Boot Camp Diary from Mom to Brian

[SupportinMyUSMC]

I sent this to WRBones, he thought you all might be interested in a moms point of view. Semper Fi

....Randie

BOOT CAMP DIARY FROM MOM TO BRIAN!

APRIL 6TH, 2003
DROP BELOVED BABY BOY #2 OFF AT RECRUITING STATION. GO HOME AND CRY FOR HOURS WHILE DAD WATCHES HORRIFYING MOVIES LIKE "PLATOON"

APRIL 7TH, 2003

GET CALL FROM BRIAN THAT PAPERWORK AT MEPS IS INCORRECT SO HE HAS ONE MORE NIGHT IN HOUSTON. RUSH TO HOTEL TO SPEND TIME WITH BELOVED BABY BOY #2.

APRIL 8TH, 2003.
GET CALL FROM BRIAN AT MEPS..."COME SEE ME OFF, I LEAVE IN AN HOUR OR TWO." RUSH INTO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, GET LOST, FINALLY FIND MEPS, SPEND LAST 1 1/2 HOURS WITH CIVILIAN BELOVED BABY BOY #2. WATCH BRIAN CLIMB INTO CAB FOR AIRPORT AND HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A MARINE. GET LAST GLIMPSE OF BELOVED BABY BOY #2 AS CAB ROUNDS CORNER. ALL RECRUITS IN CAB WAVING AT ME LIKE CRAZY. CRY SOME MORE. GO HOME, STAY UP ALL NIGHT WAITING FOR CALL FROM RECRUIT COY, BRIAN C. SAYING THAT HE IS SAFE IN THE ARMS OF THE USMC AT MCRD, SAN DIEGO. CHECK PHONE FOR DIAL TONE EVERY FEW MINUTES. CRY INTERMITTENTLY. FINALLY FALL ASLEEP AROUND 4 am WITHOUT RECEIVING CALL.

APRIL 9TH, 2003.

GO TO WORK, MAKE SECRETARY CRY WITH ME. 4:00 pm GET CALL ON CEL, BRIAN IS SAFE IN THE LOVING ARMS OF THE USMC. MAKE SECRETARY CRY WITH ME AGAIN. CALL EVERYONE WITH THE NEWS.

APRIL 10TH THRU APRIL 30TH, 2003.

GO TO WORK EVERYDAY. SPEND MINIMUM OF 2 HOURS ON MARINE MOM WEBSITES AND LEATHERNECK.COM. SPEND 1 HOUR MINIMUM WRITING BRIAN. GO TO LUNCH AT 2:00 TO CHECK MAIL/STALK POOR POSTAL WORKER WHO M AY HAVE A LETTER FOR ME FROM RECRUIT COY, BRIAN C.. CRY IF THERE IS NO LETTER. LAUGH AND CRY IF THERE IS LETTER. IF THERE IS LETTER MOVE ON TO CALLING EVERYONE AND READING LETTER TO THEM. LAUGH AND CRY SOME MORE. GO BACK TO WORK AND MAKE SECRETARY CRY WITH ME IF THERE IS NO LETTER, LAUGH AND CRY WITH ME IF THERE IS LETTER. ACTUALLY WORK FROM 3:30 TO 6:00. GO HOME, READ "KEEPING FAITH...A FATHER-SON STORY ABOUT LOVE AND THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS" PRAY FOR BRIAN. TRY TO CONVINCE HUSBAND AND BELOVED BABY BOY #3 THAT CRYING EVERYDAY IS NORMAL.

MAY 1ST, 2003 THRU MAY 7TH, 2003.

GET CALL FROM BRIAN AT MCRD, SAN DIEGO. HE HAS PNEUMONIA AND IS IN MRP. WILL PROBABLY NOT GRADUATE ON TIME SINCE HE WILL MISS TRAINING WHILE RECOVERING. BRIAN CRIES AND I TRY TO CONVINCE HIM THAT THE GRADUATION DATE ISN'T WHAT MATTERS, BECOMING A MARINE, ACHIEVING HIS GOAL IS WHAT MATTERS. ACT BRAVE AND STRONG ON THE PHONE. GET OFF THE PHONE AND CRY LIKE A BABY. PRAY FOR BRIAN. FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF THAT NOW IT WILL BE EVEN LONGER BEFORE I SEE RECRUIT COY, BRIAN C. GO BACK TO NORMAL ROUTINE AS DESCRIBED IN APRIL 10TH THRU APRIL 30TH. ADD MORE PRAYER TIME AND CRY TIME TO PREVIOUS ROUTINE.

