HM (Hospital Corps) "A" School in San Antonio

Shoprat - at least you will get to see her for Christmas.  Mine is coming home in 9 1/2 days for Christmas...counting down.  :)

Coming from our daughter who is a nurse and son-in-law who is an EMT/First Responder and a fireman...they both say the Littmann are the very best as far as a stethoscope goes.  I use allhearts.com for almost everything they need and have once again shopped there for my newest member to the medical field.  Can anyone tell me if they will wear a uniform or scrubs when they arrive at their next post after graduation?  My Sailor will be home in about 5 days...we think.  THEE very best present I could ask for!

I will be going to my son's graduation on Tuesday.  He is in class 235A.  I cannot get any information out of him!!  Does anyone know where the graduation is held?

Does anyone know how to get to Anderson Hall and what are the intersecting streets on base. Is it WW White Road and Garden Ave? .

Twas the night before Christmas as I flew o'er the Marine Base,
when I spied a young man who seemed out of place.
His eyes showed compassion, his hair a bit long,
but his head was held high and his body was strong.

His air was confident, his uniform smart,
but what impressed me most was the size of his heart.
For he embodied honor, one of this country's best,
and the words U.S. NAVY showed large on his chest.

As I stood there in wonder and gazed into his eyes,
the words that he spoke took me quite by surprise.
"What's wrong Santa, haven't you ever seen a sailor before?"
I sensed something special and longed to know more.

"To be honest, this field thing wasn't part of my plan,
but God didn't give me a boat or tin can."
The words he spoke next surprised me all the more,
"But I'm as proud of my Navy as I am of the Corps!"

"Don't worry Santa, that I'm a sailor you see,
for when a Marine goes down they will still call on me.
They'll forget I'm a sailor, they'll call in my stock.
At the top of their lungs they'll yell ,"Get me the doc!"

"And I'll answer that call, anytime, anywhere.
Though I know I'm a target I really don't care.
I'll face incoming fire as I race cross the land,
and use my very own body to shield a downed man."

"Working long hours and into the night,
my unit's battle is over, but I'm just starting to fight.
For the life of every Marine is sacred to me.
I refuse to surrender them to death, and in that I'll find victory."

"And yet I'll take the time to comfort a dying man,
to sit down by his side, to reach out and hold his hand.
For it takes as much courage to care as to fight.
For just as the poem says, many don't "go gently into that night."

"Santa, it's not any one uniform that makes you a man,
but rather it's those ideals for which you choose to stand.
I draw my line here, it's long and it's plain.
For pain, hurt and suffering are the things I disdain."

I know very well that I may lose my life,
so that a Marine may see an unmet child and young wife.
So Santa, it really doesn't matter if they don't like my hair.
I'm a Navy Corpsman, their Doc, and I'll always be there."

"I follow the brave docs who have come long before,
from Belleau Wood, Iwo, and Lebanon's shore.
As history proudly shows, they all gave their best,
and for those who have died, surely they're blessed."

"At Inchon, the gulf and times during Tet,
our brothers have fallen, but we carry on yet.
For we carry their honor and legacy still."
As I held back my tears it took all of my will.

I had to leave him there for I had other plans,
but I knew in my heart that the Corps is in good hands.
As I flew away I heard his laughter, it rang so loud and clear.
"Hey Santa, how 'bout a nice pair of boots for the 26 miler next year?"
Sent from my iPhone

Oh My! Now that i have wiped away all my tears . Thank you shoprat that was great ,i sent it along to my MAS moms too.

Cant wait to see my corpsman on Saturday !!:)

shoprat..that was awesome!!  That made my day.

Yes, it was.  Congrats to all.  txfuturebabydocmom-Thanks for all your help!!

Shoprat...I just now got the chance to read your poem...very moving!! It makes me even more proud of our girls!!! :)

020A picked orders today.  My son is going to Sicily, Italy.  I am so excited.

Congratulations to your son! What a great place to go!

Thanks! I can't wait to visit him.

@navymomsrock - did your son tell you what the selection "process" was like, beyond "those at the top of the class choose first..."? My son's class is choosing tomorrow and he's being told that the C schools are "mandatory fill" and that those who are eligible will have to take a spot.  He has a C school picked out, but he would prefer to go to FMTB.  He's in the top 10, so will have some options -maybe.  If anyone else has some insight, feel free to chime in!

He didn't explain much except that they went by the class numbers.  He said all of the C schools were chosen when it was his turn and that SD and Italy were both available.  Not sure what all else was available.

@wlbradford - that supports the "mandatory fill" that my son was talking about...I hope your daughter will be able to go to Spain.  After doing some additional research about career advancement paths, perhaps the best thing we can do for our sailors is encourage them to be as well rounded as possible.  Every set of orders and every choice presents an opportunity, and it's up to them to make the best out of it.  I guess I'll have my answers later today! ;)

HELP!

