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Comment by savannahgal-nukemom1110MT on October 21, 2010 at 11:06am

QT -- my son at RTC is in same situation, and actually went Nuke to make more $$$ to pay off loans! He set up acct. with federal student loan to make payments each month, something like $135. to be withdrawn each month. Problem was, his first bootcamp paycheck went in a day after the $$ came out, so he had an overdraft charge, but I think he's fine now. He gave me all the acct. #s so I could check on everything. If you have one of the student loan bills, should have website for you to set up the payment plan. If he stays current on plan, should be OK.

Comment by TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom) on October 21, 2010 at 10:31am

QT - my MM has a $9500 student loan and a credit card on his report. All payments were current and had been paid on time (private student loan that we opted to pay interest payments from day 1 and not deferred payments). So, I'm guessing that if his credit report is clean and his payments have been made on time, he's okay.

Comment by Sharon ~ K's Mom on October 20, 2010 at 11:28pm

Linda, Thank you through blurry eyes as well. Thank You, Thank You!! I have never read this before and I will be saving it. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED US AND OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND TO THOSE IN TRAINING NOW! My son will PIR on 11/112 and going Nuke, reporting to GC on 11/17.

Comment by mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT) on October 20, 2010 at 10:58pm

I just got this in an email and wanted to pass it along:

I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as best I could tell.

I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!' But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.

Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.

I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.

'Ma'am,may I assist you in any way?'

She took long enough to answer.

'Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.'

'My pleasure, ma'am.' Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.

She looked again. 'Marine, where were you stationed?'

' Vietnam , ma'am.. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'

She looked at me closer. 'Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can.'

I lied a little bigger: 'No hurry, ma'am.'

She smiled and winked at me. 'Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off... Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time.'

'Yes, ma 'am. At your service.'

She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn't quite make out.. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X.Davidson, USMC, 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944..

She paused for a second. 'Two more, son, and we'll be done'

I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, ma'am. Take your time.'

She looked confused.. 'Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way.'

I pointed with my chin. 'That way, ma'am.'

'Oh!' she chuckled quietly. 'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.'

She headed down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch onLarry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.

'OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.'

Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?'

She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidsonwas my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband,Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all marines.'

She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.
I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.
'Get to the 'Out' gate quick.. I have something I've got to do.'


Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road. We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.

'Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead.' I humped it across the drive to the other post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice: 'TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!'

I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.
She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.

I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.

Instead of 'The End,' just think of 'Taps.'

As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: 'Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.'

Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.

'In God We Trust.'
Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!

If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under!

Comment by Connie foaling-lady (Groton) on October 20, 2010 at 7:21pm

No word yet from my son tonight about whether he and the 28 other guys flying out with him from GL to Goose Creek have made it into town yet. Stopping in Atlanta, then onward to SC. He called early this morning from O'Hare, down to the last few minutes on his phone cards, said the USO treated them royally and fed them breakfast. (and hopefully lunch, plane was supposed to leave at 3 pm). Waiting to hear about an address so I can ship off his 19-pound box of electronic goodies (laptop, phone, ipod) incl. girlfriend's cookies! I have so much tape on this box he'll need a machete to get it open.

Comment by NavyMomLG on October 20, 2010 at 7:00pm

LOL! I'm sure my son will be playing video games while he is home on break too! All grown up and responsible, and yet still little boys at heart :)

Comment by Michimom (MM Nuke Mom) on October 20, 2010 at 6:39pm

Sheeze, are all of our nuke boys video gaming geeks? You could be talking about my son, musicmom! LOL

Comment by musicmom of a Sailor on October 20, 2010 at 5:13pm

NavyMom - I'm going to sit my son down at a computer during PIR weekend with his trusty little debit card and get him booked. He's also going to start picking up car insurance as of Jan 1 or whenever he gets to take his car down to GC.

Mary - too funny. I wonder if my daughter would go for that? Both my kids were born the last 10 days of December - 3 years apart. My son has already asked if he can have his annual New Year's Eve video gaming marathon with friends. He won't have to go back to SC until the 1st or 2nd, I guess.

Comment by NukeMom/MM/USSMichigan on October 20, 2010 at 3:51pm

Re shipping the car - be sure to shop around. I got estimates from MT to SC of anywhere from $800 - $2500.
Binker's mom - is Binker his real name or a nickname? What's the story on how he got that name?

Comment by TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom) on October 20, 2010 at 2:52pm

Kris - I haven't tried this but a friend swears it works. To send cookies she uses an empty pringles can. Put plain, unbuttered, unsalted popcorn layer in the bottom and stack em up. Another layer of popcorn on the top and put the lid on. Tape the lid to the cylinder and ship em off. Worth a try

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