2/19 is looming....

[RYDERKUR]

The other Marines touched on it a bit, but will you keep us posted as to their progress where they are in training. Maybe even a little about their letters as to how their adjusting and doing. I know they will do great and make us proud. Thank you for raising these fine men.

[marinemama]

The other Marines touched on it a bit, but will you keep us posted as to their progress where they are in training. Maybe even a little about their letters as to how their adjusting and doing. I know they will do great and make us proud. Thank you for raising these fine men.

Yes, I would be happy to do that. I am holding up, each day brings me closer to May graduation. I had a wonderful surprise from the girlfriends, a lovely bunch of flowers and lots of hugs, they are really nice girls.

I am so very proud of them, and I do think they are in the best place they can be. The DI's do this all the time, with thousands of Recruits before them, they are two of many, it worked for you all, and you came out better for it. What a fine group of Marines you all are!

[marinemama]

Woo Hoo! Have the address for both of them and have already put 4 things each in the mail today! I am so relieved that at least I can write to them and have a little contact, even if it is one-sided. As I was in the Recruiting office, they were telling me that today will probably be the worst day to date and it will be hell. I know they will be great! I have PM'd the address to everyone that asked for it, please let me know if I missed anyone. Any letters are so appreciated by me, and my son's will love the motivation from Marines that have been there before them. I know they honor and respect you all so very much.

All the best,
Monica

[RYDERKUR]

Glad to hear that. As a recruit there was nothing better than getting a couple letters a day from mommy (yes I can still say that, haha)...it was the best part of the day, even though I had to go to the head to read them after lights out. But yes, those couple letters a day or even letter a day will get them though fine and dandy.

[Cudadad]

the "I've arrived" phone call and their address. Don't get much better than that.

[yellowwing]

My Mom only missed a handful of days in writing me. It was good motivation and relief to keep in mind that there was a still a world out there.

[Momof2Marines]

Hi Monica your on your way to being a proud MOM of 2. I know you are already proud of your boys. Remember you have alot of support during this time.

Cyndy
PMM of Randy and Jerry

[marinemama]

Hey Everyone! I received the letter from each of them with the brochure and address on Wednesday with a "love you" written small and light in the corner. I also received a letter from each of them on Friday. My eldest son's was very blue :o(. He is the one that I have told you about doing 100% every time he does something....he is doing just that, but because he is in boot camp and training the Marine way, he is still getting yelled at even though what he is doing is right. I realize that is how they break them down to make them strong, it is just not easy for a Mom to hear. He was also saying he wants to make sure he makes it, to make me proud, he missed me and loved me and can't wait to come home. I know he knew I was proud of him and loved him before he left...I am happy in every single letter I have sent him, I have told him that again and again. He had two of his wisdom teeth yanked out....Can anyone tell me why they do that? They have dental care every 6 months for the last 10 years of the boys lives and the teeth had been fine?? Do they just take them all to make sure they don't give you any problems when you are deployed? My younger son's letter was soooo much better. Although, he started it out with how much fun he was having...After reading my eldest son's letter, I was thinking they might not be in the same place and Eric was vacationing in Mexico. He also had teeth pulled...all 4 wisdom teeth! OMG! I can't even imagine! His letter was very positive, which concerns me a little...I think from knowing him, he wants to make sure I don't worry about him, which is the part that worries me. They are rack mates! Which both said was a good thing. They are able to support each other and help if needed, which is what they have been doing for each other. They said something about winning something this week might make them honor platoon. That made me smile!

I also received another letter from my eldest son yesterday. It was a little bit longer and much more positive. Well...at least it was better than the first one. He was telling me how much trouble my youngest is having with his jaw and how swollen he is with his four pulled teeth....he said he is quite upset about that because the pain in pretty bad. He was also saying how much fun he is having marching with his rifle and he loves drill! Crazy kid...lol lol He said that because they are getting pretty good at it, that DI doesn't yell quite so much. They haven't said anything bad about the DI's at all. I have heard some are a little kinder than others, but no really bad ones. I am very thankful for that! I am sure they are all fine Men, with a very hard job.

Do any of you fine Marines remember how long it took for them to give you your mail? As of the letter I received yesterday, they haven't gotten any of it. They will have so many letters when they get them, I think it will really make them feel better. Thanks for caring....I sure can't wait for May to be here!

[davblay]

They should be getting your mail by now, Ma'am. Usually the first training weeks is hectic and unorganized, but they should be getting your mail probably yesterday, and today for sure. But they will get the mail as soon as the DIs get it, as they don't want it cluttering up the DIs house, hehe. The wisdom teeth were removed as a precaution, they usually cause problems down the road for 98% of the people, and this just saves problems later! Kind of like removing the appendix when they are in your tummy for some other reason!

Sounds like they are settled in pretty good, time will go by one day at a time, but will seem to be fast when you see them wearing that sharp new uniform!

Keep the Faith, we are all there with you, just know we care! They are our future!

Semper Fi Ma'am

Dave

PS- I just mailed them my 3rd letter as well yesterday! Even though I don't expect an answer, I know you will keep us posted! God Bless!