MAY 8TH, 2003 THRU JUNE 27, 2003.

RECEIVE CALL FROM BRIAN. HE IS FEELING BETTER AND DID WELL ENOUGH ON HIS PFT TO GO BACK TO TRAINING. IN FACT HE DID SO WELL THAT HE WILL GO BACK TO HIS PLATOON (2ND BN, ECHO CO, PLT 2081 OOH-RAH!) LAUGH, CRY, PRAYER AND PRAISE. BACK TO ROUTINE. BUY AND READ NEW MARINE BOOK, "INTO THE CRUCIBLE" . MUST TRY TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT RECRUIT COY, BRIAN C. IS DOING AT ALL TIMES. WANT TO BE THE BEST MARINE MOM EVER!

JUNE 28TH, 2003 THRU JUNE 29TH 2003.

LEAVE FOR SAN DIEGO TO WATCH RECRUIT COY, BRIAN C., BELOVED BABY BOY #2 GET HIS EGA (EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR) AND GRADUATE. DRIVING FROM TEXAS TO SAN DIEGO. LONG TRIP BUT FUN. GETTING OUT OF TEXAS TOOK FOREVER! WENT THRU A COUPLE OF SANDSTORMS IN NEW MEXICO. (SCARY) SAW THE MOUNTAIN TOP WILDFIRE IN ARIZONA. MADE IT THROUGH ALL THE BORDER PATROL CHECK POINTS. CHECK INTO HOTEL AND GO PEEK THRU THE FENCE AT MCRD SAN DIEGO LOOKING FOR MY RECRUIT. NO LUCK OF COURSE. CONSIDER SCALING THE FENCE TO FIND MY BELOVED BABY BOY #2. HUSBAND CONVINCES ME "NOT A GOOD IDEA!"

MONDAY, JUNE 30TH, 2003

TOUR SAN DIEGO. NOT ALLOWED ON BASE AT MCRD,SAN DIEGO UNTIL TOMORROW. SAN DIEGO IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND THE WEATHER IS WONDERFUL. NO TEXAS HUMIDITY! THE BEACHES, CLIFFS, PACIFIC OCEAN ARE ALL AMAZING. THE WATER IS SOOOO COLD. SEE THE SEALS AT LA JOLLA. GO TO THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT POINT LOMA (WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE), SAN DIEGO ZOO (NOT IMPRESSED) AND SEVERAL OTHER TOURIST HANGOUTS.

