long overdue update. Kyle will graduate on time, October 27. In his letters he reports shin-splints, sinus infections and some illness that earned him a week's bed-rest. He declined the bed rest to continue training. He has been a team leader, calling cadence when they march and claims to be the best shot in his class (though he did not score the highest). Apparently toilet paper is in short supply as we have been asked to send some. Oh, and the marine corps uniform is "sexy."

I am still incredibly proud of my son and happy to report on his progress. I will have pictures to post of his graduation in about a month.
09/30/2006 09:05:37 PM · #7
Bill-

Your son sounds like he is well on his way to exceeding previously held limits set by himself. This getting sick and pushing through it to graduate with his class is evidence of this. You are not going to believe how you will feel when you step foot on that base and see all the recruits in training, Parris Island (the weekend of my sons graduation) was the best experience of my life. I would have to say it almost tops the day he was born. Breathe in the sights and sounds on base and keep your eyes open. Be sure to walk around and see if you can hear the cadence, or the DI yelling at the boys. If you have time on family day, get there early and take the bus tour at the Visitors Center. It was really fun and you do it military style. As you are now the recruit.

I know your so full of pride your about to bust. Just know Im right there with you and it made me smile really big to hear your story of your sons first few weeks of training, and now going into his 3rd phase.

Be sure to post pics when you get back!! Your son will want burgers and junk food the instant you drive off base! Be ready! Contrary to popular belief, they do not get to visit the subway or restaurants on base, nor do they have access to snack machines. All of their food is controlled up until Family Day. Even snack machine pretzels are a coveted and appreciated item after 3 long months of strict chow hall diet.

Keep us updated,

Kelly
Proud mother to PFC Cory M. Smith

edit* That sinus infection landed my son with months of a bloody nasal discharge/antibiotics and eventual cauterization to control it. Even then if he blew too hard it would bleed. My son pretty much stayed sick in boot.....don't be surprised if your sons voice is all raspy when you talk to him. Sounding off ain't for sissys.

Message edited by author 2006-10-01 09:10:19.
10/23/2006 10:43:57 PM · #8
This is probably my last chance to spend time on line before we head to Parris Island, so I wanted to get in a quick update.
For those just reading this for the first time, it's been a sketchy thread without much detail. But we're heading out for graduation this week and we are ready to see our boy.
I can't wait to see what the marines have done with him. I know he has been transformed just from his letters. In his last letter, written just before the Crucible, he asked if we could get our church to sing the hymn "It is Well With My Soul" when he gets back in town after graduation. It seems he has been singing this to himself when times were tough. You would have to know him to get the depth of emotion this brings to us. Suffice it to say that we have ached for him and been overwhelmed with love and pride for nearly three months now.
We get to have him for nine days before he heads to Camp LeJeune (sp?)for another two months.
I'm hoping my parents can make the trip as well. Their health is not good so they may not make it. My dad, in his seventies, is a Korean War vet. I also have a great uncle, still living, who is a purple heart veteran of WW2. He can't make the trip, but he played a big part in inspiring Kyle to take this direction.

So, enough for now. I'll come back with pictures...

Walter
10/23/2006 11:03:16 PM · #9
Walter - all my best to you, your family, and especially your son. Looking forward to the pictures, but they can wait until he leaves again. Enjoy your time together!
10/23/2006 11:04:21 PM · #10
My brother went through this a year ago. Good Luck and Semper Fi!!
10/23/2006 11:04:38 PM · #11
Best of luck to your boy. God Bless him and your family.
10/24/2006 12:16:08 AM · #12
The transformation will astound you. Once one gets through boot thier life is changed forever. Trust me...and they never go back.

Parents and Spouses supporting their young Marines' decision for the path that they chose is very important.

Snip... Had a big long jarhead speech here

I will say this about the three mentioned in this thread (and all others in similar situations), They must be strong in thier convictions as they have chosen a time of unrest to step up to the plate and commit to protecting a country that is so numb to the freedoms that it takes for granted.

My hats off to my new brothers!

You all should be (and are) very proud of your young Marines.

A few things about your young Marine when you recieve him at boot camp graduation (may have changed). No hands in your pockets. No chewing gum and walking around the area and If your young Marine doesn't kiss his girl friend or hug his mother (got to watch that uniform) on the parade deck don't be alarmed, a Marine that just graduated boot is as hard as a rock.

Oh and another thing the National Anthem and/or Marine Hymn will never be the same again for you.

Semper Fi
A Pollard USMC SSgt. (former)
10/24/2006 09:22:32 AM · #13
I haven't been around for awhile, but as I sat here reading tears were streaming down my face. Both of my sons are U. S. Marines, the oldest has finished & now attends college, and the youngest is still active & stationed in Okinawa. Indeed two of the proudest moments of my life have been watching my young men march across that parade deck; one at Parris Island, one in San Diego. Everything these folks are saying is true, the transformation, the pride (both yours & his), the new family, etc... Welcome to the USMC family Walter. Congrats to your family & especially to your son. Semper Fi Dottie
10/24/2006 09:55:09 AM · #14
Paris Island?
10/24/2006 10:02:48 AM · #15
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Paris Island?


Parris Island, SC. About 300 miles south of you.
10/29/2006 02:33:58 PM · #16

We have returned with our boy, although we only have him a few short days before he leaves again for more training. There are pics posted in my profile, and I'll post a few more.

Let me just report here and now that if you ever need your faith in this country restored; if you ever need to be reminded of all that is great about America; if you ever need to see all that is beautiful in the human spirit, take a trip to Parris Island and watch a class of Marines graduate.

I am unable to decribe the love, the pride, the overwhelming emotion that washed over me as my son received the eagle, globe and anchor from his drill instructor. They played "Proud to be an American" to the parade deck as we watched our son receive his pin and be called, for the first time, Marine. Moments later, we had our first face-to-face with this new man who just thirteen weeks ago was our boy. He will always be our boy, but now there is something new, something incredible. He is a man willing to lay down his life so that the rest of us can live in peace and freedom.

Wow. Did I mention that I'm very proud of my son.
10/29/2006 06:06:10 PM · #17

Kyle showed us around the grounds after the pin ceremony.

His little brother Joshua stayed by his side all day. When we stopped to get a photo inside one of the training areas, Josh jumped into the pic. He was very impressed with everything big brother did.

He doesn't know yet that Kyle is leaving again in eight days for two more months of training.

It will be very hard on him.
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