Warren to Marine

Last week was a very important week, one that we have been working towards for 13 weeks (with a little help from Warren).  Warren has graduated from boot camp.  We went to Parris Island last Tuesday on our long awaited vacation to see our new Marine. 

 

Wednesday 9/10 – This was a day for us to get on the island and get a feel for the surroundings.  We headed on to the island about mid-morning and after an initial “don’t take pictures of the main gate” moment, we headed out over the marsh (and there is a lot of it) on to Parris Island.  When they say there is only one way off the island, I think they are right.  I don’t know who would believe that they could make it through the marsh and wildlife but some obviously think it is possible.  [We did learn from Warren that as soon as they got to the main gate, they had to put their heads down so they would not see where they were going and get some idea of how to get out.  It’s another part of the dis-orientation that quickly introduces the recruits to how life is going to be for the coming weeks.]  We signed in at the Visitor’s Center and were able to see for the first time Warren’s picture wearing the dress blues (not to be confused with the Army dress blues).  It was just a small circle cutout no glasses, just the stare and look of a Marine (tired but determined).  His face seemed a little more chiseled but that was our son (at least I believe we would have been able to pick him out of a lineup).  Outside there were a line of cars in the parking lot adorned with window paint indicating they were going to get their Marine (just like we had on our windows).  We walked out to the parade deck to take pictures and watch some drill practice from a platoon of young female recruits that were on the parade deck.  The most interesting thing was that on our way out from the parade deck we were standing by the road discussing what we wanted to do next.  A DI walked past us and asked if we were there for graduation.  We told him yes, he asked the platoon.  We said 3064 and he asked the recruit’s name.  We told him and he said, Dudley is mine, he is a good kid.  We thanked him and he went about his business.  We laughed about Warren getting teased from his DI that he “met your momma” today.  It was very nice to hear something about Warren from his DI, although he may have just been being nice (but we choose to believe otherwise).  Then we headed down towards the Mike Company area just in case our Marine was around (but no dice).  We listened and watched other platoons waiting to see a “DI moment” like the movies but we didn't really witness much regarding that (darn it!).  Then it was on to the museum, which was interesting to read and see the history of the Corps and the Island.  We then took a quick trip to the MCX to get our graduation gear (or more stuff than we had).  Now that place had just about everything you could ever want that had the Marine logo attached.  We did get some shirts to add to the collection but unfortunately that was about all we could get since we would need a Marine to get much of the other items in the store.  Was it cheaper?  I don't know; it really didn't matter at that point since we weren’t looking at the prices but were trying to find stuff we wanted.  We then headed off to a 1 hour briefing about what happens with our new Marine after boot camp.  It was 2:30 when the briefing was over and we were pretty much done for the day but we decided to walk by the parade deck one more time just to see if our Marine was anywhere to be found.  There were a bunch of parents/families milling about but nothing was really happening so we decided to get a few more photos at the far end of the deck (DI statue, purple heart memorial) and head home.  We then noticed a group of young men marching up the street, we looked at the flag at the front, it was 3064!  It was odd because the “crowd” of parents/families that were milling were looking and saying which platoon and it was being passed on down the street of onlookers.  We looked and did see Warren and I headed to where they would be crossing the street so I could get my pictures of the young man we hadn’t seen in 13 weeks (did I say that before?).  I did get several photos as they ran across the street and headed up the sidewalk, I thought he had seen me but he told me later he had not.  The entire group of platoons with the 9/12 date were there for graduation practice (and practice).  We decided after the time we saw him and it was time to go, let graduation be a surprise rather than watch them practice.  We were also aided by the fact that we hadn’t eaten since breakfast and we were hungry and hot.  Sitting around under the sun watching them practice didn’t seem to be the best thing for us at that time so we headed back to the house to wait on others to arrive.