Thursday, October 21, 2010

Our Army Basic Training Graduate


The summer just keeps on chugging along. WELL, I had to get the lawn cut today between the rain. There was no getting around it ... it absolutely had to be done.
Our lawnboy son, Kyle has returned to Northern Illinois University for his senior year in Engineering. Yes, it does seem kinda early to be heading back to school ... however, Kyle is one of many dorm floor sheriffs (so to speak) ... so every year he heads back a few weeks before the regular students arrive. They review past problems and continue to train them on how to stop a riot with paper and pencil. As a Dad, I guess I am glad he learned how to stop small wars by the more conventional Irish ways as well. But, his CA job is paying his way through school so I guess it's important to be a diplomat with all. I am just saying ... if a biting incident occurs ... he has already learned not to pull away ... rather feed the biter more and more and more. Well, you get it!
So anway, today, it was I who had to climb aboard our 26HP tractor to cut the lawn. Some of you are thinking ... "Real men push the mower!" Well, you'd have to see my yard and experience the mosquitos this year. When you start cutting ... you better keep moving.
We have had a ton of rain all summer and that is adding to the problem. Corn around here was 7 feet high by the fourth of July. That's a little psycho! Part of our yard remains under an inch or two of water and the ground is extremely soft.I called my son about cutting today because he cuts all summer and I guess I was looking for advice and he says ... "Just cut through the water Dad, ... the tractor will just blow through it." It never really bothers me to watch him drive through it ... because I know if he gets stuck he can rock that 800 lb. horse out of the mud. I think he didn't get that my main concern wasn't if the tractor could take it ... it was how long would it be stuck there until he got home to dig it out. So I didn't get the whole yard cut today. Just the dryer portions. Getting the lawn cut is important ... because a few of us will take a quick trip to Fort Sill in Oklahoma to see our daughter Tara graduate from Army Basic Combat Training. She will head to Fort Sam Houston within hours of her graduation to begin her 68 Whiskey or 68W Field Medic Training.
Tara was able to get off the military base for a few hours today and she sent us this photo of her in her beret. She left us on Memorial Day and has survived the heat and obstacles laid before her. As you might suspect, her whole family in Woodstock, IL is proud of her and we all look forward to seeing her again.
Some of the things I heard in phone calls and read in letters from Tara this summer will never be forgotten. I guess it seemed strange to hear about her experiences in a gas chamber, throwing grenades, the rifle range, drills and PT at 0400. Tara said in her last letter that they didn't know what to do with themselves when they had a whole hour to kill prior to a meal. She said she could now sleep anywhere and in any position. She described the longest hundred yards of her life while crawling under and over barb wire and logs while being under fire at night. Repelling towers, hand to hand combat, and sneaky games galore. I just couldn't believe this was my daughter. It just sounded wierd ... like ... "Dad, everyone knows ya don't shut off the engine when ya park the tank." It'll never be totally understood that this is my little girl.
Congratulations Tara. We love you and will see you soon!
Love, Mom & Dad and the rest of us!

17 comments:

Lorilee said...

Congratulations to your daughter. My nephew is graduating from Fort Jackson on Aug. 19. He is doing split OPs and will return to Texas for his Senior year in high school. I have been keeping up with their activities on the River Raiders FB page. I am amazed at how many young women are in the training!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Unknown said...

Congratulations to Tara. I'll bet she looks back on Basic training in a couple of years and tells you it was actually quite a bit of fun even though it didn't seem that way at the time. Every time a bunch of us got together to shoot the breeze funny Basic stories always popped up.

Basic is the military's way of turning a bunch of "diddy boppin" civilians into a well disciplined, close knit unit in a very short time and they are amazingly successful at getting the job done.

As for mowing....I'm debating that job myself. maybe a little closer to sunset.....maybe.

Oklahoma Granny said...

Congrats to Tara! I'm sure she's told you how incredibly hot it has been in Oklahoma this summer. We sure could use some of that rain you've been experiencing.

Pat said...

Congratulations Tara! Thank you for serving our country!

Willie a.k.a Reptoz said...

Wow! you daughter choose to be an army or she was forced to do so?

Marka said...

Congrats all around! It an an accomplishment to be justly proud of.

Glory to God said...

Steve -

Your pride for your daughter is certainly evident. And we're all proud of her too for representing our country!

This is only the beginning of the many experiences that'll stick with her forever. I hope when she looks back she can be proud of being a part of something big like defending our nation!

And to that I give a BIG thank you!

God bless!

Vicky said...

Congratulations to your daughter, reading your blog entry is every step my son Michael had to take while he did his basic there at Ft. Sill, OK. He also went to Ft. Sam Houston, then onto Ft. Hood, TX
As a parent you are so proud of to see your child out there in uniform.
I know it was hard for us to say good bye when we left him there at basic training. Wont be long she will be back home for a visit.

Take care

Janet Baird said...

And the grandma...up here in Illinois...couldn't be prouder! She has been subjected to a lot, but has shown herself strong, and disciplined! Love you, Tay!

Carol said...

Amen.

And she looks good!

Flutterby said...

Thank you for sharing your wonderful photographs and thank you for sharing a snapshot of your family life. Congratulations to Kyle heading back to school and Tara graduating from basic training.

Nina Morelli said...

Congratulations to your daughter that she be
always an example to other young people.
God bless her in all directions,
Congratulations to you also, Stephen.
Hugs from Brazil.
Nina

Penny said...

Congratulations to your "little girl" and to your son too on his senior year. In terms of the rain, I hear ya. Our yard is a mess and the mosquitos are aweful this year. I hate to say it, but I'm ready for fall.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Best wishes to Tara and Mom and Dad, too, and God bless her and those with whom she serves.

prince snow farm said...

This was a touching post. As a mom of a 6 and 11 year old, I am not prepared for what you are experiencing right now. You are obviously so proud.

teri said...

Thanks for such a wonderful post- I started following your blog for your wonderful photos-you are so talented and generous. But you give more than that-you share such genuine and wonderful insights into family life.

Thank you for sharing all your blessings. Congratulations and all the best to you and your family.

And good luck keeping the grass cut.

NikonSniper said...

willie a.k.a reptoz,
all memebers of the u.s. military are now volunteers. our daughter made a decision to serve her country in this way while receiving educational oportunities.
nikonsniper steve