Boot Camp / Military Preparation- US Marine Corps / Army / Navy / Airforce

It all started as I entered into the 9th grade.
My parents were divorced and I was living with my older brother and his wife, whom I consider to be like a mother to me. I love them both dearly, as they have always been there for me through the good times and bad.

Going into High Scool I was very athletic, you know; football, track, wresting, etc. But not baseball!, I hated it, Love it now primarily because both of my sons play and beleive it or not I coach them.
I often wondered were my life would take me. Well during my 10th grade year my brother out of the blue, tells me we are moving. OH MY GOD I thought, "I am in my last few years of school and now I have to find new friends, meet new people and prove my atheletic abilities on the fields. I was terrified!
I was at the time working at McDonalds . Had a very good friend named Ricky M. The next day while visiting him at his house, his Mom and Dad confronted me and asked me to move in with them to finish High School at Ontario. They did not realize, but one of my football coaches had already approached me with this same offer. Without hesitation I agreed, ofcourse with the approval of my brother.

Within a few months I was living with who used to be my neighbors and best friend, It was a couple years later I referred to Tom and Jenny as "mom" and "dad". They took me in, fed and clothed me, guided me, and got me through school with grades improving from C's and D's to A's and B's. I was living a dream.

Here goes, Tom was a former Marine and served in Vietnam, his brother was a Master Sergeant in the Corps. Sometimes I felt I owed it to Tom to follow his steps, well I did! I am glad I did!

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Just Before graduation I put in my two weeks notice at my beloved Mcdonalds Job. They actually offered me a managerial position
to stay - I was only 18 years old, man I was close to telling the Marines to go "lay an egg", NOT!

I was so hyped I could hardly sleep at night, Oh yea, and hanging around the recruiter - Man what a BLAST! People would walk up and shake his hand and tell him thanks. I was hanging with a Real Leader!.

On June 18th 1986 I was on my way to Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island South Carolina - OOH RAH!
After the long ride, I arrive at Marine Corps Recruit Depot "Parris Island"
I wish I had read something like Survival Skills Today because I was Scared SH%@less! The Drill Instructors jumped up in the bus SCREAMING their lungs out, OH Man I was wondering what Tom got me into - I thought he is probably at home laughing his A@@ off.

All of us recruits were rushed off the bus, formed into what we all thought was a formation, HA, we were so wrong, maybe we thought that because we had yellow shoe shaped paint markings on the asphalt. We were then filed into a building that had the words "Through these portals pass prospects for America's finest fighting force" (still gives me chills just writting it)written over the entrance.

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In Tennessee
we really do pull off the road and stop for funerals......nobody moves until
the last car has gone by.

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her
nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in
Iraq ):
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on
the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Tennessee
police handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession,
pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some
put their hands over their hearts.

When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large
American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4 H club or something, but it continued . for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls
and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.

The military presence, at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from
every branch of the service, plus the color guard who attended James, and some who served with him . was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness

I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like.

These photos are awesome !!

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST MOVING E-MAILS I'VE SEEN TO DATE .

Chain for our Military...please don't break it

Please send this on. There is nothing attached.... . Just send this to all the
people in your address book.

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Do not let it stop with you,please....