My Son The Marine
My Son, The Marine
Look at him. So serious, so tough.
Yesterday he was a kid. Now I'm thinking we didn't play enough, we didn't talk enough. I didn't hold him and simply love on him enough. And now he is a Marine. He told us at graduation ceremony that it was against regulations to embrace. We did anyways.
He's just a kid. Right? Three months ago he graduated from High School. I wanted him to go to College. Or, Technical School. Heck, anything but military service in a time of war. But it has been upon his heart to be a Marine for years. Try as I did, repeatedly and with intensity, but I just could not shake him from that crazy idea. So, about a year ago, I gave in. I do not think it was acquiescence to weakness, but to love. My wife and I decided, with collective sighs, that the most loving thing to do would be to encourage him to pursue his dream.
So, 14 long weeks ago, he left for boot camp. And as we toured together the facilities at Paris Island, I gained understanding that he had been through many weeks of intense challenge. He has been pushed almost beyond endurance physically and emotionally. And he made it!
Now I've watched my boy stand tall and proud, and carry himself with a confidence never before present. He speaks with sincerity. He responds with politeness. He makes his bed! He tells me he is different because he is a Marine. And I believe him. He wore his uniform to church this Sunday. Instead of sitting in the back, he sat tall and straight next to his mother. He sang the hymns and held his Bible in hand, carefully following the scriptures. He greeted the ladies with a hug, and the men with a firm handshake.
Who is this boy? I must correct myself. He's now a man. He's a Marine.
And, by the way, he doesn't need a uniform or a military rank for me to be proud of him. Marine is a good word for him. However, I prefer Son.
09.01.08 (10:01 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
09.01.08 (8:56 pm)
Semper Fidelis ~ Always faithful! ~ Amen!
My he is a handsome and brave looking Marine!
I feel your pride and also as a mother of a son I had tears in my eyes as I saw this photo ~ I am proud to have even this remote connection to him. Give him a ((hug)) from tblog's auntconi, please!
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
09.01.08 (10:47 pm)
You both have a right to be proud.
He is a handsome young man.
Congratulations.
posted by:
papercuts (
reply)
post date:
09.01.08 (11:18 pm)
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing this with us.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
09.02.08 (4:10 am)
Tell him for me, that an old crotchety lady in Ohio is also very proud of his accomplishments, and that he is willing to protect me and my babies!! Then thank him for me please.
U.S. Navy, 1983 retired
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
09.02.08 (4:11 am)
uh, sorry. it's early. thats 1973. oops LOL
posted by:
namm (
reply)
post date:
09.02.08 (7:29 am)
Congrats!!!!! All the Best to You and Your Family!
God Bless! :))
posted by:
kanetsugu (
reply)
post date:
09.02.08 (7:38 am)
Wish you and your family all the best! God Bless Us always ^_^
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
09.02.08 (12:40 pm)
You have good reason to be proud obviously.
posted by:
rosietulips (
reply)
post date:
09.03.08 (1:03 pm)
Darn right you should be proud!
posted by:
toztee (
reply)
post date:
09.04.08 (4:11 pm)
I can't see to type for the tears! B looks so, so, Wonderful! A MAN!!! Not the boy I last saw. He does look good in that uniform, but the look in his eyes is so strong and confident! Pass along our best and our love to him.
Now...this was my idea of a good post, PD.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
09.04.08 (8:43 pm)
Wow. He doesn't really look eighteen anymore either. Bet you're proud. And he makes his bed to boot? Who knew there'd be that sort of bonus?
Don't even think about arm wrestling him - even in fun. We don't want you hurt.
