Monday, September 27, 2010

My Marine (recruit) Monday


Only 1 letter this week, but since it's 6 pages long, I am not complaining.
He is going through some really personal issues (as I can imagine anyone would in 13 weeks of hell) so there is much I am not posting.  But it's fun and interesting to hear the things that he is doing though:

9/9/10
DEAR FAMILY,

WHUS GOOOOOOOOD?!?!
I'M AT CHURCH EARLY AND WANTED TO WRITE YOU GUYS!


THIS LAST WEEK WAS HUGE!   WE HAD THE SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTORS INSPECTION, ALONG WITH INITIAL DRILL! IT WENT REALLY WELL AND I PERFORMED GREAT.
IN BOOT CAMP THERE ARE 3 PHASES.  PHASE ONE IS OVER!  SINCE WE DID WELL AND IMPRESSED SENIOR, WE ARE ALLOWED TO BLOUSE OUR UNIFORMS.  IT'S PART OF SHOWING YOUR TRANSITION INTO MARINE FROM CIVILIAN

THIS LAST WEEK HAS BEEN PRETTY INTERESTING.  I HAVEN'T HAD ANY FRIENDS WRITE TO ME (OTHER THAN 1 OR 2) AND I ALSO REALIZED HOW MUCH SISSY MEANS TO ME NOW THAT I REALLY CAN'T SEE HER.  I'M PLANNING ON TAKING HER TO LAGOON ON LEAVE : )

MOM:  I DECIDED TO WRITE HER A LETTER BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I ENJOYED READING YOUR JOURNAL POSTS YOU WROTE TO ME WHEN I WAS A TODDLER.

.......ANYWAYS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS I TALK ABOUT IN THE LETTERS GET IN TOUCH WITH COLONEL SMITH (O-6) 1 SILVER EAGLE  : )

THERE IS TOO MUCH TO EXPLAIN IN THE LETTER ABOUT SDI INSPECTION, BLOUSING, INITIAL DRILL, SWIM WEEK ETC.  AFTER THIS WEEK, WE HEAD OUT NORTH TO CAMP PENDLETON.  THERE WE WILL HAVE GRASS WEEK, FIELD WEEK AND TABLE WEEK.  I WILL BE SHOOTING MY RIFLE ALOT!

LUKA/TUFFY:  DUDE, YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA HOW AWESOME THE M-16A4 I HAVE IS!  I KNOW IT'S PARTS AND CAN TAKE IT APART AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING.  IT'S SICK!  I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOOT!

DAD:  SOOOOOO BASICALLY MY SKILLS IN ORGANIZING AND DISCIPLINE, ALONG WITH ACCOUNTABILITY ARE GETTING VERY HOMED IN AND GOOD.  I AM SURE I'M ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GETTING AS GOOD AS YOU WITH THIS STUFF.  I'M TRYING TO PROGRESS MY WORK ETHIC TOO.  I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING!  I FEEL VERY PRODUCTIVE.  I LIKE IT ALOT.  I AM IN BED ASLEEP AT 9 AND UP AT 5 EVERY DAY.  QUITE A 180 DEGREE IN SLEEP SCHEDULE.

ALRIGHT, SO I WANNA KNOW....HOW IS SISSY DOING??? WHAT NEW THINGS IS SHE UP TO?  LET HER KNOW HOW MUCH I MISS HER AND LOVE HER VERY VERY MUCH.

LUKA:  HOW IS WORK AND ANY NEW LADIES AROUND?  HAVE YOU TESTED OUT OF YOUR SPANISH CLASSES?  WHAT'S  ALL NEW WITH YOU?

TUFFY:  WHAT'S GOOD BRO?  HOW IS WORK?  FOUND ANY NEW JOBS OR WORK?  HOW ARE THE NEW MOVIES THAT HAVE COME OUT?

DAD;  HOW IS WORK GOING?  HAVE YOU AT ALL BEEN ABLE TO SELL THAT CAR BY CHANCE?  HOW IS FOOTBALL THIS SEASON?  I WISH I COULD WATCH IT!

MOM:  HI MOMMA.  HOW HAS TRAINING BEEN GOING FOR YOU?  THINGS AT WORK GOOD?  I'VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME I'M RUNNING OR PT, I ALWAYS PICTURE DOING IT OR RUNNING WITH YOU AND HAVING YOU PUSH ME.  ALWAYS HELPS!

