8-18-2001:
We got letter number One from Bobby today.
He says that he's doing good and is in Platoon 3003. He wants all of us to write him as
much as we can.
8-23-2001:
We got letter number Two today from Bobby.
He says that he made Second Squad Leader (Dad knew he would) and that being a squad
leader is a lot of work... he gets less sleep because he is up late at night working with his squad, trying to help them be the best they can... but he says he loves it. Bobby was in his rack today and on light duty tomorrow because he had his wisdom teeth pulled and needs to have other dental work done later.
He says he was able to see his best friend, Jerry in Church the other day (YES he's going
to Church). Jerry joind the Corps before Bobby but fractured his leg twice and may be coming home soon. He says he's still waiting for letters from y'all... So start writing.
8-30-2001:
Letter number Three came today from Bobby.
He says that he is still Second Squad Leader, he didn't know if he would still have the
position because of the dental work that put him on light duty, but he says that he's doing a good enough job at it that they decided to keep him as Squad Leader. He did say that he has to yell at the platoon more just to keep them from getting reamed by the DI's, but the guys don't seem to realize he's trying to help them and they just smart off, so he's a little frustrated about that.
He says he wasn't able to fight with the pugil sticks the first time because of the stitches
from having his wisdom teeth pulled. Bobby said that they did get a chance to do the pugil sticks a second time and this time he got to participate.... he said they were on a bridge and he kicked his opponent's butt. He hit him on the right side of the head with a hard left and knocked him off the bridge. Bobby also said that they did the confidence course and he smoked it. At the end of the course he came to a bar for dips and had to do one dip and sound off...well Bobby got thru the course and got to the dip bar and did 7 dips and sounded off "Platoon 3003 Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Dempsey, Hoora". (sounds like Bobby's giving it 110% like Dad knew he would)
Bobby said that he has a 3 mile run tomorrow that he's not looking forward to,
(I knew he may have a little trouble with the running but he'll be Good To Go!) He's worried more about the run because he's got a avulsion (I'm thinking a blister) on his left foot behind his toes. He said he's had it for 2 weeks now but he doesn't want to go have it checked out until after the initial drill just in case they put him on lite duty. He also writes that he has two more weeks and he heads up north to Camp Pendleton to do all the humps (marches/runs). Bobby also did Martial Arts training and said they were doing the same hand and joint bends and holds that Dad taught him when he was growing up..
9-10-2001: First Phone Call!
We got our first phone call today from Bobby, he was so excited
to hear our voices, he only wished Amber could have been there too. He was only allowed 10 minutes to talk and after talking to us there wasn't enough time to call Amber, so we told him that it was ok to call her first next time. He sounded like he was doing great but was just a little bit lonely. I guess no one from school has written him yet..... Ya'll need to start writing him, he could sure use it.
9-10-2001:
We got letter number Four today from Bobby.
He says that he is now Assistant Squad Leader because he found it harder to take
orders than it was giving them... He told me that he hoped I wasn't disappointed in him because he lost Squad Leader and that he was going to try even harder to get it back. He also said that he had Team Week next week (the week of September 17th) and then it's up to Camp Pendleton for two weeks. After that, he said he comes back down and starts preparing for graduation. Bobby said that he had some pictures taken and will be sending them to us. As soon as I get them I'll post them here. In my letter to Bobby I told him that nothing he could do would disappoint me and that I had been Squad Leader in my Company and just like him, I lost it but got it back. Even if he doesn't get it back, that's ok too because anyone that has ever been through boot camp knows that just making it to graduation is a BIG deal and quite an accomplishment.
We are all a little worried about Bobby since the attacks in New York and Washington,
but I have talked to a few High Ranking Marines and was told that there isn't much of a chance that he could be pulled out for immediate duty. They will call up the reservists first and deploy the Marines that have been trained for combat (infantry and tank units, special weapons units, etc.). So Bobby will be able to finish all his training first, then he may get involved. But if anything changes I will let everyone know on this page....I may even start another page just for major updates. But I will wait on that until we see more troop movements.
In the meantime, pray for all the men and women in the Armed Forces and each life
directly affected by the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. And May
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Calls and Info From Florida:
12-02-2001:
We got a Phone Call today from Bobby.
He is now done with his training at MCT SanDiego and is now in Pensacola, Florida
for his Aviation Electronics School. He said that him and Ben have a room together that has two t.v's, a phone, and a living room. Bobby thinks they got this GREAT room because their school is longer then most. I have his phone number for family and friends but decided not to post it. If you would like his number please give me a call and I will give it to you. Bobby will find out Monday the 3rd what his school schedule will be and if he can come home for Christmas vacation. Again once I find out what's going on I will post it here.
12-14-2001:
We got a Phone Call today from Bobby.
Bobby called and said that he is going to be home for Christmas. He should be
here on the 21st and will be able to stay till the 6th of Jan with a chance of an extention because he was able to get recruiters assistant. We are looking forward to Bobby being home for the Holidays but expect him to be working long hours with his recruiter. Bobby also has chance to make rank while he's home by getting a few others to join the Marine Corps. I know we will just be glad to have him home.
12-21-2001:
Bobby was home for Christmas and for Recruiters Assistant from 21 December till 6th Jan. He had a great time and may have recruited enough people to pick up and extra stripe...we won't know for sure till later. The time just seemed to fly by and next thing we knew we were in Dallas putting him on a bus bound for Florida. We seem to miss him more and more each day until we go into his room and have to spend the next week cleaning it up. But all in all it's worth every minute we get to spend with him. I have some new pics of him and Amber and as soon as I get them scanned I will put them on a new page dedicated just to the two of them.
