Today we received out first letter from Warren. It is a good day. It is good to at least know that our recruit is alive and kicking (although we didn't get a photo with Warren holding a copy of today's newspaper). We also received a letter from his DI, it was a form letter and contained nothing really new to us. In this blog, I will incorporate snippets from his maill so you can get a flavor of what he is experiencing. I will not recite the letter line for line since that would violate the parent-recruit code and could lead to discipline at a later time. I will write his notes in quotes and italics so you can know it's from him. I'll edit the spelling mistakes (damn you spell check, generations of kids that can't spell...hope you feel good about that). Anyhow, the letter was dated Tuesday 14/24/06.
"Receiving week was easy, no PT just walking around getting gear and stuff. Today was training day 1, which sucked epicly. Oh, we got a few shots, one of which was for TB (tuberculosis) and this RCT (meaning Warren) got put on meds for 9 months!!!! That is only to prevent because this RCT has been around in Asia. Forming Day 1 the DIs "tornadoes" our stuff (foot locker) if it was unlocked. Hunt (this is his buddy Logan) and I are rack mates."
"I'm the "crack dealer". I pass out all the drugs. Just for that I get messed with every day all day. Tell everyone that I'm doing ok. Motivation is hard to find, but keep eyes on the prize . Two ways off the Island, Die or Graduate. Tell people to write me."
"The toilets are called shooters (without the o's). We have had to do many Up Downs before this with our DIs. Receiving ones were nice but these not so much.......I've lost my voice and it cracked several times. We start real PT tomorrow along with more classes. The food is GREAT and church is really, really good. Chow-to-chow, Sunday-to-Sunday. Write back soon"
We have been writing to Waren since he left but we suspect they are holding back the mail from the recruits. We only have 2 data points to support that but I would suspect this is part of the indoctrination and conversion from civilian to recruit. That being said, please continue the letters. I am sure when he starts to receive letters he'll understand and it will be a lift to his spirits. It's a little tough to understand but I know they are doing what needs to be done. You don't want to see your child go through this but we have to let go and just be there. When he starts getting mail, I think that will help us feel better because they make it appear to him that we aren't there or don't care. I think he knows it isn't the case but his mind will play tricks in that environment. Hopefully they'll give him the mail real soon.
Speaking of which, here is yet another updated address;
Rct. DUDLEY, Warren J
3rd RTBN PLT 3064 CO M
Box 16355
Parris Island, SC 29905-6355
Replace the previous address with this one (I'll need to make more labels). Now back to the letter.
Funniest thing (besides the "crack dealer" and toilet note) is he signed the letter RCT. DUDLEY, Warren J.
Reading between the lines, he is struggling but that isn't unusual. He knows he has to keep moving forward. I am very happy that he and Logan are rack mates, since they know each other and I believe they will work as a team and help each other out. They will need to keep each other motivated and I believe when the letters arrive it will be the lift that they (and all of the other recruits) will need to help them as they work hard to adapt to recruit life.
Thanks to everyone for your support, keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Keep writing to let them know they are not forgotten and that we support them.
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