I RECENTLY JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL GRADUATION DATE AND WE WILL BECOME MARINES A WEEK BEFORE WE GRAD.  I GUESS THE DAY WE BECOME MARINES IS LABOR DAY!  HOW FITTING IS THAT HUH?
OH AND ALSO I FORGOT TO MENTION, THE OTHER DAY DURING PT SESSION WE HAD THE COMMANDANT OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS MAKE A VISIT AND WATCH US.  APPARENTLY THAT IS EXTREMELY RARE!  ASK COLONEL SMITH.

PRETTY MOTIVATING TO SAY THE LEAST.  I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS I WANNA DO WHEN I GET HOME AND CANNOT WAIT!

ANYWAYS, LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL
RECRUIT CATMULL

PS  RECENT PICS AND OLD PICS OF SISSY AND I WOULD BE GREAT!  THANKS GUYS!

I'm thinking the boy has his dates mixed up since we already had labor day.  Maybe his days all just run together.  Not sure what he means by the early graduation when he becomes a Marine, but I am assuming it is the Crucible.

You can bet that we immediately sent off some pictures of his daughter and him with her.  And as for asking the Colonel - yeah we pick his brain as often as we can  : )

Semper Fi

16 comments:

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

That is so awesome!
I can't imagine how tough things must be for that Marine, but you don't learn nothin' on the easy days.

You should be so proud.

HUGS!

" Hit It......." said...

I love the letters you get. I wish they could send pictures (i.e. I miss them not having cell phones).

I will send you pictures from Todd's graduation (via cell phone).

xoxo

Plain Jame said...

Oh that was so good to read. I actually got a little tear in my eye when he said that when he runs he thinks of you running and that it really pushes him. I know - a silly thing to let affect me, but it's personal for me in my life right now.

I'm sure he's kickin ass an takin names. He's yours.

xoxo

Cheeseboy said...

Glad he is doing well. He sounds like definite armed forces material to me.

Missy said...

Crying again. I have been praying for him and your family...

tiburon said...

He sounds like he is doing so well.

You already know how I feel about that ;)

Mamafamilias said...

I'm loving your Marine Mondays. Thanks so much for letting us be a part of your family. I'm starting to feel like I live in your neighborhood or your ward or something (I guess in Utah your neighborhood is your ward and vice versa). Loving it.

Chief said...

He's doin good mama

CB said...

He is a GREAT writer - Not all children, especially boys are like that - You know that right - You are lucky!!!
So glad he is doing so well!!

The Colonel's wife said...

Colonel says blousing is a BIG deal & congratulations!!
It is rare indeed to have Commandant Conway visit! That is ALWAYS thrilling to ANY Marine and family! General Amos will be taking over shortly. Colonel worked under Conway in Iraq and... Amos in IIMEF. Motivating INDEED!!!
We were wondering if it was Veteran's day Corbin might be referring to. The Marine Corps Birthday is Nov 10 and if you EVER get a chance to go, DO IT! The Ball history & presentation always gives me goosebumps and make me very happy to be part of the Corps family!!
Nice letter-- M would you tell him he is on our prayers? And share with him our family motto: "Come what may, it WILL be okay, the BEST is yet to come!"
Semper Fi!!

tha malcontent said...

He sounds like a great young Man. Thanks to him and people like him we will survive this mess.
God Bless Him.
Semper Fi.

tammy said...

I love that you share his letters and thoughts with us. Even though it makes me cry.

Anonymous said...

God Bless him.

Sue said...

He pictures you with him while he goes running??

stop it!!! (wiping tears)

what a sweet letter..carefully addressing each family member

I'm married to a marine.I'm a fan, and do appreciate his service.

BIG HUGS GOING ACROSS AIRWAYS...

Vanessa said...

He will love the cute pics of Sissy in the mud!

Just M said...

Brings back so many memories.
Boot camp I think, is a little more tough mentally. on those that go in later. When he is done, he will look back at it like it was a walk in the park.

He is probably talking about November 11th (Veterans Day) as his special holiday. Graduations are on Thursdays.

I agree with the Colonel's wife about the ball. I love it. My husband actually wants to go this year. It only took me four years to get him to go to one. :)

I will be thinking about him and praying for him.

Semper Fi,

Melanie