For those who have followed the reports on my sons' Naval career activities, I submit this e-mail from him to me with his permission, after my own thoughts... of course.
"He's more inclined to be a corpsman he thinks, which is like a medic."
That, I wrote and published here February 22, 2011, soon after I reluctantly signed the parental consent form for him to join.
As they say, well, time flies. He's now 18 (and a half... the halves matter when you're that age)- made it through boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and is due to graduate "A school" in San Antonio, Texshus the 15th of March.
As you will read below, he is, by his own choice, to be "attached" to a Marine division as Hospital Corpsman.
My worst nightmare.
YES, I am glad you have a job! But...
Why not just cruise around on a nice safe boat, son? Why ya gotta be the "devil doc?" The Marines? If I had known this is where it would end up I don't think I would have signed that bit of paper last February. Yeah, you would have just done it anyway on your birthday... and now.. the deal is done. No sense looking back.
You say Okinawa has clear blue waters-- fine fishing, a tropical paradise of sorts. I say what about the damned radiation?
The Navy wouldn't have our guys there if there was radiation, you say back. You have more faith in them than I do!
Radiation or not, you think maybe I could come visit if I can wing the transpo? I can imagine it, you and me: maybe scuba dive the coral reefs and go for a day charter (for three eyed fish- sorry!). Rent bicycles and tour the island, eat some sushimi imported food, tip a few Sapporo's... catch some of those famous sunrises.
Breathing here... in.. out.. I'm cool-
In no small measure, I am as proud of you as a man as I am worried as a father. You know I'm not exactry (exactry, ha... one of few Japanese words I know) pro-military, but today I got wet eyes listening to the short audio clip you texted of you "singing" the march cadence, the rest of the bunch echoing. And now, you're color guard too!
Yeah, I'll be down in March to watch you spinning the rifle at your graduation. If I cry like John Boehner reflecting on his humble beginnings as a janitor, on sixty minutes, please do forgive me.
And we will drive home together to the land of OZ, once again, before you leave me forever- to grow old!
Huh? Ok, OLDER!
Then, I'll try not to worry that Iran is just a short hop from Okinawa. I say try...
I'd rather you be bored in Okinawa than invading Iran, or wherever the war machine bastards 'in charge' decide to send the HOORAH bunch of ya next.
Yes, you named me beneficiary of a good sized life insurance policy "in case you get greased" but, should that happen, I doubt I'll be around long enough to spend the money. Get my drift?
So be careful!
Please!!
Think maybe I could have a little half you, half Japanese grandbaby?
scanned photo from 1999, or... 2000?
home for Christmas 2011 with friend Stephanie.... note, same pup
Mata ashita Eli
Drafting up an email concering work as an HM-8404, as promised.
to explain the words I use when I use them. If you aren't tracking at
any point, just text me.
8404 is the NEC (naval enlisted classification code) I'll earn
after completing Field Medical Training Battalion at the USMC's Camp
Pendleton. NEC's denote a sailor's subspecialties in his rate that he
is qualified to do. A basic corpsman is an HM-0000, or quad zero,
which in many people's eyes, is the slacker's NEC. All a quad zero is
really qualified to do is run sick calls, do paperwork, and give out
Motrin when people have a headache. They head straight from A-School
to their next duty station with all the medical training 14 weeks can
provide. You can go to C-schools to get other NEC's, but I don't wanna
wipe asses and take X-rays for a living.
FMTB is where quad zeroes go to becomes 8404s. The name for 8404 is officially Field Medical Service Technician, but the 8404 corpsman has way many more names than that; Doc, FMF Corpsmen, Devil Docs, whatever.
around corpsmen, but you can definitely see the difference between
corpsmen that have gone to FMTB and served with Marines and the
corpsmen that don't. The scary little black lady I had for an RDC in
boot camp was FMF, and while she was a complete psychopath, that chick lived, breathed, and sweated motivation. Some of the corpsmen at
receiving medical were 8404s, and they just carried themself in a
confident way. That kind of stuff leaves an impression on you, I
haven't met an FMF corpsman yet that didn't have character and
personality to spare. That's what I want for myself, you know?
