Fish Stories: Boot Camp Graduation, Leave, and Back Again

I've been procrastinating on writing this post. A blog post is not supposed to be a dissertation or lengthy exposé. I've read some of those, and they are usually only interesting to the author. So in the words of Inigo Montoya (Princess Bride - 1987),

Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

Al and I traveled to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for David's graduation from boot camp on May 11. We stayed at Depot Billeting (temporary housing that they open to families during graduation weeks.) I would highly recommend it, not because of the posh accomodations (they aren't) but because we experienced so much more than we could have otherwise. We caught our first glimpse of Bravo Company on Wednesday evening. Just knowing that David was somewhere in the midst of that 300+ strong group of men was exciting. We were almost the only civilians wandering around the base and were able to get some great photos without the throngs of people who arrived on Thursday.

Thursday was Family Day. It began with the traditional Motivational Run (a.k.a. Moto Run.) The new Marines ran 4 miles in perfect cadence while family and friends lined the parade deck and cheered them on. It was our first glimpse of David. He looked serious and strong. Later that morning the company was dismissed for 6 precious hours of on-base liberty, during which we spent some of the most enjoyable hours of my entire life with our new Marine. We heard boot camp stories, went shopping at the PX, ate lunch AND dinner (man, that boy can eat!), spent an hour or so in our room while he made phone calls to friends and siblings, and toured the base. As we watched him walk back to his barracks for the last night of boot camp, we knew that our little boy had turned into a man.

Graduation Day was non-stop pomp and circumstance. Three months of drill practice displayed itself in perfect precision as Platoon 1029 led the company onto the Parade Deck. The MCRD Marine Corps Marching Band provided the perfect patriotic atmosphere.

There are simply no words for the emotions. Pride, yes, but inching very close to Awe. Intense patriotism. Gratitude - for the Drill Instructors who performed near miracles in the lives of these young recruits, and to God for guarding their safety. Humility - in witnessing such tradition and symbolism we became somberly aware that the Marine Corps is something far bigger than the sum of the soldiers that comprise it. Camaraderie - we were welcomed over and over into the Marine Family - and we felt it.Other parents and spouses became instant friends.

There are rare days in the course of life that are so perfect they make all of the other ordinary, mundane, and even miserable days worth it. These were two such days. And then we took Pvt. David J Miedema home for 10 days of well-deserved leave.

Someday, when you see David, ask him to tell you about:

3 a.m. firewatch
Packing into the 'rain room' in their tighty whities
Sick bay
Getting IT'd
The correct posture for eating
Countdowns
Being 'fired' from managing the 'whisky closet'
Climbing the Reaper
60 second showers
The gas chamber
Shirt stays
A trip to the hospital after completing the Crucible (fortunately, no body parts were lost)

I'm sure those are the mom-friendly stories, but they were enough for me to know that boot camp is a life-changing experience and that it is absolutely true that every Marine remembers the names of his Drill Instructors to his dying day.

David is back at Camp Pendleton California for Marine Combat Training. He will be there until June 19, when he will go to his assigned Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he will be trained to be an Engineer Equipment Operator.

There is much more to tell, but I will let the photos do the talking.