Well - it's finally here. Anyone who has talked to me over the weekend, has heard me say "I'm in complete denial." I cannot believe this day is here - and at the same time it feels like it was yesterday that he left. We fly out tomorrow and we'll see him for the first time Tuesday. Incomprehensible! (in a good way) Please pray for safe travel, a safe, happy visit, and good health! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you - we have SO much to be thankful this year - and will celebrate by breaking - well, probably tacos San Diego style!! Look for lots of great pics in the near future.

Much love and thanks,

Gena

I love my Marine!

Here is more info to explain the Series Honorman Title. It's from a posting on a Marine Parent's website:

Each company is divided into two series, half the platoons in each series. Each platoon has a platoon guide. Toward the end of boot camp, the platoon guides go before an honor board where they are tested and interviewed by the senior drill instructors. The SDIs consider the test scores, interviews, and the guides' overall performance at boot camp, including rifle qualifications and PT scores, and select two of the guides to be series honormen. Of these, one is selected to be the company honorman, the highest honor of the company. The guides are also honormen.

On graduation day, these honormen will wear dress blues paid for by the Corps (though they have to pay for about $100 worth of accessories.) They carry the guidons (platoon flags on staffs) on visitors day and at graduation, and they do several special drills at graduation. During one of the drills, they retire the guidons (pass them to the Senior Drill Instructors) and then are introduced to the audience and given special plaques. Their families are allowed to sit in special seats next to the reviewing stands and the recruiting officers of the series and company honormen are flown in by the Corps for the occasion.

As far as meritorious promotions, any recruit can receive one during boot camp and nearly all of the squad leaders and guides receive them. The company and series honormen are given promotions to lance corporal. The others are promoted to private first class. Just before visitors day, they have a special ceremony during which those who receive meritorious promotions are pinned.

We understood that the meritorious promotions are retroactive to the beginning of boot camp as far as pay increases go, but found out otherwise. It's my understanding that those who have "contract promotions" based on such qualifications as Eagle Scout, ROTC, or college hours, get paid at the higher PFC rate during boot camp but the pay increase for those who receive meritorious promotions during boot camp doesn't kick in until after boot camp.

By the way, these promotions mean not only higher pay but reflect well on the recruit as they advance to further schooling. My son's series honorman was in his platoon at MOS school (in fact, they were roommates) and as lance corporal, he was automatically made class commander. My son is currenctly platoon guide at MOS school but was chosen on the basis of an essay assignment.

I hope this helps and if any of my information is incorrect, that someone will set me straight. Good luck!

A belated happy 231st
Birthday to the United States Marine Corps! Cool tribute, check it out.

Series Honor Man!!!!!!!!!

So much has happened in the last 3 days - I don't even know where to begin.

WEDDING: The girls and I are home after a WONDERFUL weekend celebrating the marriage of Adam's brother Clay to my new sis-in-law Jamie!!!! I love you guys. Wow did we have fun. The girls were perfect flower girls! I was so proud. I didn't see much of the ceremony after I did my reading - and didn't "fully" experience the reception due to the chasing of a goofy little 2-year old ( I think I got a few bites of each course. this was also due to the fact that she had wildly strewn my silverware onto the floor) - but all around we had a blast! We were met with so much accommodation and graciousness that it overwhlemed me (more than once.) Marty, Sammy, Lisa, Mr. Ward, many others who's names I can't remember (sorry!) - your words of encouragement and acts of kindness were highlights of my weekend. Julie & Shane, the DePaulo family - your hospitality and generousity were such a blessing. Kathy and Jerry - I love you so much. You spoil us girls. We are so grateful. I am so fortunate to be considered one of your own. Some of my all time favorite moments were with my dear, sweet mom-in-law laughing hysterically in spite of being lost or late or in the company of crabby children. :-) There were several other classic moments that I can laugh at now - but was very much not laughing at while "in the moment."

Adam's absence this weekend was so evident and verbally acknowledged by countless people. I proudly relayed his current activites more times than I can count. Truly my joy and my privilege. His personality is so magnetic - he really does leave a great void. Praise God we get him back!!! Anyhow - Jamie's Grandad gave the most touching speech. He is a veteran - and his speech was keeping in theme in honoring those who've served. He opened his speech with a thanks to my Adam. I was so honored.

I kept my cell phone glued to my hand and at one point even down the front of my dress (HAH!!!) hoping with all hope I'd get a phone call from the best man.

Both girls danced until they could dance no more!!!

