One Dad's Journey Through the Bootcamp Experience

Thanks to Bill S for this great summary of his experiences with a son in bootcamp:

From Nov 18,2009
I thought I would try to relate my experience and emotions as a parent watching and waiting as our son went off to see the world via the Navy. I have been having this overwhelming urge to write it all down since the 1 year anniversary of his leaving for boot camp on November 12, 2008. I will try not to be too wordy.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008. I got out of work early today to be home when the recruiter came to pick up Brett to take him to Niagara Falls Air Base for tomorrows induction. It is a dreary day, much like the mood. We don’t want him to go. But,we know he needs to. It is what he wants, he is 24 and a college graduate so he can take care of himself. The recruiter got here about 4:00pm. Tears and good byes. He called later that night feeling nervous but excited. He had a bad meatloaf dinner and was not looking forward to boot camp food! LOL We’ll see him in the morning when we drive up for his induction ceremony.

Thursday, November 13, 2008. My wife, I, our older son and Brett’s fiancée got to base with about ½ an hour to spare. He seemed relaxed. The place was packed. I didn’t realize that they did all branches of the service at the same time. The service was short and sweet and emotional. All these fine young people going to serve was amazing. Made me proud as a parent and an American. I didn’t think that I would be seeing many of these faces again in just a few short weeks. The recruits had lunch and a briefing and then were told they had a few minutes to say goodbye. THIS one was tough. I stayed strong though, but everyone was having a hard time. Tears again and more hugs and we told him we will talk to him in a week or two( ha )!We watched him get on the bus and watched as it drove away not knowing when we would talk to him again. I waited until the bus was gone before the tears flowed. I didn’t want him to see me this way. It was a somber drive home.
The “ I’m here and ok “ call came about 1:30 am our time. Lasted about 10 seconds. At least my wife got to hear his voice. That was good.

His box of clothing and personals arrived 8 days later with a very short note. He was ok. The first letter arrived on November 28th, 15 days after he left. We got a letter every Thursday for the remainder of boot. The first phone call came on December 8th. Again, short and sweet. We both got to talk to him that night for about 2 minutes each, it was so good to hear him. He was tired and unsure about his decision but was determined to do it. We got two calls the week of Christmas which were emotional given the time of year. The last call came after Battle Stations on Wednesday January 6th, 2009. Boy was he pumped!! They were looking forward to a couple of days off before PIR on the 9th. We couldn’t wait to get there!

Wednesday, January 8th. The drive out was so stinking long because we couldn’t wait to see him, but boring just the same. We got to Great Lakes mid-afternoon and checked everything out. Our motel didn’t offer a shuttle to those with a car?! What a joke. Red Carpet Inn for those that want to know. We found the gate and the lay of the land and had some dinner and went back to the motel to wait and wait and wait. We got up at 5:00am and drove the 1 mile down the road to wait at the gate. We got there at 5:35. We were the 6th car back. It was starting to snow. Within 15-20 minutes the line was at least a mile long and growing. The gate opened at exactly 6:30 and we were sent to a staging area where all ID’s were checked and all registrations were matched
to the vehicles, we were then sent to another parking area and told to wait in the car until they waved us on. We went through security and had the Id check again and then started the walk to the Ceremony hall. We got in the hall about 7:15. They had a table set up near the door with all the Division Tee shirts and Sweat shirts for sale along with other Navy gear and soft drinks. Then the wait began. Our seats were about halfway up the bleachers and near the bathroom, which was a very good idea! Coffee ya know. As the crowd came in I began to see faces that were familiar. They belonged to families that we had seen at the induction ceremony. Small talk ensued. As the clock crept along the atmosphere began to become charged with excitement. Hands were sweating, nervous laughter, nobody was able to sit still. It was almost unbearable, those last 15 minutes. Everyone was checking their cameras and making bathroom runs. And it was nice NOT to hear any cell phones! They are not allowed.

9:00 am came and went. It was snowing so hard that the divisions were delayed we were told. It would be a “few” more minutes. OMG! Could this drag out any longer!!

The overhead door began to open and the place went nuts! The roar was deafening and the excitement was off the chart. As the divisions began to march in, families and loved ones began to scream and cry, cameras flashed and the cadence and music just added to it all. People tried in vain to find their sailors. They all had their faces covered because of the weather! They were a sea of dress Blues and White caps. Their step was perfect. It was THE most incredible scene I have ever had the honor to witness.
Everyone knew the divisions by their flag but we had to wait until they removed their coats and scarves and then it began again! Everyone trying to find “theirs”. Everyone was pointing, shouting,crying, jumping up and down. It was crazy until they announced that everyone, please take a seat. We found Brett after a minute or two. He had spotted us before we found him. His fiancé has blond hair! We could see him smiling and trying not to laugh as I was zooming in with the video camera. What a hoot! Then out of the quiet a mother yelled “Kevin Davis where are you!” The placed just roared.

The ceremony was over before you knew it. Wonderful, somber, and humbling. Every state was represented, and very well I might add. When liberty was called all hell broke loose. Every man, woman and child for themselves!! I waited back taking it all in. Watching as the emotion of it all swept over the place. It was Amazing. I watched as my wife and Brett’s girl met him near the center of the floor. It was pretty cool. He looked around until he saw me and waved. I waved back. I was so much in awe of what I just saw that I wanted to soak it all in. I made my way down to the floor and walked up to my son. I couldn’t talk. The tears started again. We hugged each other for the longest time and I finally managed to whisper in his ear the only thing I could think to say. “There are no words”
He knew how I felt, nothing more need be said.

It is amazing the change in him in just 8 weeks. He was one hell of a man when he left for boot and to see him then was….well, wow. We were lucky, we got him for the whole weekend until Sunday night. We made the best of it and had a wonderful time with him. Hard to let go again, but that is the way of the Service, and maybe a letter for another time. HOOYAA!!!!