posted by : darlene r.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
woo hoo THE CALL
5:30 my time...2030 she called !!!!!!!! I was driving home and a restricted call came in. I said hello and I hear "mom?" I was so excited I had to pull over! She was all business I could tell someone was right there, because she did ask them about RA.
Quite and straight to the point.
She said they are having a pot luck thursday..
and asked for crazy stuff, I know she loves but...
can grandma bring her enchiladas and you bring your apple pie?
Hunny I said "we're flying we can't bring food like that on a plane", "Is there an oven at the hotel?" she said "No" I said "silly".
I asked how she was she said fine, I asked do you need anything .. no she said.
Trying for any info which I was not getting, I asked how was crucible, good she said everyone made it. How are your feet? Fine no blisters, I said thats good.
About four times she said I'll see you thursday... yes I said .. you know Thursday, on thursday family day, I said Erica I'm flying in Tuesday cause thats the flight I could get, she seamed a hair excited about that. "See you Thursday, Love you, Bye."
That makes it official my baby girl is a Marine!!
written and posted by:darlene r.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
SUNDAY - Parris Island - LIBERTY SUNDAY
SUNDAY - Parris Island -
LIBERTY SUNDAY
Dear Journal, 0500. Got up and dressed. Morning chow was good.
After we went out on the Parade Deck so the Drill Master
could mark the deck with chalk for our Graduation Ceremony.
We were all talking about our families yesterday and who
was coming up on Thursday.
Today we were trading "My Mom on Thursday" stories…
"My Mom is gonna cry and hug me for about 30 minutes! …..
"My Mom is gonna run everyone over when
we are dismissed." and "My Mom is gonna already be
standing at attention next to me!!"
We had noon chow, then started cleaning up the squadbay
and our weapons. We have to turn them in on Tuesday.
Since we are now Marines, the Drill Instructors treat us
like we are FMF (Fleet Marine Force).
They expect us to act responsibly and act like Marines
(in accordance with all the things they taught us).
It is a much nicer atmosphere.
The rest of our short week will be just getting processed
for final orders.
Monday through Wednesday,
everything we do is in preparation for
Family Day and Graduation!!
Now that I finished Crucible,
the anticipation of seeing my family is growing.
I keep asking myself, "How could it have gone by so fast?"
And before, it seemed as if this day would never get here!!
…Praise to you Lord for bringing me through this,
and I ask that you bring my family safely to me…
The rest of the day we had Liberty,
so we basically chilled and hung out most of the day.
We got to shop if we wanted.
Our DI's told us we had to buy something.
They are so cool.
I bought a watch because today
is the first day I can wear one!
Well, I have to go now…....
I'm next in line to make
an important phone call!!!"
This is the Last Journal Entry.
Thanks to Peggy pginbr Delta Co Marine Mom
Author
F PRIVATE Peggy VPMFd Plt.1105
Sources: 1. "Making Marines" DVD 2. I found an unclassified document which is the Crucible Handbook! If you go to about page 50 you can read about the different Medal of Honor recipients and the summaries that were read aloud. http://www.mcrdsd.usmc.mil/WFTBn/Field/PDFs/Crucible%20SOP-Instructor%20Handbook%20060725.pdf 3. Since the above information was specific to the geography of San Diego, I had my own Parris Island source! PFC Garrett of 2nd BN Fox CO PLT 2066 at Parris Island. He graduated this past Nov 9th and is one of Craig's best friends. I also found a few journals online, but they just listed the days events. Garrett filled in the blanks and answered a ton of my questions! I love to write, so the rest...just came from my imagination to my fingers. Thank you very much for all the kind words.
The Crucible Journal - Saturday - warriors breakfast
Dear Journal,
We went down to the Warrior's Breakfast.
It was a steak and eggs all you can eat feast!
My first time through the line, I got steak,
eggs with ham & cheese, hashbrowns, biscuit, toast,
waffle, orange juice, milk, cereal, a banana,
and a cinnamon roll. After eating all that,
I went back through the line and got more eggs,
French Toast, a bagel, another biscuit, another banana,
and a Mountain Dew!
We ate so much that our stomach's hurt.
The coolest part was we could talk to
each other and eat. We could never talk during chow.
Later we stepped out for our barracks at 1000.
We spent the rest of the day doing gear inventory,
cleaning our weapons, cleaning the squadbay,
and packing our seabags for home!!
We didn't eat noon chow today…no room! But,
the evening chow was awesome…and…we got to
strut our stuff around some!!