Back to FMTB... we receive training at Camp Pendleton in San
Diego, where we learn land navigation, hand to hand combat, rifle
marksmanship, weapon skills, battlefield medical treatment (IVs,
tourniquets, putting people's guts back in, stuff like that), and lots
and lots of physical training. We wear the Marine Corps' uniform while
we're there, and take their physical readiness tests. A big part of
earning our Marine's respect as a corpsman is living up to what they
do. You won't be the sailor that makes the Navy gay if you can
outshoot and outrun your own Marines. If you don't walk, talk, and do
things like they do, they won't trust you and defend you like they
would if you did. If you can prove to them that you'll do everything
you can do to stand between them and death, they'll do the same for you.
That's the way it's been for a hundred years, since WWI.
Okinawa is going to be f**king FUN. It still hasn't finished
sinking in yet that I'll be there, but I'm going to make it the time
of my life. My instructors say a lot of 3 year second class petty
officers come from Medical Battalions, so it's a good move for my
career as well. Medical Battalions can deploy on MEUs (Marine
Expeditionary Units) which are the ships full of Marines that are
constantly floating and on the ready to pound any shoreline in the
world into submission. Not only will I be living in Okinawa, I could
go on Pacific cruises to places like Hawaii, Thailand, Singapore, Hong
Kong, Yokosuka, Malaysia, and Australia.
Okinawa has some of the best fishing, diving, beaches, and
sunrises in the world. Fact.
Since duty with a MEU is a possibility, this qualifies as a sea
command, meaning I can take a "shore" command later on after my stint
in Oki is over. I could go back to San Diego, South Carolina, New
Orleans, Kansas City (as a recruiter), and pretty much any other
stateside command where the Navy is. I'll make an extra 600 dollars a
month living in Okinawa, that I intend to save.
Here are some links to some pictures related to this whole thing.
The fish of Okinawa - http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/image/1468443
A gallery of pics - http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/images_of_okinawa&page=all
Corpsmen wearing Marine Corps uniforms -
http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/13/87/79/34/09032710.jpg
http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/13/87/79/34/32zl3q10.jpg
Corpsmen graduating FMTB -
http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/fmtbwest/FMTBW/graduation%20pic.jpg
The warfare pin I want -
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3008/2775663417_f199e62a20.jpg
A couple photos of Okinawa -
http://www.google.com/search?q=okinawa+japan&hl=en&safe=active&gbv=2&tbm=isch&source=lnt&tbs=isz:l&sa=X&ei=cG4bT_jsGIihtweg0_iZCw&ved=0CBAQpwUoAQ
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Comments
back in the morning ... I IZ TIRED.. old you see
I'm proud of them but....first to go, first to die....we'z no want that, no matter how awesome it is to show your war face. Showing war face is awesome when you playing war, not actually fighting a war!!
PFFFT!! Anyways, Semper Fi, Do or die!! Hurrah! Hurrah!
Again, HE BETTER LIVE THROUGH THIS STUFF...and bring me home one of them Japanese girls, I hear they do wonders for the feet!!! :D
Remember, radiation sickness might sound like fun when you read about it on the Internet but...trust me, your ball hairs never grow back!! And if you want grandbabies, well.....DON'T GO ELI!!! :D
Use the force Luke!
That has got to be tough. Mine are daughters so I have different worries. Stay strong, even if the rumors are true and you're a pussy.
Oh yeah, that reminds me, apparently it's the same rule in Japan, tell Eli, they have to want to drink the vodka that fast, can't force it!! ~nodding~
All good did I interupupt you in an argument with yourself?
@Tinkerertink69
I think you should challenge that restraining order if he doesn't want to drink copiously he needs to get out of politics.
Wait, or was that a Michael Jackson video I'm incorporating into my own life story?
Could be!!
