Took the boy down to the recruiter station on Sunday to his recruiter so he could take him to San Diego MCRD to start his journey of life to man hood . Being a Marine Myself I know how tough marine bootcamp is and at first I was trying to talk him out of the marines and into the air force but he would not have no part of it .he said "dad you are a marine and if i picked any other branch I know you would be dissapointed " and until sunday I didnt belive that but when i hugged him goodbye i felt that bond that fathers and sons have and knew he would do just fine .
yesturday the wife received the robotic phone call from him and she didnt even recognize his voice .he stated that he was there and all was well
she doesnt understand the stress those boys are under and with there voices cracking from that stress it might be difficult to make out here son .
I belive all young adults if they have no ambitions of college should serve in a branch of the military for a couple of years to show these kids how good we got it in the states compared to ther third world countries !
thanks for letting me share my story i will let you all know updates as they come in
SEMPER FI

Tell your son that we are proud of him and we're proud of you too for your service to our great country!

and we say ..... Mister .... Many Thanks !!!!!

Semper Fi back to ya !!!!

Thanks to you and your son.

your son and your family has this entire board's thanks and appreciation.

it makes me feel so proud to be an american when i hear stories like these.

america will make a comeback!!!!!!

best wishes for your son and family from the DA's!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to you for your service, & for instilling the right values in your son.

The bombdude house wishes him well.

Tell your son thanks, and thanks to you also for serving.

well i thought i give ya'll a update on the boys progress . it was great to here him tell me about the shock n awe when they dropped him off to his drill intructors and the maylay started . but despite this the boy has been doing good he cant wait to go out to the field in second phase so he can qualify on the rifle range . is attitude has changed as well i can tell just by his letters (for the good ) not that he was a bad kid just I think nowa days these kids are more worried about cell phones and video games than the important things in life and the Marine Corps will put life into perspective for Sure

well one more week and he'll be marching down the parade deck .Im so pumped up right now I cant stand it ! he received is orders and mos .0621 field sevice communications operator .sounds fancy for a radio humper but he picked it . luckily for me im close to sandiego mcrd so i wil be able to go the day before graduation for family day and visit with him here is a link click on plt. 3255 once you get there and it will play . he's second on left center of the drill instructor
http://www.devildogs.info/Lima%20Company.htm

awesome!!!! i know i am proud to see such great young men make it through and see it till the end. u should be one proud dad!!!!

Semper Fi


signed

River, Inactive Marine

Alpha Company
Plat. 1055(wayyyyyyy back in the day)
MCRD San Diego


And believe it or not, almost 25 years later I can still remember every one of my DI's(names and faces)

well graduation came and went and what a experience and it brought back so many memories hell i wanted to rejoin after talking to a D.I. that is the same age 39 . it was awsome to say the least and gave me much pride for him and all my buds (former marines)that were with me there to see my boy graduate . especially when the announcment came over the PA saying in tradition with the marine corps history and tradition all marines former or active please stand to be recognized ! i was like hell yea ohhrah ! felt good ! THANKS TO YOU ALL ! for your comments were part of a brotherhood here muddin or otherwise Semper Fi
p.s. 20 years ago was for me marching down the parade deck
platoon 1079 bravo co and yes you never forget the di's names !

Semper fi'

Wanted to know how your son's doing....

I spent my 20th graduating booat camp by going back and visiting it.

I was with 1/9 weapons out of Okinawa from 91 to 92, the 1/7 speacial weapons out of 29 palms from 92 to 94.

Love the corps. made me who i am today!

I start my 18th year as a LEO come March...

Tell your son thank you for his service! I shipped out to MDRD San Diego 21 years ago on this very day. Wouldn't change a thing!

Semper Fi!!

Semper fi , cpl 90-94 remember those yellow foot steps, orahh for you and and our new marines
Still think and act like a marine , makes you strong , disciplined and successful
Every young man should go .....
To all our brothers absent and present till the last reville .. Semper fi

Thanks guys for all the kind words. i served 8 years in the corps back when they didnt let the Queer's in!One thing is for sure now that ive been exposed to the new Marine Corps thru my son is that its not the Corps that I knew when i was in! yes granted they have it better in the sense of better gear and such but its not the same sprit De'corps the way i was taught and knew to love!
The boy called me up a few months ago asking me advice on what to do ? as they just had a group battalion meeting saying the CO announced in the meeting that indeed the marine corps was told to thin the numbers due to over recruiting by our super #$**%# prez's defense cabinet and if anyone in good standing whom wanted a (early out) to let it be know to there NCOIC to strart the process! i told the boy " Look you signed up for the commitment and if u want to ever come back to this house welcomed that you'd finish that commitment!" he said yes sir! i told him this is whats wrong with todays society is that no one wants to finish what they start and why should they when noone is made to be held accountable! i told him that the next few months will fly bly and at that time you make the decison about leaving or staying. im sure glad he made the right decisoin!
1st battalion had over 75 marines (some second enlistment marines) take that early out package and guess what they did to those boys!? they F#cked them over by giving them general under honorable conditions discharges! meaning they dont get their benifits like VA, GI bill etc. !! these are sad times were living in when they can offer these young kids early outs and then scew them over! un freaking believable!

Tell ur son thank you! It's a great thing he is doing

Thanks to all out servicemen and women out there.

Tell your son thank you from all of us. He is truly a man among boys for making the choice to become a Marine. I'm sure u are one proud father

god bless your son and all the other sons and daughters who choose to serve.

Thanks to all out servicemen and women out there past and present!

I make it a point to thank (and shake their hand) of everyone in uniform or wearing a hat that states "veteran" or (branch of service) retired.

And it pissed me off to no end when onlookers look at me wierd for doing that simple gesture. Wtf?!?

if he does four years, or 30, he will never regret serving.

Best of luck to him.