Any military dads?

[Kokopelli]

I spent yesterday with my 23 year old. He is leaving for boot camp tomorrow. We took the family to Olive Garden for lunch, and spent the whole day just being together. Saturday, his friends threw him a party and gave him gifts. He got a little messed up practicing Ju Jitsu with some of the guys after a few brews. All the girls at the party were fawning over this young man leaving for the Army.

He told me how proud and excited he was to join. We talked about rifles and it looks like he will be using an M-4. To pass the time on his trip, I gave him books about Carlos Heathcock "The Marine Sniper" and another on "Weapons of the Vietnam War" to read in his spare time. (I taught him how to shoot at age five.)

We talked about God and read some Bible verses together. I gave him some cash to have for his trip.

Though not the first in the whole family, he is the first of my seven kids to join the military. I am very proud and look forward to writing letters the old fashioned way.

[PatriotnMore]

I would be very proud as well. Sounds like you have a great Son, and you did a great job of being his Father. He will do well, and always look back with fondness of his time in the service, good and bad. If both you served, it will make for some great Father Son time sharing a beer, and some stories round the camp fire later.

I wish him well. Tell him I said to keep his powder dry, watch his six, take care of his buddies, make the most of the training he can receive, save as much of his pay as he can for college when he gets out, and come home safe.