TUESDAY, JULY 1ST, 2003 VISITOR'S DAY

GET UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN. ( NO COMPLAINTS EVEN FROM THIS ADMITTED NON-MORNING PERSON!) ARRIVE AT MCRD,SAN DIEGO AT 7:00 am. RUSH TO THE PARADE DECK WHERE RECRUITS ARE PRACTICING THEIR GRADUATION DRILL. SPOT RECRUIT COY, BRIAN C., BELOVED BABY BOY #2. CRY LIKE A BABY. HE IS SO BEAUTIFUL IN HIS CAMMIES, DRILLING WITH HIS "BAND OF BROTHERS", DI (DRILL INSTRUCTOR) BARKING OUT ORDERS UNLIKE ANY MOVIE YOU'VE EVER SEEN. GO THROUGH ROLL OF 24 EXPOSURE FILM IN 24 SECONDS! RECRUITS FOLLOW DI OFF TO BARRACKS. WE PROCEED TO COURTYARD TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON MARINE SOUVENIRS AND GET INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BEHAVE DURING VISITORS DAY FROM SDI (SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR). WE ARE ABOUT TO GO WATCH GRADUATING PLATOONS DO THEIR MOTO (MOTIVATIONAL) RUN. WE ARE WARNED NOT TO PANIC IF WE DON'T SEE OUR RECRUIT IN THE RUN, SOME ARE INJURED FROM COMPLETING "THE CRUCIBLE" AND MAY NOT MAKE THE RUN. GO TRY TO FIND BRIAN IN HIS PLATOON. CAN'T FIND HIM. PROCEED TO PANIC. AFTER RUN WE ARE TOLD ONCE AGAIN NOT TO PANIC, IF WE SAW HIM IN PRACTICE HE IS GRADUATING. FEEL SOMEWHAT BETTER. HEAR WONDERFUL SPEECH FROM COMMANDING OFFICER AT MCRD,SAN DIEGO. GO INTO THEATER TO "MEET" DI'S. FROM THERE OUT TO THE PARADE DECK FOR THE EGA CEREMONY. GOT LUCKY AND PICKED SEAT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF BRIAN. HE IS NOW IN HIS ALPHA UNIFORM. HE IS SO SKINNY! (LOST 40 LBS IN BOOT CAMP) HE IS SO BEAUTIFUL. I AM SO FILLED WITH PRIDE AT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT! HE GETS HIS EGA, HE IS NOW A MARINE! AND I AM A BIG CRY BABY MARINE MOM! FINALLY HE IS RELEASED FROM HIS PLATOON AND WE GET TO HUG HIM AND CRY WITH HIM AND SPEND THE WHOLE DAY BEING AMAZED BY HIM, HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE CHANGES IN HIM. WE DID IT ALL, LUNCH AT THE BAYVIEW WITH HIS DI'S, SHOPPING AT THE PX, TOURING MCRD, MEETING SOME OF HIS "BROTHER MARINES" AND THEIR PARENTS. AT 7:00 pm, WE ARE VERY GENTLY NUDGED OUT OF MCRD. SAN DIEGO.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2ND, 2003

BACK TO MCRD. SAN DIEGO AT 7:00 am. THIS TIME WE DRIVE ONTO MCRD BECAUSE PFC COY, BRIAN C., WILL BE LEAVING WITH US AFTER GRADUATION! WE NEED LOTS OF ROOM FOR HIS "PACK".
OUR CAR PASSES THE INSPECTION AND WE ARE ALLOWED IN. WE PARK, GO BACK TO THE COURTYARD AND SPEND MORE MONEY ON MARINE SOUVENIRS, GO WATCH THE "COLORS CEREMONY" AND PICK OUR PLACE IN THE GRANDSTANDS TO WATCH BRIAN'S GRADUATION. GRADUATION IS VERY MOVING, SO OF COURSE I CRY SOME MORE! THERE IS MORE DRILLING, THE BAND PLAYS, MORE SPEECHES AND THEN THE DI'S RELEASE THE NEW MARINES TO THEIR FAMILIES. BRIAN CAN'T WAIT TO GET OFF MCRD, SAN DIEGO! WE GO GET HIS "PACK" AND GET IN LINE TO LEAVE. BRIAN IS JUST SO AMAZED BY EVERYTHING; BEING IN A CAR AGAIN AFTER 3 MONTHS, LISTENING TO HIS FAVORITE "TEXAS MUSIC" BY PAT GREEN AND CORY MORROW, EATING WHAT HE WANTS WHEN HE WANTS, THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS BACK IN CIVILIAN LIFE. WE WANT TO SHOW HIM SAN DIEGO AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON DOING JUST THAT BUT ALL BRIAN REALLY WANTS IS TO GET BACK TO TEXAS AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

THURSDAY, JULY 3RD THRU FRIDAY JULY 4TH.

TWO DAYS IN THE CAR WITH MY BELOVED PFC COY, BRIAN C. WE GET TO HEAR SO MANY STORIES OF BOOT CAMP. HE IS STILL JUST STUNNED THAT HE ACTUALLY MADE IT THROUGH AND THAT HE IS ACTUALLY A MARINE. HE IS SO DIFFERENT PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. HE IS SO HUMBLE! HEARING HIM SING IN MY CAR IS ENOUGH TO SET ME OFF CRYING AGAIN! i HAVE WAITED SO LONG TO SEE HIM, HEAR HIS VOICE, SEE THE TWINKLE IN HIS BLUE EYES AND HIS QUICK SMILE. HE ACTUALLY THANKS ME FOR BEING A GOOD MOM AND GIVING HIM ALL THE THE BASIC TOOLS THAT THE MARINE CORPS USED TO TURN HIM INTO THE FINE YOUNG MARINE THAT HE HAS BECOME. I FEEL LIKE I AM ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER! I FINALLY HAVE HIM BACK BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. HE REPORTS BACK TO CAMP PENDLETON AND HIS "BELOVED CORPS" AGAIN ON JULY 15TH. HUSBAND WISELY TELLS ME TO ENJOY DAYS 1 THRU 12, HIS LEAVE, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT DAY 13 WHEN HE REPORTS BACK.