SERIES HONOR MAN
This morning at 0700 I got a call from Adam!!! He earned the spot of Series Honor Man. He told me it was between him and another guy for Company Honor Man (the #1 spot) and it was a dead heat - but the other guy had higher rifle and PFT scores, so that earned the other guy the Company Honorman spot. BUT - #2 out of 300-400 men! I can't tell you how proud I am!!! This guy is beyond amazing.

We got on the road at about 10:00 am and at about 10:30 am I got another call from Adam! Turns out he was granted a phone call to his brother to wish him well, so he called me first looking for his number. WOW! God is good.

So - the girls and I made it back just fine. A record 7 hours. Yay.

MIKE COMPANY WEBSITE
Sometimes I put my website development skills to use and try to use sneaky tactics to get to files that might not be readily viewable - like new versions of the Chevron, or platoon pictures, etc. Well today I thought I'd try that for Adam. Long story short, I googled Mike Company and found a PICTURE OF ADAM!!!! You will not believe how skinny that guy looks. And tough as all get out. So check it out for yourself and tell me if he scared you too! Bryna said, "I like the 'regular' Daddy better." Hah. I told her she'll like him much better once he's got a smile on his face. It's a WMV file - you'll see him at about 2:02 mins into it. Press pause. :-) Enjoy.

TROUBLESHOOTING: If you get a bunch of "gobbledyguk" when you click on the WMV file link above, try this instead. 1.Right click the link "PICTURE OF ADAM" 2. Select "save link as". 3. Save the file to a preferred location on your computer. 3. Open the file from your computer.
Love Gena

PS - I just figured out how to moderate comments - so if you commented and I hadn't put them up there until now, that is why!! Sorry!!

It's election day tomorrow. Don't forget to vote!!!!

Phone call:

I got to talk to Adam today for about 8 minutes. He got to make a phone call home to make travel arrangements for after graduation. It looks like he will try to get on the flight home with us!!! That would be so awesome. He was in good spirits, but his voice sounded awful! I'm sure he just has to do so much sounding off.

He is still guide and will go before the board for Company Honor Man this or next week. He said it's probably between him and one other dude who he called "Robo Man", and evidently is a pretty tough guy. So we'll see. He seemed at peace with whatever, and had a good attitude!

I asked about Pugil Sticks 3, and he told me he did get knocked out on that one. But then found out later that the guy that knocked him out got his head "taken off."

He said the Crucible was a big dissappointement. The Reaper was really hard, but said that the Crucible was "crap." Hah!

The girls got to say hi to him and tell him "I love you!" That was so great. I got off the phone and was shaking. It was just so good to hear his voice. (even though it sounded pretty raspy).

I'm so proud of that guy!!!! He's my hero. I can't wait to see him in just13 days!!!

10/29/06

Gena-

Well it is the first Sunday of 3rd phase. I can no longer go to church because the platoon will do something stupid if I am gone and get us all into trouble. So, I stay here and babysit them all morning. I miss church a lot. I can not wait to go to Two Rivers with you. Maybe I will wear my uniform on that first Sunday back. :-)

I made it through the Crucible!!! It wasn't bad at all. Ther were some pretty demanding parts, but I was expecting harder days. The worst part was getting up on Friday morning at 0200 after a combined two days rest of 5 hours and making a 10 mile hike with full gear and weapons and then doing The REAPER. That was hard. But most of us made it back for our warriors breakfast. It was wonderful, and then we all threw up. We all ate so much that we got sick. I have thrown up too many times here at boot camp. Usually it is from being forced to drink 3-4 canteens of water in 3-4 minutes.

The gas chamber sucked. It was a CS gas. It's like pepper spray times ten. It burned your skin and made you mucus all over. We had to take off our mask three different times for 3-4 minutes each time. We also saw coyotes running around, scorpions, and rattle snakes.

The light has started to appear at the end of the tunnel. It is all I can do to stop from jumping around when I think about seeing you. I hope Livia has a great birthday. Give her a hug and kiss from her long lost dad!!! We are getting our platoon pictures taken on Monday (30th). They should be posted on the website. This week is swim week then team week then finals week then grad.

I got my dogtags yesterday. That is a little step that helps me think time is moving. The only thing wrong with my dog tags is, for religion, it says Lutheran. Oh well!! When you come can you pack 2 pair jeans, 4 T-shirts, 2 pair shorts, BOXERS (4 pair), and my cell phone and charger?

Well I better get going. I love you all and can not wait to see all of you. Make sure we have some good coffee at home. :-) Is the HUB stil open? Just wondering.

I LOVE YOU!!!! xxxoooxxxoooxxxooo

Adam.