01-11-2002:
Flo and I just got back from San Antonio and called Bobbys room in Florida to find that Bobby had caught a ride with a friend to Arlington to visit Amber for the weekend. He has to go back on Sunday as his school is going to start on Tuesday. He also said he may come home next weekend too because it's a Holiday. We'll just keep our fingers crossed.
01-31-2002:
Bobby Called today to let me know that on Friday he tests for his grey belt in martial arts and also picks up PFC. We are so proud of him, he still hasn't schooled up yet, but instead of just waisting time hanging around doing barracks support, he is working on his self defense and his NCO classes for when he picks up lance corporal.
09-18-2002:
I’m sorry it’s been so long since the last time I’ve up dated Bobby’s information, so
let me try to bring ya’ll up to speed. Bobby has graduated from his CH-46E helicopter school in North Carolina and is on leave right now in Montana for 13 days, then it’s home to Texas for the remainder of his leave, about 8 or 9 days, then off to Okinawa, Japan. He will be attached to Air Combat Element Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron HMM-262 Better known as the Fighting Tigers. The squadron is a composite squadron of several different aircraft. It contains CH-53E “Super Stallions,“ CH-46E “Sea Knights,” UH-1N “Hueys,“ AH-1W, “Cobra” Attack Helicopters and a detachment of six AV-8B “Harriers.” Bobby is very excited about going to Okinawa and can’t wait to get to work on his helicopter. He also talked a little to me about becoming aircrew and manning one of the door guns.... as a father I was a little scared about this but thought back to when I was in the military and came to the realization that if I was in his shoes, I would do exactly the same thing.
A little news about Bobby’s leave came as a shock to Flo and I. It
seems that on Friday the 13th Bobby and his little brother Daniel were in a car wreck in which the car skidded off the road and rolled. The young lady driving has a dislocated shoulder and some cuts, but Bobby and Daniel were OK. Bobby said that if he would have been in the back seat behind the driver he would have been crushed. Bobby realized after the accident just how important his little brother is to him and how they need to make every moment together count. Well that’s it for now, and I promise I will try to keep up with this a little better....also, when I get Bobby’s mailing address in Japan I will post it here.
Bobby In Okinawa, Japan
Assigned to HMM-262
10-03-2002:
Bobby left today for Okinawa Japan. Bobby's Mother, Sister, Best Friend Jerry, his girlfriend
Lacy and I all were at the airport to see him off. He was very excited about the trip and eager to get back to the Corps. Bobby will have a few friends from school in Okinawa with him but none of them in the same Squadron. Bobby called us on October 5, 2002 at 5:00 a.m. and told us he had just arrived in Okinawa and would have to do a week of indoctrination before he's assigned to his Squadron. Once he gets settled in and gives us his address I will post it here for those who would like to write him.
10-11-2002:
Bobby called today and said that he was done with his week of indoctrination and is now
packing to move to his permanent squadron. He sounded a little apprehensive but still very excited. Oh and for all of you that didn't know it, Bobby is now a Lance Corporal... Mom and Dad are very proud of him.
10-13-2002:
Bobby called and said he was with his squadron today. He also said that he had some free
time so he checked out gate 2 street which is just outside the Kadena Air Force Base...this is one of the places I told him about when I was in the Navy, of course I told him to stay clear of whisper alley...... He seems to be spending a little to much money out in town, but we kinda expected that during his first two weeks there. Bobby will be getting his address to us next time he calls. He didn't have it with him when he called this time. Remember this is Bobby so DON'T hold your breath for that address, you may be holding it for a long time.
1-16-2003:
Bobby called and said his squadron was heading for the Marine Ship U.S.S. Essex
and didn't know when he would be able to call us again. (We all know what that means.) Heres a picture of the Essex. Bobby's CH-46's are at the front of the ship. We will let everyone know more when we hear more from Bobby. Please keep Bobby, his squadron, men and women of all branches of the military, our country and our leaders in your prayers. Thank You
U.S.S. Essex LHD-2
03-10-2003:
Bobby called and said his squadron was back on the U.S.S Essex, this time they are
heading into a TROUBLED SPOT, but couldn't talk more about it...he did say that he was meeting a lot of new friends, working a lot of hard hours and drinking a lot of EXOTIC DRINKS!!!!
08-19-2003:
I requested that our Church pray for Bobby today, mainly for him to call home so Mom
and Dad can stop worrying about him. It seems like forever since we last heard from him. Later tonight the phone rang and Flo said "that's Bobby", and sure enough it was. He said he's doing great....he extended for another year so he can pick up another rank before moving on to his next command. He said that he had planned on being home for Christmas but his friend wants him to be his best man in February. The wedding will be in Georgia so Bobby will fly home to Texas and then either Mom and Dad or just Dad will drive him to Georgia for the wedding. Bobby also said that he is leaving in a few days for six weeks of training in Australia and then off to some where else for special training. All in all he sounds real busy and seems to still love the Marine Corps. We asked Bobby to take some pictures of him, his friends, and Japan. As soon as he does we will post them on this page.
Here are a few pictures of Bobby before he left.
Bobby's last home cooked meal......What word did they shave in his hair?
Eating at the airport
Dad, Mom, Amber, Bobby, Lacy, John, Amanda, Brittney
-Bobby's Squadron e-mail address.
-Bobby's address aboard the USS Essex.
-Back to my home page.
-Back Bobby's Marine Page.
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Last updated 08-30-2003 by: A Proud Father