SATURDAY, JULY 5TH, 2003.

PFC COY, BRIAN C.'S BIG WELCOME HOME BASH!

TO ALL OF YOU WHO CONTINUED TO READ TO THE END, THANK YOU! I REALLY NEEDED TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF BRIAN! HE IS AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN AND A FINE YOUNG MARINE! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED BOOT CAMP!

[jenrmurray]

Mom,

You made me cry all over again. I went through the very same emotions when I went to see my husband (not at the time.. he proposed graduation night) graduate. Complete with Bayview and everything. I felt the same way when I saw him for the first time.... I was speechless, he was so beautiful and I just didn't know what to do. And to see him sounding off with such fervor, and, after dismissal, to be able to look at him up close and hear his permanently hoarse voice talk about all that he went through. Family Day was so surreal and magical. Graduation Day, for me, was just a bunch of waiting until he was dismissed. The band was cool and the speakers said good things, but all I really wanted was my boy back!

So, in short, thank you for sharing!

[Sixguns]

I can see by your posting you are proud of your son, the Marine! Continue to offer him your love and support. Although he is a Marine, he is still your #2 boy!!!

Congratulations.


SIXGUNS

[marinemom]

Congratulations to you and to Brian!

Reading that diary brought back memories of both my husband and my son, and the total shock at the transformation and pride at that first look as they walked across Peatross Parade Deck on the Island - 33 years apart and the chills and pride were still the same.

Now you can mail all those care packages to him at his first duty station. But remember, he will share with his buddies and you will gain a couple more Marine "sons". One of my best memories is the time that the phone rang on Mothers' Day and six guys were on it singing to me "Happy Mothers' Day to you" with a twist on the last line - "We're out of cookies".

May you and Brian have the best of success in the future, and welcome to the other group of the The Few, The Proud - The Moms!

[firstsgtmike]

"HE ACTUALLY THANKS ME FOR BEING A GOOD MOM..."

Memories of a Recruiter:

He was seventeen, father deceased, only mother's consent was required.

I never allowed "parent's consent" to be signed in my office. It required a house visit and a sit-down "let's talk about it."

Vietnam era. Mom said "No". Son said, "*****, if you don't sign, I'm gone, and when I'm 18 I'll sign for myself and I don't need you or your ****."

I was ready to smack him, until she said, "You bastard, I hope they kill you, Sgt., where do I sign his death certificate?"

In a quandry. Up, down, yes, no, I made my decision. Sign here!

He left for MCRD the following morning.

A month later, I received a phone call from a crying mother. His letter; Mom, I'm sorry. I met guys here who never had. I've heard stories, I can't believe. I realize what I had, what you did for me, what you gave me, your love.

I am so sorry, for what I was, what I did to you. I love you.

Allright, I admit it. There were two people crying on the telephone.

As a Recruiter, I was the richest man in the world, because EVERY day was PAYDAY.

Mom, thanks for the memory.

[SupportinMyUSMC]

thanks to those of you who responded...i guess i struck a chord, huh? this has been an awesome experience and as one of Brian's favorite "Texas" songs says, "the road goes on forever and the party never ends." for those of you who don't know, Texas singer/songwriter PAT GREEN helped get Brian thru boot camp while driving his rack mate and platoon mates crazy! i only have Brian for another 24 hours so i have to make the best of it. i put him on plane back to Camp Pendleton bright and early Tuesday morning. MCT and with an open MOS who knows where after all that! thank you, thank you, thank you! proud to be...one of the few...the proud...the Moms! randie