OT - Took off after 6 last night, drove straight to Cali...

[AmBraCol]

parked at the airport, walked around, splurged on a Dunkin' Doughnut (not the world's best, but the only "american" doughnut I've seen in ages), watched part of "Miss Universe" and then stood around for a while watching folks arrive from Houston. I love to people watch, humans are fascinating creatures. Anyway, after a while the crowd thinned down and I could move over in front of the door. Saw this weird looking kid in a blue sweatshirt make his way up the line. Looked slightly familiar, but skinnier than ever and purt' near bald... He came on out, hugged his mamma then his dad. For the next two hours we were regaled with a blow by blow account of his adventures at MRDC San Diego. Yep, the Marine has landed and we drove straight home through various downpours with never a dull moment. And he still says "It was TOO easy." Next Saturday we retrace our steps to send him back north. In the meantime, it's good to have him home. He'll be heading out to North Carolina in a month or so for further training. Legal Services Specialist (4421) is his MOS.

And thanks for your prayers and support over the past few months. The kid did us proud.

[kimwcook]

Congratulations. You and the Mrs. must feel pretty proud that your son's made it through the hardest part and he's now a Marine. Thank him for me.

Semper Fi

[RKrodle]

Give him a big pat on the back for me and tell him congratulations.

Semper Fi!


You know, back in the OLD corps.......................................

[gamekeeper]

Congratulations.

[Cliff]

Sounds like it is going to be an exciting week for you and your wife. Has you son mentioned being hungry by any chance. I figure his mama would try to put some pounds on him while he was down there. Nothing like home cooking. Hope he is having a good time it sure goes fast. Thank him for us for his service and enjoy your time together. ATB

[Bruce Scott]

Well done!

[rjohns94]

congrats !!!!

[Griff]

Give him a big pat on the back for me and tell him congratulations....

+1 And a big THANX to you, his Mom and him for his service.

[jeepnik]

Wish him well and Gods speed. He and all the other young men and women serving will be in our prayers. Every now and then I hear some one complain about today's kids. They evidently aren't looking at the right ones.

[Ysabel Kid]

Excellent! Please thank him from all of us for his service to our country!!!

[Jaguarundi]

Congrats !

[C. Cash]

Congrats to your and your son Paul! Glad you got him back safe and sound as well.

[Rusty]

Congratulations Paul.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord.

Proverbs 21:31

[Poohgyrr]

Yup, a big thank you to him, and his folks.

+1 to all the above posts.

[Noah Zark]

Congrats to the proud parents and Semper Fi to the newly-minted Marine.

Noah

[Tom Richardson]

Once upon a time, long long ago, and far far away.

[AmBraCol]

Once upon a time, long long ago, and far far away.

Almost four years exact, down in Tejas. Or, up in Tejas - from our perspective here. That kid in cammo pants now has a wardrobe full of cammo, not to mention his other uniforms... BUT I still outshot him yesterday when we snuck up to the range...

[Tom Richardson]

You out shot the kid?
I think he is still letting you out shoot him just to keep you from feeling too old and decrepit.

[Griff]

You out shot the kid?
I think he is still letting you out shoot him just to keep you from feeling too old and decrepit.

Wish mine would do that... he seems to take some perverse pleasure outta showin' the "old man" up! But then, I take some pleasure in the fact that I taught 'im how!

[handirifle]

That gun looks like a derringer in those hands!

Oh, yea, congrats on finishing boot camp. I KNWO that horrible weather in san Diego had no influence on him.

It WILL spoil you quick though.

[Tom Richardson]

There are some good kids in that photo.
Paul's two boys, the kid in the yellow head set belongs to Farmer and is out in NM blasting away.
The little kid in the background with the blue headset has about ten hogs, a turkey or two, and assorted varmints to his credit this year.
Good kids, good shooters, good parents.
And they are all my friends.
Aren't I the lucky one?
All this from a half blind, hard of hearing, old fat man, living in the wilds of Arkansas.

[AmBraCol]

Thanks for the pics, Tom. That was one really fine time, a great memory for the three of us. Watching my two and Farmer's three go through over 5,000 rounds in one afternoon was a hoot. And they all have their gun handling skills down pat, never a call for worry or a need to call their attention to safety. I only wish I could make it to the CSA more often. Once in 9 years - well, we had fun anyway.

[Tom Richardson]

The man who saw it all.