[Momof2Marines]

Hi Monica, Happy to hear your receiving mail from the boys. I lived for Wednesdays, that seemed to be the day I received mail from my boys. I don;t know if you have this info, but in about the 10th or 11th week you will be able to see them on a web site. Go to devildogs.info, click on their battalion and then click on the platoon number and you will see them. It was so exciting to see my youngest (they didn't do this when my oldest was @ bootcamp) When I first saw the video I thought I would never be able to pick him out, they all kinda looked the same. To my surprise he was the guide, I was so proud. Jerry went on to become the platoon honorman.

Take Care I know how much you miss the boys.

Cyndy PMM Randy and Jerry

[GySgtRet]

This is all great news good or bad. The fact that you are getting mail is the great news. The dental guys sometimes get over enthused but they take wisdom teeth not at random inspite of how good of a dental plan you have but as you mentioned for deployments and less problems down the road. But dang it all four of them I know he will be hurting for a couple more days. Soon your two recruits will get your mail don't worry. Have the girlfrinds been writing too?

Let your two recruits know we are all pushing the right way for them. May is a good month. My daughter is getting married in North carolina the week of Labor Day. We will be at the beach, for a entire week and it is a beach wedding.


Gunny out

[marinemama]

Hello Everyone! Thanks to those of you that have sent letters to Alex and Eric! You are all amazing!

I have gotten some more letters! Yeah! It seems like feast or famine. lol lol

They are both doing really really well! They are rack mates, help each other out tremendously and are happy to both be there. They both love marching with the rifles and boots and have said that many many times. Eric, my youngest can't wait to clean his rifle...hee hee just like his Mom :o) Alex, the eldest, teeth are healing and he is back to normal and Eric is still on ibuprofen 800's for swelling in his jaw, but on normal duty. They had him of Vicadin, but they make him feel funny, so he didn't take them for very long. Eric did really well on his IST run, not sure about the rest..he did the 2 1/2 miles in 9:40, so he said he is in the >10 group, Alex didn't write about that but he is usually faster than his brother. They have both made friends, and are getting in to the routines and what they are meant to do and when. They haven't been IT'd for anything they have done, just once for something a kid next to them did. They kinda like the food and are eating pretty well...not like my cooking they say, but they are eating. :o) They love Sundays! They didn't like the "body hardening" exercise...I have to say, it didn't sound very nice at all. They say in every letter how much they like marching with boots and the rifle...lol lol lol I think it is because they are told they are doing well at it. They both miss me and can't wait to see me in May....they miss the girlfriends...awww...and are getting plenty of letters from us all. They told me about them taking all the locks off the foot lockers, mixing them up and making them find them. Piling all the boots and covers and making them find them from a pile, as well. They thought that was pretty interesting.

There are a couple of Recruits that don't seem to get much, if any, mail...I asked them to get me an address and the girls and I will send them something to open too. A couple of them asked the boys if they could open one of their letters, just to have something to open. I find that very sad.

Thanks Dave for the letters to them...3! Cool!

Thank you Cyndy for the link! I can't wait to see them.

Thanks to you as well, GySgtRet. Congratulations to your daughter. I can't wait to be on the beach in San Diego.

We are taking the girlfriends with us to see them graduate, and they are just as excited as I am! Eric's girlfriend hasn't ever been to California, so we are looking forward to showing her the weather and the beach. We have all been intently watching Marine Week on the Military Channel to learn as much as we can!

[davblay]

I am writing to two more Recruits in the same company, different platoon. I will write to as many as I can get the address' for. so if they are in your sons platoon just sent me the names, last and first. I'll have the rest of the address. I'll add them to my data base and get mail to them ASAP.

I hope your sons don't mind my mail, btw!

Thanks for the update, and Semper Fi,

Dave

[GySgtRet]

It sounds like your two recruits are having a great time. They aren't supposed to be having a great time. I will fix that for you I will give the depot a call and let them know what is going on in that platoon.

Just kidding of course. I am glad to hear that Eric and Alex are adjusting and excelling.

Gunny out

[marinemama]

Dave, they love mail! Thanks for taking your time to do that. I will send you any names they send to me, and add those boys to my mail writing too. I can't even imagine, with how mine are saying how important those letters are, not to get any at all. What are parents and friends thinking?

GySGtRet...no phone calls, pretty please...lol lol Thanks, I tell them about you all and the kind words you pass along...it means a lot coming from those that have been there before.

Received two more letters today. Eric is a bit down, think it might have to do with the ongoing saga of his teeth. They had to take him back in to stitch a flap of skin, he is still swollen and it hurts. He is on full duty though, he doesn't want this to delay his graduation or hurt his platoon. They are still up for honor platoon and have been told they might get a phone call this week! Yeah! Alex is well, he can't wait to come home to margaritas that he missed the other day and a nice warm pool to relax in. They are homesick, but doing well most days. Eric says he is coping. Alex is hoping nothing happens to get him dropped and his graduation delayed...I think they just want the end of 13 weeks very soon.

Guess that's it, until I stalk the poor mailman again and get more letters.