I've had several requests and need to get the info out there.

The oldest is about to have his remaining holidays in boot camp while trotting around in sunny San Diego.

I'll be briefly posting his snail mail so that those who wish to drop him a note, etc., can do so.

Please do not send any contraband. If you're not sure if its contraband, it probably is.

He's been saving up the goodies his Mom has sent so he can have a blow-out on Christmas, or so he writes. As far as we can determine, he's having a wonderful time as he counts down to his graduation in January. As you may know, he has a happy personality and loves to laugh. Laughing in Marine Recruit Boot Camp is verboten and the punishments are usually hilarious. He says to date, he's been able to hold it in, somehow. He also writes that we would all absolutely cringe at what fellow recruits do to their optics. We have learned that he has qualified as Rifle Expert, taking second highest score in his platoon (~100) and third highest in the entire company (~300) (falling short by 1 and 2 points respectively).

<Address Removed>

We plan to attend his graduation and once we get some pics, we'll post them here.

--Dad

That's great.. Thanks for posting.

Congratulations to your son for shooting Expert! The Corps attaches a lot of importance to that, and it was probably his favorite part of Boot so far - until graduation. Unless he really enjoys forced marches up and down fire breaks at San Onofre, that is if they still do BITs there.

I would not dare to send him a letter, let alone a Christmas card, since I still vividly remember the penalty for each character written on the back of an envelope - or any other imagined infraction - but tell him Merry Christmas for me.

Mike,
Thanks for the update, glad to hear he is well. Following behind him is another youngster son of silhouette Michael McCullough from Cantonment, Mongo's son, signed up last week according to his father and will be off to boot camp after HS graduation in the spring.

Mary

hey mike,
thank your son for his service. dan222 army 66-68

BCloninger wrote:I would not dare to send him a letter, let alone a Christmas card, since I still vividly remember the penalty for each character written on the back of an envelope - or any other imagined infraction - but tell him Merry Christmas for me.

Some of my fondest memories of boot camp were crawling through muck, and doing situps in the worm pit (went under water on the down part). Send the lad a letter, make him some memories! Add a lipstick kiss on the back just to make sure...

Ah yes, "S.W.A.K." always got special treatment.

Good on the guy. Glad he's still got the right attitude going for him.

A little Coleman marine still brings a little tear to the eye!

"Some of my fondest memories of boot camp were crawling through muck,"

Didn't do much for me. But I did make it down to wazoo, Mexico a couple times.

We learned this week that his platoon took an award for rifle shooting. Will be sure to share the details when we get them. Merry Christmas everyone!

A little internet snooping goes a long way.... Someone graduates from boot camp next week...

Awesome pics!

BTW, after final firing quals, he ranked 2nd highest shooter score in the entire Company (476 Marines). 336/350
Fellow squad mate beat him by one point... ;)

Mike:

Pass congrats to Harrison.

Byron

PS Are you trying out for Duck Dynasty while you are in Hollywood?