Ship 02, Division 924

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

Hi everyone...I did not see a discussion started yet for our ship and division so I thought I would create one while I am feeling full of positive energy.  If one has been started I apologize for overlooking it. 

 

My name is Pearl and I am engaged to an amazing future sailor who I will get to see again on 4/29.  I had been having a hard time, but as of today things are starting to look up.  I finally have made contact with Bryan.  He has been writing me every night.  My envelope contained letters from 2/27 through 3/7 and 3/4 there were 2.  I feel so lucky to have someone so devoted to me and my four kids.  And I now know to expect at some point in time another envelope filled with a bunch of letters.   

 

I am from Pennsylvania.  Where is everyone else from? Will you be going to the graduation?  I am going and will be staying at the Homewood Suites, which is approximately 11 miles from the training center.  Has anyone planned out an itinerary?  I have been so busy thinking about seeing him that so far I haven't even thought of what we may do while we are there.    

 

My fiance mentioned that he had watch one night with a Single A / Minor league baseball pitcher from Detroit.  I know the way he loves baseball that had to be up his alley.   

 

I hope everyone else within our division starts to finally receive mail.  It is such a good feeling to see that envelope.  Thought for sure I was going to cry like I did when I received that graduation information, but instead I am so happy. 

 

Please feel free to ask questions.  My letters are personal, but there are sections of each letter where he is telling me about his day.  I would be more than happy to share. 

 

Pearl

[swim4life]

Pearl,

  thanks so much for sharing these!  Some us haven't heard much, and

it means a lot, especially when u are so busy already.  :)  hugs,

[goliathmacdog]

Got a call this AM.....and missed it :(  Was good to just hear his voice on theVoice Mail.  He is so funny...he said " Hi Mom, this is D...., and I am at bootcamp"  Like I didn't know that!  haha  He got a call through to his Dad at work as he needed some info for Medical Records, so this was kind of an "extra call", but he said that HIS GROUP MAY GET TO MAKE CALLS TONIGHT SOMETIME BEFORE 10 PM , so keep the phones close by!  I really pumped my husband for info....he said it was a short call, mainly for the intended purpose of getting the info needed,  but he mentioned that they got their "behinds"--not that word--beat when anybody stepped over a rope, because if you do that on a carrier and the rope is attached to a plane it can rip your leg off and they are trying to teach them not to do that---Hope you all get a call tonight.

[goliathmacdog]

Just got a call from my son about 6:45 Eastern Time (March 25).  He knows Pearl's finance and Josi's son.  I tried to describe some of them.  He said they were cool, but not a lot of time to talk.  He seemed OK, said their group was very slow to get started and he must have been there before a lot of the others arrived. They did a lot of "random stuff" the first couple of weeks and he acted a bit irritated by that. He said the food was good.   I guess this is just the end of the"official" week 2, although he was gone a month ago yesterday.  He said the physical stuff was Very easy for him and seemed to like it.  He said he was in a "staff" position for the 900's meaning he will help with organizing people for 2 graduations before theirs and he will help at the practices too.  He met a kid from near home who went to college with and wrestled with a high school friend of his...but no clue of that person's  mom on here.   He could be staying at GL for 2 more months for A school and the B and C school in SC....I guess they will know more next week. We thought he would go to SC right away.  That's OK cause my sister is in Chicago and we could visit over the summer if they have some time off....not sure what A school is like for Nukes.  He said he gave blood today.  They apparently had a big blood drive and were encouraged to give.  He said he got his first letters this past Tuesday and had written back, but mine has not arrived yet.  He talked about 20 min total abt half with me and half with his brother and a bit with his little brother.  Got to talk to his Dad earlier today and sister is at work :(  We got cut off and were not sure if it was on a timer or if he hit a button...didn't think it was from this end...so not sure and then he called back and left a short message, but I didn't even hear it ring that time...technology is killing me!!!  Well this is not earth shattering stuff and don't mean to bore you, but just very happy to hear from him.  Hope you all are getting your calls!

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

Sitting at work.  Two more hours and then I get to go home. 