~forces a life turtle into nana's jockstrap~ FEEL DA LOVE!!! ~smoochies~
A word of advice, when dealing with mayors it is always advisable to have a good supply of hookers and cocaine. As Marion Berry and Reggie Drew have shown us it is like kryptonite to them
~smooochies~
It's one that's alife. Try to keep up.
~wanders off to finish it~
(I think I meant, a live turtle, but I could be wrong!)
Newt Gingrich is my new best friend. About 3 hours ago, he sent me an email that said, I WANT YOU TO BE MY NEW BEST FRIEND....
And I replied, WHO'S THE GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY?
Cause that was my question in Trivial Pursuit and I don't know and my Google is busted.
Nothing worst than a broken Google!
And peeing blood.
Does this look infected to you?
ME TOO!!!
Green's not the natural color of most penises, unless you're a frog, and even then, do frogs even have penises?
I wish my Google wasn't busted!!!
Eli, if you're reading this, COME HOME SOON, YOUR UNCLE AND DAD ARE LIKE MISSING...UH...WHAT'S MY NEXT LINE...OH YEAH...YOU!!!
PeanutLicker!!
Peyote and penis fish? If I knew it was that kind of party i would have stuck my dick in the mashed potatoes.
http://open.salon.com/blog/tinkerertink69/2012/01/25/youre_beautiful_how_i_climbed_a_mountain
:D
PENIS FISH LICKERER!!! ~screams at the mirror on the closet door~
If good thoughts and prayers mean anything, you can be sure you've got a lot of them coming your way for him...~r
and David is right. Those in his squad will protect him wiith their very lives.
God bless.
Tears so early. dammit.
He has focus and knows what he wants, he will continue to make you one proud Papa!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fleet_Activities_Yokosuka
although right now he is out at sea somewhere he can't mention until he returns to Japan.
I wish your son well...the marines crap!
Looking forward to future notes and pics!
May your son stay safe.
Sorry I missed the party
Seems I'll have hard time keeping up with individual responses. Been getting better at that lately, but still suck. I'm bad.
But yes I read and appreciate every one.
Eli reads my blog too. Night before last he texted
me while on guard duty
said
"Dad, I think I need one of those weird 'tricks' to sleep..
Yeah, he's .... lonely
My point. He'll read this... so thanks to all
Writes pretty good to don't he!
but jesus, Japan? :( If he wants children, it might be smart of him to bank sperm now....course that's any military person.
My Dad went through all of that, too, when he left me in Indiana to move to Texas, and my younger sister was really sad when I went to England for two years, though she got over that when she got a new boyfriend. The most impactful two years, BTW. Definitely go see him. He might even be able to swing a military transport for you, if they still do that for family members. He will have an incredible time over there and come back to you a new person whom you will love just as much, if not more, than you do this version. Hugs to everyone. And I don't hug just anybody...
And scary... dammet
Best to learn 'Tsunami' in Japanese. WTF as well.
You'll both be in my thoughts.
Good luck and blessings to you and him.
r
Wow! To say you want to have character means you already have it. He's an impressive man to have that desire so young and I have great respect for him. You should be incredibly proud of Eli, he's very special.
I know how deeply he is loved, and I pray he is surrounded by angels. I pray he is kept from harm no matter where he goes.
Eli sounds mature for his age and very clear-headed. You done good with him. And you done damn good with this post.
Yeah he's a good kid, with a plan and motivation; character and personality to spare-- might even say a born leader. He has so many friends that look up to him. Many if not most of those friends stuck here in town don't have much at all going on for themselves. As it stands with the economy which is not my damned fault, and poor planning, which is.. I couldn't have sent him to college, even on a full ride there would have been more expenses than I could deal with. So, as it works out, he'll have the opportunity to get that degree to go on top of what he learns in the service...
Thanks very much to all of you, sincerely and from the bottom of my heart.
for Eli... (Navy Seal hostage rescue in Somalia last night)
Thanks again for the fabulous response and the private mails!!