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
09.06.08 (6:31 pm)
You never hold them enough or kiss them enough. BUT, you can never love them too much! You're a good dad! Be proud.
hugs
preceptlady
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:18 am)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
He is very strong with his patriotism, and tends to see international and military issues very much in black and white. Sometimes he surprises me with the strength of his reasoning, and I wonder from where he gets it. It seems he has spent most of his life working hard not to listen to what I have to say. Then, lo and behold, I discover he is very much like myself in many ways. Except.... when I was his age, service in the military was far from attractive to me.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:21 am)
Reply to: auntconi
Brave looking? He worked very hard to give this just the right look of menace and maturity. I just spent about 2 hours with him at a Chinese buffet, watching him stuff several pounds of strange looking food into his mouth, non-stop. He looked very much more like the teenage boy with whom I am accustomed.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:21 am)
Reply to: LadyG
Thank you. We are proud of our son.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:22 am)
Reply to: papercuts
My pleasure! I'll be coming your way to check out your blog.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:23 am)
Reply to: fractalmom
1983, 1973.... At your advanced age, just stop worry about the years.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:24 am)
Reply to: namm
Thanks. It's quite an accomplishment, and I am doubly proud of him.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:24 am)
Reply to: kanetsugu
Very kind of you.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:25 am)
Reply to: bawdy
Good reason to be proud- you are right. And I wish for him a happy career in the military- while stationed in Japan, or Hawaii, or anywhere else far from Iraq & Afghanistan.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:27 am)
Reply to: rosietulips
Thanks. I agree. I'd hate to think I would be required to successfully complete boot camp. They get out of bed far too early, and the meals? MRE's injure my palate.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:27 am)
Reply to: kgurl1166
I'll pass that word along. Thanks.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:31 am)
Reply to: toztee
He leaves at 7 p.m., today, for Camp Lejune, N.C. As I understand, he will spend 29 days there, and then ship to Oklahoma for several months. I'm sure there is a plan, but I'm not aware of many of the details. My plan? He should learn a marketable skill while serving in the military, and/or take advantage of the free opportunity for College studies, and therefore get out in 4-6 years with prep for a good job and careef. Oh, and even more important, stay safe/alive the entire time.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:32 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Oh, I tell him I could still whip him. He laughs, but I see the acknowledgment of truth in his eyes. He knows I'm rock-solid and could beat him in an instant. However, I'll not try.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:34 am)
Reply to: preceptlady
I've tried to be a good dad. The earnestness has been consistent. However, immaturity and foolishness have made the task much more difficult. At this point in life, I can do a much better job.
posted by:
namm (
reply)
post date:
09.08.08 (10:48 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
you're very welcome .... yea u ought to be proud of his accomplishments... gr8 work!
posted by:
TashaRules (
reply)
post date:
09.10.08 (6:21 pm)
Im glad your son made it into the Marines and im glad you support him. I plan on joining the Canadian Military and as crazey as it sounds i hope i can join early enough to go to Afghanistan, it's always something that I've wanted to do. I believe the Parents should always support their kids desicion even though the parents might not like the desicion it affects us greatly to know that we're supported for something that we really want to do. My mom was completely supportive when i told her that i wanted to join the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, and again she was supportive when i told her i wanted to join the real military and go to Afghanistan. It makes me love my mother even more that she know's that i have reasons for my desicions. I hope your son does very well.
posted by:
brandonpages.co.cc (
reply)
post date:
09.15.08 (8:30 am)
I love your blog I am brandon from Indonesia
brandon.co.cc
posted by:
titosindex (
reply)
post date:
09.15.08 (8:30 am)
brandonpages.co.cc
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.15.08 (9:47 am)
Reply to: titosindex
Nice to have you as a reader. I checked out your blog- your take on American politics is astute. And you do pretty good with the English language, a lot better than I would do with Indonesian!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.15.08 (9:55 am)
Reply to: TashaRules
Thanks, Tasha. I'm not so sure that I support his decision, but I sure support him. He's proving to be more mature and wise than I have given him credit. A week ago he shipped out for Phase II of his training, in North Carolina. Then, it's off to Arizona, and then who-knows-where. Politically, I'm thinking it is time to draw to a close our extensive military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have give them ample opportunity to be on the way to security, and the job of our military should not be nation building.
Glad your mom is supportive of you. You sound to me a mature young lady. Just stay safe, and stay in touch with your parents with lots of letters/e-mails when you do move away!
