ooh-rah! LETTER dated June 21st, 2009

Hey MOM,

Today is Sunday, Just yesterday we did a 9 mile hike to the Rifle Range, it wasn't that bad, but sadly we had a few people fell out, I actually had a girl hold onto my LV pack and another holding onto my arm so that they wouldn't fall out. We are going to be here at the range for two weeks, so we're in s semi-portal home squad bay. My Rake mate is *****, ****** and she is from North Carolina.

(she now writes a complete list of names ages and where they are from)

Arizona-1
Arkansas-1
California-14 includes Erica and a girl from Temecula!
Chicago-4
Colorado-2
Delaware-1
Florida-1
Hawaii-1
Iowa-1
Louisiana-1
Minnesota-2 Nebraska 1
Nevada-1
New Jersey-1
New York-5
North Carolina-1
Oregon- 1
Tennessee-2
Texas-1
Vermont-1
Virginia-1
Washington-5

? 2

Poland-1

Guam-1

We've already had ** people drop and * people added. So far Boot Camp isn't as bad as I thought. Since we are at the Rifle Range we are eating at 1st Battalion's place and at the male chow hall which means, we are forced to look at brownies, cinnamon rolls and so much more that we stare at while we get our food, like things I wouldn't eat anyway now, but it is still torture.

Yesterday I broke down because Senior Drill Instructor was listening to music and out of everything that she was listening to the song "eyes open" by Snow Patrol. Which made me miss home even more. I'm also a cooler recruit, while the platoon marches I'm one of four that carries the cooler in case of heat cases and things like that. I am also one of four Artist recruits that are drawing the Range Flag. We found out yesterday that our DI is one of our marksman instructors. ****Anyways free time is almost over, so I'll write you later,

Love you always Erica Ann =P love ya much

posted by:darlene r.

Initial Drill

Just a mini update ... no word from Erica about the drill. But I have heard from other parents that Erica's Platoon won their drill and did receive a trophy.

One parent said "Platoon 4023 wins Initial Drill! Lisa said in her letter today Platoon **** and Platoon 4023 competed last Tuesday. You will laugh . . . she said "It was so amazing because our platoon has sucked all these 5 1/2 weeks and the more hard work & sweat we put into it, just wasn't enough to feel like we were improving. We were always getting yelled at by our SDI and our series Gunnery Sergeant. So when we got on the parade deck this morning, we brought everything we had. It paid off. Our Series Gunnery Sergeant was like "Holy **%$ 4023 - where the hell have you been?".

Thought you would enjoy hearing it put that way! Can we consider that recognition??? Ha!"

Amazing huh! Although miss Erica has not mention it or the gas chamber as of yet, she hasn't really talked about herself. I guess it is hard to do just like I write her everyday and some days I'm like what else do I say, it is so much easier to write about others. Anyway thought you'd all like to know... I was like "AWESOME!"

written and posted by:darlene r.