It is good not to have to say "This Recruit…"
before every sentence. We can also now
call the Drill Instructors "Sergeant" instead of "Sir."
This is a day I will never forget.
I wish I could stay awake, but I am so tired…
I just want to sleep.
posted by: darlene r.
I have a Marine!
From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli We will fight our Countries battles on the air, on land, and sea! First to fight for might and freedom, then to keep our Honor clean, We are proud to claim the title of UNITED STATES MARINES!!!!
Ooh Rah!
We did it!!!
Our daughter's are now United States Marines!!!! I bet they are floating on air and chowing down on their Warrior Breakfast - if they're there yet!!!!
written by Cindy from Pasadena, CA
posted by:darlene r.
ThE Crucible Journal - Saturday
Dear Journal,
0300. Before we stepped out to conquer
our final hump back to the Base,
the First Sergeant briefly reviewed the
EGA ceremony with the whole Company.
At 0330 we stepped out to take on
our last challenge… our last obstacle
as
The hump back is a good 10-miles long
and was NOT easy!! We all limped along
with our feet sore to the core.
My blisters kept bleeding through
my bandages and socks.
I changed socks 6 times!
The pain was irrelevant now…
we continued on, because no one wanted
to be dropped this close to the end.
We have no watches so we don't really
know how long we've been humping.
The DI's have been amazingly
supportive this morning.
They started telling us
"That's already two miles down.
Not long now men." But I know that was
not two whole miles...
maybe a little over one at the most.
They just want to keep our spirits up.
We stopped for a foot check
at the base of the Ceculas Climbing Wall.
Since we had not completed this obstacle,
it was added to our final hump.
We took a few moments to
re-bandage and regroup.
I keep repeating to myself,
"You're almost done!"
Then, one by one we climbed up
and over the wall, falling to the other
side as gently on our sore
tender feet as possible. Right foot…
Left foot…Climb, Climb, Pull, Pull…
holding on with all our might to get over.
NO WAY any of us wasn't going over that wall!!
'Cause on the other side was our reward.
We were almost home!
The closer and higher we got to the top,
the more it motivated us!
When we fell to the other side…
we were amazingly energized!
One-by-one we fell over and over
the top of that huge wall until we were all together.
I watched the last of my platoon
go over the wall thinking,
"Have I really earned this?
Have I worked hard enough?
Do I deserve it?
Am I ready to be a UNITED STATES MARINE?"
"Not far to go now men…
just a couple more miles."
The DI's have been saying
that for over 4 miles now.
I don't think about it anymore,
'cause I am almost to my dream.
When the sun was rising we
reached the DI Bridge.
Once we were across,
the DI's started Jody calls and we all joined in!
As we got closer to the main base,
the Jody calls got louder and louder!!
Then, I looked up and what do you think I saw??
The trail back was lined with flags!
Our State Flags!!
As I passed all the different State Flags,
I grew more and more eager to see my………...THERE IT IS!!!!
My HOME STATE FLAG!
I never felt more proud to see that flag!!
And right then, the loyalty of all the folks
back home overwhelmed me.
I was shaking.
I couldn't wait to get to the
Parade Deck and hold that pin in my hand! We proceeded down past the flags,
toward the Parade Deck.
We put our gear down and formed up
around the
The Color Guard raised the flag on the memorial.
The Chaplain read a prayer specifically
written for the finish of the Crucible.
It was beautiful. The Company First Sergeant
called the Company to attention.
After that we were brought to Present Arms
(salute) and the National Anthem was played.
My heart was pounding out of my chest,
so I didn't hear one word until…
"o'er the land of the free………………… and the HOME………………………………. of the …………………………………BRAVE!!!!!"
After the National Anthem,
the First Sergeant turned us over to our
Senior Drill Instructor to
carry out the plan of the day.
With tears of pride and
joy streaming down our faces,
we heard the Marine Corp Hymn
being played over the loudspeaker…
"From the Halls of Montezuma To the Shores of
I tried to mouth the words but just couldn't. "We fight our country's battles In the air, on land and sea;"
From the corner of my eye, I saw the DI's on my row.
"First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean;"
…I'll never forget when my Drill Instructor
stepped in front of me, congratulated me,
handed me my emblem, and shook my hand.
I will never forget holding that tiny pin that
symbolized huge honor.
Most of all… I will never forget when
he patted me on the shoulder and said…
"Congratulations, "MARINE."
"We are proud to claim the title of
Written by:
Peggy VPMFd Plt.1105
Posted by: darlene r.
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