We Got Another Letter

Erick wrote the most recent letter in his second week of Boot Camp. Again, I don't have the actual letter, so I will sum it up from mom's reading of it to me over the phone.

Boot camp isn't that bad, it is just annoying. You only get to say 3 things, "Aye Sir", "Yes Sir" and "No Sir". Living with other kids makes it better. Most of them are 17-19 years old. His Rack mate is 19, fat and smelly, but he's a nice kid. They have been doing Pugil Sticks which is kind of like American Gladiators and prepares them for bayonet training. It is fun, but intense.

That's a picture of Pugil Stick Training I found on a webiste. I am not sure if Erick wears a helmet or not because he talked about getting to call home if you knock the other guys mouth guard out...

He counts the days from meal to meal and looks forward to Sundays because he gets 3 free hours on Sunday. He uses the free time to organize his things and go to church. He really enjoys going to church because it is relaxing and the church itself is beautiful. The stained glass windows depict Marine scenes.

From the windows of his bunk he can see the Parade Deck (as seen in this pic)

where graduation occurs and he can see other recruits graduating and celebrating with their families and he can't wait until that day. Through the other window he can see the South Carolina coast line, but between the barracks and the ocean is a large swamp. So, he guesses he's stuck there until he gets to graduate... He misses everyone and thinks about us all, even Molly and Sunny Bird.

That's about it for this letter. I'll let you know when the next one comes in.