Thinking about my phone call with Bryan, and thinking about all the things we discussed as well as the things I wish we would have discussed.  I was at my daughter's softball practice when he called, so I went to the car to be in the warm, and didn't have any paper to write anything down.  We talked about all sorts of things...wish I could remember everything.  Bryan is trying to stay very positive.  He said that he spoke with one someone within logistics...can't remember if she is an instructor or what she does, but she told him he would probably get to have leave on the weekends immediately as long as he doesn't have watch, which is not what I heard.  I heard that they typically have to be at A-school for 1 month before they get passes to leave the base.  He says he gets 2 1/2 days a month...He is really optimistic that he will make it to my graduation.  I am not holding my breath, but that would be really nice if he could be there.  He also said he is going to speak to the chaplain about marriage.  He loves the idea or possibility of getting married while we are in Illinois.  He is a Saturday departure so if we were to get married we would need to have the 24-hr waiting period waived for the marriage license.  I am sure they are used to doing that.  He said it would be perfect.  Our song is 1, 2, 3, 4 by the Plain White T's.  They are from Chicago, the video to the song was taped in Chicago, and the singer for this particular song met his girlfriend/wife in Chicago & then wrote the song about her.  I don't want to get my hopes up though.  I will have to wait to see what Bryan has to say. 

 

I asked Bryan how he ended up in the performance division...he said he was asked some questions...answered the questions and placed in the division...he said they waited approx 2 weeks for their division to fill up so he said he will have an extra 2 weeks of pay on his check and that I should have it on 4/1...keeping my fingers crossed.  Not sure what else we talked about.  The conversation was all over the place.  I let Bryan do most of the talking...Not sure if it was just me, but I think his voice sounded a little different...maybe it was the phone... I am going to have to pay attention next time if he gets the chance to call again. 

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

Received another letter from Bryan. 

3/21/11

"Today we had our first uniform inspection and bunk/rack inspection and it was a pain standing at attention for 3 hours.  Nevertheless I passed so I guess it paid off in the end." 

[lauren]

Thank you so much Pearl for sharing parts of his letters! E's letters are more like love letters, so he leaves out a lot of the important info about boot camp that I want to know!! He has never told me about all the intensive training punishment! When I talked to him on the phone yesterday, he said that he has sent a total of 4 envelopes so far, but at the time I had only received one. He was so positive and upbeat on the phone, and told me mainly good things, like passing all his tests and that he is the tallest in the division so he acts as a crossing guard of some sort. He called it a special name... I don't remember the details of my call either because I was running at the time! 

 

Here are some of the things he's mentioned from the phone and letters: E got his wisdom teeth out and was able to watch the news (he saw the devastation in Japan). They had an Irish-themed dinner on St. Patrick's day, and all of the bootcamp food was better than he expected. The weather is improving (rain more than snow). They went to the drill hall last Saturday, but E doesn't know what role he will play in graduation yet. He went to church during Holiday routine last Sunday. E said in the phone call that they were fitted for their dress uniforms. Most importantly, E says that time is now flying by!! :)

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

Yea Bryan has that part in there too... my letters tend to be 2 to 3 pages long...front to back..takes me forever to skim through them. 

Glad to hear the time flying by thing...I did hear about the news thing too... Bryan said it was considered a huge privilege to see television.  Bryan said the same thing about the food

[m3]

Pearl, how often are you getting letters from Bryan? You seem to be getting quite a few! I'm just curious how often they are allowed to send them out. 

I've really been enjoying reading your letters...The ones my husband sent didn't really include much about what they have been doing and I really wish they had! I'm not really complaining, but I got 9 pages about how much he loved me! haha I just would love to know a little more about what they do every day...so even though they are in different DIVs I enjoy reading your letters. 

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

I believe letters are only sent out once a week but Bryan writes me every night... he gives me the sappy love stuff too which i love, but includes everything that he went through each day too... each letter is anywhere from 2 to 3 pages with a mixture of everything.  I receive a bunch all at once.  He sometimes has more than one in an envelope but he said he was going to be sending an envelope out each night.  I told him on the phone last night that they only send letters out once a week... he told me to pace myself and to read one a night, but i can't help myself...i have to read all of them at once.

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

Good I am not the only one... i thought Bryan sounded different too... I can't put a pin on it though it that makes sense... I am not sure if it is voice or maybe a boost of confidence... gonna try to pay more attention if we get a chance to talk to them on the phone again.  I think it is so cool that our significant others know one another.  Bryan seems to be eating a lot too, and he has a hard time putting on weight too.

[Pearl_Ship 02_Division 924]

I think Bryan has had that same issue... he has had a couple of bad relationships which I believe took him down a notch on the self-esteem... he always seems happy...on the phone though he was definitely crying... i could hear him sniffling... but if you could hear him...he was saying something and he was like "i don't care and blah blah blah"  I'll have to IM you that one... don't want the wrong eyes to see if they check this site.

[lauren]

Oh, I also forgot that E mentioned on the phone that the Division earned an Academic flag for doing well on some test they took this past week. I'm sure you probably heard that too :) Very proud of our SRs!