Letters Home – Before it Began

C077/K051 Feb21 – Apr 25, 1990

This particular letter really doesn’t have much info on it. The last one from P-days just before we started 1-1Day. We must have spoken to some detailer or another person about our schools around this time since I mention maybe not getting to go nuke like I was planning. I am not sure why all of the people we lost so early left. I do remember our first yeoman tested positive on his first piss test. Maybe the others did too.

I obviously made another UA (un-authorized) phone call at the hospital.  


Mom, Dad, Lorri, Ally                                                            90,Mar 04

We got some more free time today. Tomorrow we officially start training. The company is starting to come together a little better. So far, we’ve had many compliments from recruits and company commanders on our marching. They can’t believe we are only on 1-1 day.

My eye is getting better. I go back on Tuesday, and maybe they can patch the scratch then. I think the infection is almost gone, but the sight is still fuzzy. Right now, I’ve also got a cold, and that isn’t helping either.

The main thing now is it is so boring because we do the same thing every day. Tomorrow we start to do out Navy Training. Last Thursday, we had the first PT, physical training, test, and everyone passed with no problems.

I also miss everybody more than I thought I would. I did get ahold of Kathy last Thursday from the hospital. I told her to get the wedding stuff going for May 5.

I met a guy who’s parents live by Peoria, and they are coming down for pass and review (sic). He sid maybe Kathy could ride down with them. That would work out really good since shd can’t rent a car to get around with.

On Friday, we get inspected over everything we have been told so far, lockers, bunks, uniform, and compartment. Actually, it is some type of ritual where about 20 CC’s come into the compartment and find every little problem, call us a bunch of names, and then we have to do push-ups and other fun items. We don’t even get any points for the inspections.

I found out that I might need to take a different job. The Navy job people said the Nuke school had too many people going, and they need to cut a couple. Since my Nuke test wasn’t that high, they start at the bottom. I guess this happens all the time. I’m sure that I will be able to get in because I know of at least three guys in my company who scored lower than me. I’m not worried to much about it anyway.

So far, we lost 4 guys, but we got 5 new ones. The new ones were put on hold for two weeks and joined us on Friday. Well, it’s almost lights out. Hope everyone is doing alright. I miss everyone a lot. Bye for now.

Jim

I will say this, my writing has sure improved from then. I do remember that P-days were boring and repetitive. They were the foundation of what we needed to have to get through the entire 8 weeks. The whole company felt so much better when we had our guideon unfurled, and we were “somebody.”

I am guessing the 5 new members were on hold for PT issues since they joined us the day after we had our first test.

I had to remove my SSN from the letter. Yes, we put those on there.