Following in Will Deckers Footsteps.

[mnahrgang]

My youngest son just left for Marine Boot camp in San Diego this morning. Couldn't be more proud. Here he is at the swearing in, right before heading to the airport.

[Larry D. Kage]

Many appreciate him...

[Nick Gromicko]

A real American. Very nice Mark.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Good stuff Mark my lad is at tech school and be coming home for a week before going to CO. He is going to the recuriment office for a week and it is in Knoxville a bonus

[John Onofrey]

A fine looking young man. Well done. Semper Fi!

[mnahrgang]

He got there safe and sound. His mom answered the phone last night about midnight when he called and nervously read the script they gave him. Looks like we gave up parenting him to his DI's for about the next 13 weeks. It's going to be a learning experience for us too. Semper Fi apparently has to extend to Mom's and Dad's too.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

He got there safe and sound. His mom answered the phone last night about midnight when he called and nervously read the script they gave him. Looks like we gave up parenting him to his DI's for about the next 13 weeks. It's going to be a learning experience for us too. Semper Fi apparently has to extend to Mom's and Dad's too.

Back in the day we couldn't even call home to let them know we got there. What recruits look forward to the most are letters from home. If his loved ones haven't already sent several letters, they need to get busy! (no joke)

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by jonofrey

Back in the day we couldn't even call home to let them know we got there. What recruits look forward to the most are letters from home. If his loved ones haven't already sent several letters, they need to get busy! (no joke)

We've been told NOT to send anything at all...YET. We're going to get a postcard in the mail in a week or so that has his address. Then we can write letters to him. There's an awesome parent support site for recruit parents (http://www.recruitparents.com/) to help us and help us help him. (I spent about 2 hours there yesterday.) There's even a letter from a gunny sergeant on parental do's and don'ts to help best. Rest assured, he will get letters. I'm sure both his momma and his fiance are on that already.

[Michael Bazzo, CMI]

From all of us here, thank him for his service to this great country

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

We've been told NOT to send anything at all...YET. We're going to get a postcard in the mail in a week or so that has his address. Then we can write letters to him. There's an awesome parent support site for recruit parents (http://www.recruitparents.com/) to help us and help us help him. (I spent about 2 hours there yesterday.) There's even a letter from a gunny sergeant on parental do's and don'ts to help best. Rest assured, he will get letters. I'm sure both his momma and his fiance are on that already.

Times have sure changed. Al Gore hadn't invented the internet or cell phones yet when I was in.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

My youngest son just left for Marine Boot camp in San Diego this morning. Couldn't be more proud. Here he is at the swearing in, right before heading to the airport.

Mark,
From this day forward your son will be included in my daily prayer.
"God,
Please bless our American servicemen and women. Most especially those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries where people would seek to harm them.
Please grant them; courage, faith, clarity of mind, clarity of vision, and quick physical reactions."

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by fcarrio

Mark,
From this day forward your son will be included in my daily prayer.
"God,
Please bless our American servicemen and women. Most especially those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries where people would seek to harm them.
Please grant them; courage, faith, clarity of mind, clarity of vision, and quick physical reactions."

Thanks Frank. I especially like the last 4 words.

[ldapkus]

Mark, thank him for his service. One of the best things to receive after boot camp and throughout his time in the service is home baked cookies

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Thanks to him (and family) for keeping us safe!

[John McKenna]

Congrats