Letter from RJ...recieved 4-28-08

This time is came right out of mailbox...instead of side of the door!

RJ letter's:

Thanks for the motivation and the excuse. A lots of people got a laugh out of it. (Make me wonder what did I say to him in other letter..hummm)
I have a 4 miles ruck (<~~~ huh ?) today. I am not looking forward to that at all but I get to fire some awesome weapons today. I can't received any packages and make sure everyone know about that so don't go spending a lot of money but I am out of envelops. I used up my last one to mail this off and I can receive those in the mail so If you can get the word out because I won't be able to mail more without envelops. I think Justin is bringing me some envelopes on Sunday but I write a lot.
This week has been pretty much shoot and blow up things. I'm so tired and when you are so sick. They don't care there is no bed rest here. For my letters, I keep them all and I read some daily and the others once a week. My eyelids are getting so heavy but If I close them. I get an article 5 (unsure that mean). I weight 206 pounds when I came in here that was naked now with my ACI (ARMY COM PAT UNIFORM..CAMEO). I weigh 192 pounds. My arms have gotten bigger. I am happy. Oh tell everyone that they will get letters when I get envelopes. It's so freaking hot here. I am sunburned all over my face and neck. It's ok It will get tan soon. Rod, Jill and kids have been writing to me. It's great! After ruck (?..track..not sure what he mean), we camp out and do some night shooting that going to be fun. Oh I could use another book of stamps if possible or just envelops.

(He seem out of mind and so tired while writing as repeat some few words..poor kid)

I will be getting RJ's boxes of envelops and two books stamp.

Letter from RJ..recieved 4-26-08

First of all, I went out to get mails out of mailbox and feeling sad nothing from the boys. Later today, I heard something like a doorbell but didn't check it out because I was kinda middle of something and no one was home but me.

When I was about to leave the house and there was a letter stick into the side of the door when I open the door and it went down on floor and saw RJ name on it. Whoa, it must of gotten mix up with other person's mailbox and left it here for the right addresses!

Here RJ's letter:

His date written April 14th, 2008..Mail stamp on 19th and I got it yesterday on the FLOOR from the DOOR!

I'm great! I can't wait to get out to see family..(small mushy stuff in letter about Emily). Basic is tough but still fun! I'm doing First Aids this week. Next week, I get to shoot my rifle that will be alots of fun. Sorry it's taken so long to write you . I thought, I did! (thing he share with me about emily..good part and how much he love her)
It's the best I have 14 more days! (I don't get it as he put more days) I beleive tomorrow I will have 3 weeks of basic complete. I heard you talked to Emily a lots now. Well, in fact I heard that alot of family talk to her. That make me very happy. I just wrote hope about me and Emily. I 'm going to tell Justin sunday (which he did as Hope got it post about Justin's letter earlier). I wonder how he is taking it. I heard also that you and dad are sharing information that makes it a lot easier on me and Justin. I 'm so glad that the family is taking a part in this. I know a lot of people's family aren't and it drives me more knowing my family is. Ahhhh, can't wait till this is all over with. I really hope I find time to do everything I need to. Sorry to cut this letter short but I have to go and I love you and tell everyone I love them and that I say THANKS!

Lillian's letter to the boys.

Dear U.J/U.RJ,

I want to tell U.J/U. RJ about the hamburger slide. I climbed into the car. I am building some crayons.

[* Hamburger slide is a play structure at McDonalds. They also have a car you can climb into. And building crayons means laying them next to each other.)

Question of the week:
M- Did you play with the train set with Clark? [a friend of Lillian's]
L- Uh-Huh - Clark is sleeping and I went Vrooommm!
M- Did we go to the park?
L- No I want to go to the park.
M- Remember we already went to the park and saw lots of your friends.
L- No! I don't like friends.
M- You don't like any of your friends?
L- I found a worm and he went into a big, big hole. I found a worm with Amalea and we gave it to Abinadi.
M- I thought you didn't like your friends.
L- NOOOO! I don't like friends. I just want to color now.

Letter from RJ (once again several days ago)

Dated 4-20-08

"I'm alright, ready to go home but not really. I hate this place half my platoon doesn't like me most of them are immature I swear one of them going to pay attention this week and someone is going to get shot"

[clarification: I think he was alluding to because someone would be goofing off and accidently shoot himself. Not that RJ was going to shoot somoeone]

"Boot camp is like no sleep you hear swearing every 25 seconds or no stop swearing, people yelling all the time. One day you have friends the next day you have none. People being dumb it's annoying."

"The food here isn't that bad. I had king crab legs last week, along with some really good ribs."

"Today I shot the 50 calliber live rounds. I shot up a tank and it was great. I also shot the Mark 19 (grenade launcher) we got to use live rounds for that. It was basically a flash-bang. On Wed. I get to shot the rocket launcher that's going to be lots of fun. Next week it's all about M16. I am going to get my expert marksmenship badge."

"I also get to eat a real dinner not a 5 min. chow. A real dinner with the Colonel. That will be great."

"Seeing Justin helped me a lot on Sunday because he makes me feel like I'm a human being"

Letter From Justin (Several days ago - oops)

So we got these sometime last week, but life has been entirely too busy to sit and blog.

Excerpt's from the letter:
"Just to set the scene for you, right now I am in the Latrine sitting on the crapper. It's like clockwork, about 10 mins after every meal everyone is in the latrine fighting for stalls. I'm smart, I put my toliet paper in my pocket so I can run straight to the latrine after chow and wait till it hits me. It's funny because the guys will peek through the cracks or look over the dividers to see who it is and tell them to hurry and I'm sitting there writing and laughing at them."

