Lady Leatherneck - Graduation 08-07-09

Posted By: Erica R.

Once my platoon became Marines, we rated to sing the Lady Leatherneck song, which ALL women marines have sung... and our platoon as well as our sister platoon 4022 added words to it. So we came together as a series and sung it on the way to our graduation.

Ahhhh....

1 - Here come's 4th battlion

2 - Papa Company

3 - 4023

4 - And we're finally free

1 - It's

2 - About to

3 - Go

4 - Down

1 2 3 4... United States Marine Corps... Ooh Rah! Devil Dog... Aaaaaattaccckkk!

We are women Marines, and we march with pride.

We march shoulder to shoulder and side by side.

On our left, our left... Hall-ee... Hall-oo...

On your left, your right, your left, your right... you better know.

It's your left ladies, your left foot strikes the deck.

It's your left foot ladies, your left, your right, your left.

We march to the Chow Hall, we march everywhere.

We march shoulder to shoulder to show that we care.

On our left, our left... Hall-ee... Hall-oo...

On your left, your right, your left, your right... you better know.

It's your left ladies, your left foot strikes the deck.

It's your left foot ladies, your left, your right, your left.

We came here as babies, and now we're lean and mean.

And we are leaving this Island as Women Marines.

On our left, our left... Hall-ee... Hall-oo...

On your left, your right, your left, your right... you better know.

It's your left ladies, your left foot strikes the deck.

It's your left foot ladies, your left, your right, your left.

Stop look and Listen, we are the lady leathernecks.

Mighty, mighty leathernecks.

1...

2...

3...

4...

Stop look and Listen, we are the lady leathernecks.

Mighty, mighty leathernecks."

I'm Off

Well, my plane leaves first thing in the morn... on my way to Erica's graduation... I'm excited and nervous. My baby girl has grown up!! Can't wait to see her and meet all my new family.. all the wonderful moms I met through Parris Island's web site. We all had something in common and our girls did it, it was tough but they pulled through. I will try if possible to get photos posted when I get there.....keep up the prayers for us to have a safe journey there and back..

Darlene

Erica's next step

After Miss Erica's Ten day leave, its off for more training....

to MCT (Military Combat Training)

at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for 21 days.

http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/soi/mct2/index.shtml

From here on out all her training will include the Men

only separate barracks.

Just a little information.

I will update you about graduation soon.

Cant wait to see her,

every mom I talked to their daughter's were either shy

or all business.

I found out the pot luck is for the girls to

exchange information

before they go their separate

ways home then to training,

they will all go to MCT but

not necessarily in the same platoons there.

I will keep you posted....

darlene

Cant wait till she's home

photo removed

posted by : darlene r.

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.

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.