Does anyone know what residential building (bldg #) the HM A school corpsmen live in? I want to send Mr. Awesome an Edible Arrangement as a surprise. :o)

The pressure of being apart is getting to us so I want to do something nice.

Sorry MySailor...I know what hall my daughter is in, but there's more than one from what I understand.

My son was in Fralish Hall.  He says that's where all the corpsmen live who are going to A school, but don't know that this is correct...that is just what he said.

My daughter is in Fralish Hall; I asked her about the filling of C schools and she said they have already had some orders changed if the C schools weren't full...if the orders weren't already processed the Navy switched orders to fill C school classes...some  Sailors orders are still "up in the air".

@txfuturebabydocmom - Thanks a bunch for all your info and insight!  Love the photo below.

@wlbradford - my son will be going to Pensacola for Aerospace Medical Technician C school.  He's pretty happy.  Has anything changed for your daughter?

Yes, they can, at least I hope so, because my son has been driving my car some since he got home.  He says there are no restrictions against driving when you are on leave.

Enjoy Kathy! Mine (daughter) will be home Wednesday :)

And then mine on Thursday!!! So excited, I can hardly stand it!!!

spending quality time with my daughter!  I dont think I could be any happier!!! She is so mature  and loves being in the navy!!! Enjoying every minute with her...She truely is my christmas present this year!!!  Merry Christmas to everyone, and best wishes in the New Year!!

Christine, I know what you mean about having them come home for Christmas.  It's the only present I wanted this year.  My son arrives at 1:00 pm today.  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas N4M family!! Our sailor came home yesterday. It was a fun surprise-we knew but the rest of our family didn't...it was our middle son's 16th birthday and we all met at a restaurant. Once everyone was seated, our sailor walked in the room and surprised them. People in the restaurant walked over to thank him for his service, and one lady even pressed a 20 dollar bill in his hand (he says he's leaving it in the USO box in Dallas en route back to base). It is great having him home.

Our sailor seems to be having a hard time being at home :-(. Like he feels out of place. He got up so his younger brothers could open their presents, then quietly picked his up and went back to bed. Yesterday he wanted to go back to base...

@Doreen...Your not alone. My daughter said, "OK saw my family & friends,I'm ready to go back."

Part of growing up & out. Their shipmates are integral part of their life.  

Loving the time with our daughter back home.  Dreading New Years eve day when she goes back to SA. :(   She seems different in some ways. Quieter, maybe feeling a little out of place?  Back to arguing with her sisters though!! sorry to say that hasn't changed!! She is spending time with her friends and that is great! gets to be a civilian for a little while!  Going to study with her this week!  Love her like crazy and hating the thought of her leaving AGAIN!!  Hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas!

Dido to tripletmom.   My daughter suprised me andit has been really nice having her home.   Things are back to normal with getting along with her brother.  It feels so good to have her home.   She has enjoyed all her friends she has seen this week.   I don't know what is worst, saying good bye or the thought of emptiness at home. 

Time is going too fast for me! LOVE having my sailor at home! He slipped right back into the old routines like not even a day had passed. Love it!!! Very cute that he and his "shipmates" text each other daily. :) I'm willing the days to slow down though! Enjoy every minute Moms!

Merry Christmas to everyone!!  Does anyone know when graduation is for 015? trying to make a plan.. Want to go to grad in San Antonio, cuz its closer than San Diego.. That will be next I'm sure!!! Thanks, enjoy ya alls time with yor sailor while it last...

Our son said yesterday that he feels like a kid here, and he misses his "unit". They are family, and understand what each other is going through. Its been stressful. Glad he's here, but I know he will be glad to be back "home".

Well, my son is sitting at the airport in dallas/fort worth, waiting for his connecting flight back to San Antonio.  Didn't see too much of him, he spent a lot of time with his friends while he was home.  He is heading back early, seeing as he wound up coming home early due to the family emergency.  It will be strange not having him here for New Years Eve.  Oh, well.  Time to get used to it, they are growing up and doing their own things.  Hope everyone has a good week.

wlbradford & Sara, you're not alone.  My son has spent more time with his girlfriend than us. He's leaving on Friday morning and I'm glad we're going to have a nice family dinner on Thursday night. I know he's looking forward to his classes starting.  I feel better knowing he spent a couple of weeks in SA and knows what he is going back to. Each separation does seem to get easier for me.  He is happy to be a sailor and that makes me happy too.

Tink, Did your daughter come home for Christmas break?? Just wondering, because my daughter is in 010, and as of the time she left for the break, her graduation date was still "up in the air'; only rumor- nothing official.