Well ummm I don't see scenes like this on the army commercials where they attempt to show you how much your child has matured!

"Most of us (they guys in my platoon) get along pretty well so it's fun. we start to get most of our privledges when we qualify with our M16's so when we do freetime will be much better. we will have a radio and get to lift and stuff. We start our M16 shooting tomorrow. It's 2 weeks long so I'm not sure at which time we qualify. Hopefully we get a 4 hour SandHill Pass. Sand Hill is the part of Ft. Benning we are on, it's pretty big. When we get it we can go get milkshakes, go to the arcade, pretty much do whatever. After qualifying we are allowed to order pizza for dinner the next day! The company next to us got theirs yesterday, it was rough watching them eat pizza. DS also said that when we go down to the riffle range we can get food from the "Veteran Van". I guess it's some Vietnam Vetran who drives around selling food to privates and the DS allow it if we are good. The guy is nice so I hear, he tells stores and takes IOU's.

"Weekends are pretty boring now. We are out of Red Phase AKA "total Control" where DS are always next to you yelling at you. So now Sat. after training usually about lunch time all but 1 of them go home and don't come back till Monday. But we don't have very many privledges yet so we have to sit and do nothing all weekend. We can't leave the bay, sit on our beds, sleep or do anything really. I am leaving for church in about 20 mins. though."

"I just got back from Church, RJ was there. First thing he told me was that he is engaged. The I talk to him about how things are going........He is going to start shooting this week so he will enjoy it more....."

"....Everyone is doing a countdown, we have 32 days left of basic. After basic is our 52 hor pass then AIT then graduation. We are on week 5."

"I just found out I can have my vehicle after graduation!! I'm really excited. After graduation it will be like a normal job, train at day go home (wherever that is) at night/evening. At least for airborne. So I will probably buy a laptop and stuff. I'm not postive but I will probably have someone drive my jeep here for graduation. I can't wait to have freedom."

"I have a couple of friends here that I am getting pretty close to. We are all SF so we will spend a lot of time together. We are thinking about getting a place together after graduation. We all want to get a motorcycle too. I most likely won't but it would be fun. Just so you know we recieved 2 new privates so it's 57 not 55."

Packages send to Justin and to his Troops!

I have send out packages of treats and this is what I did to make joke out of each candies: ( I might do the same for RJ when his time comes)

To the Army Boot Camp Troop~

Here is the meaning in each candies names which you can always remember the joke about the Boot Camp you all have been through...

Not each candies are in each bags but there are some in different bags.

Sweet Tart-Nerds-Jaw Breakers-WarHeads-Airheads-Lemonhead-Super Bubble-Swedish Fish-Bazooka Gum Pops-Laffy Taffy-Smarties-Dum Dum Gum Pop-Sour Patch Kids-Shockers

Dear Nerds, (Troops)

I hope you are being a smartie when playing with the bazooka but don't use it to hunt Swedish fish.

I have heard you sergeant can be a jaw breaker, but don't be shocked (Shocker) if a dum dum (-gum pop) steps out of line.

Don't be a lemon head or sour patch kid, be warhead and be strong.

Once your in a Super Bubble at the end of your camp, you boys can start laffy taffy at all the news troops that come in.

I'm sending you a sweet heart (-tart) to keep you airheads in line.

Hope you enjoy your treat!

Truly, Justin's Mother!!

Mid-Cycle Pass Information for both Justin and RJ

At the end of the ninth week of training for your Soldier, Soldiers may be granted a mid-cycle pass. During this pass, Soldiers will be released to family and friends from friday morning through Saturday evening.

Justin: May 23rd to 24th
RJ: May 30th to June 1st

The mid-cycle pass begins after a 9:00am briefing in the 1-19 Battalion classroom. Soldiers that do not have any visitors are still allowed to take the pass in buddy teams with other Soldier's families or with groups of other Soldiers. As with any other pass, the mid-cycle pass is a privilege that a soldier may loose; please confirm your Soldier is authorized to go on pass before traveling here.


Justin's:

Turning Blue Ceremony: 11 am on June 26th at Kanell Field. The 1-19 IN Battalion Commander will conduct an orientation briefing for families and guest at 9:30am in the 1-19 Battalion Classroom located at 9075 Holcomb Drive. You will meet my Senior Drill Sergeants from each platoon and me. After the briefing, all guests are directed to Kandell Field for the actual Turning Blue Ceremony. Upon completion of the ceremony, Your Soldier is released to you for the remainder of the day (all Soldiers must return to the company area no later than 8:00 pm. that evening).

Graduation Ceremony: 9am on June 27th at Kanell Field. Graduation ceremonies begin promptly at 9am. Upon completion of the ceremony, Soldiers march back to the company area for final outprocessing and receipt of their graduation certificates. Guests are allowed to either walk or drive to the Ballalion area while waiting for their Soldier. It is vitally important, that all vehicles are kept to one designated side of the road. Once your Soldier receives his packet, he receives a final briefing from his Drill Sergeant and is then released to you.


RJ's:

Turning blue Ceremony: July 2nd at 11:30 am at Kanell Field
Graduation Ceremony: July 3rd at 9:00 am on Kanell Field
Both of RJ's Ceremony is the same way as it explain on Justin's information but time and date are different!

You might need to click on picture for enlarger view below,,,,