Good News - Son's Orders Changed Yet Again
 

He won't be going to Iraq. He's going to Yemen - I think that's good. It's not really safe, (they've had some trouble) but it certainly isn't as dangerous as Iraq or Afghanistan. He told me not to worry because he's actually excited about going.

He trained with the Navy Seals in Pensacola and did really well, but he kept drowning - they had to keep reviving him. :eek: He's a strong swimmer, but only in pools - not raging seas. He was allowed to stay in the Air Program because he never gave up, even after drowning. He transferred to the Air Electronics Program in Washington.

The kid has always had incredible coordination and stamina. He scored "expert" on M9 and M16 guns (above sharp-shooter). He'll be working in Auxiliary Special Forces, so he'll only have to go on patrols occasionally.

I think it's strange they are still using the M16. Isn't that the gun that kept overheating and jamming during Viet Nam? :confused:

He leaves next week.

That is good news, Kathy! Don't worry about the M16, that class of gun has stayed pretty current as far as updates in technology... unless... they're actually using the same ones from 1970. :eek:;)

My fiance says that back then they were in such a hurry to get the M16 out there they used the wrong kind of powder. The powder burned too slowly causing the gun to jam. Anywho, they use rod powder now. I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds logical! LMAO Dennis served in Iraq 2004-05, It's really tough having our loved ones away from us, but I'm so proud of him and I am very grateful for your son's service as well! :)

thankful to hear that news Kathy:hug:

Phew - thanks ((Cindy and JessieSue)). :) Thank you ((Cheri)) :)

I must say I'm rather proud of myself for keeping my comments to myself. My son already knows how I feel about guns. Here on the streets of Chicago, they only cause death and destruction, heartache and pain. :(

He told my husband the SWAT training is "kick ***," lol. I winced, though, when my son was talking about the M16 and told his father "When I get out, I've GOT to get me one of those." :eek: My husband noticed the shocked look on my face and shook his head, so I let it go. It wasn't a good time for a lecture from mom. :rolleyes: How badly I wanted to say "Oh really - who and what would you need to shoot here in Chicago?" :mad:

Kathy, you said:

"when my son was talking about the M16 and told his father "When I get out, I've GOT to get me one of those."

Sounds exactly what Will Smith said as he drove the alien spaceship in Independence Day.

It's a guy thing. A testosterone thing.

Don't worry. I bet when he comes back, he'll be so tired of guns, he'll just want to sit and chill for a bit and enjoy being with his family.

Good news though.

Bet your mind is resting a bit easier right??

God Bless your son!!

It sure is, Melody.

When my son was 8, we traveled out to Arizona during Easter break to be with my husband's family and see where he grew up. He grew up hunting rattlesnakes in the desert for his grandmother, and she would cook them for the family.

My husband taught him how to shoot out there (taught him how to drive our car too). It was a lot of fun because a bunch of us went out there. We brought the leftover Easter eggs and used them for target practice. :p

It was the first time meeting my husband's family. I got lucky - they are all wonderful people. It's a good thing too, after watching my sister-in-law shoot. :eek:

An egg was positioned on a small branch pretty far away. She took aim and shot off the shell. She took another shot and blew off the white part, leaving the yolk intact - then she finished it off. :cool:

We all stood there in amazement. Needless to say, I learned to never mess with my SIL. :D

Excellent news Kathy. He'll be in my thoughts for a safe and speedy return.:)

I am in absolute awe of all of your shooting abilities.

I have never held a gun (oh, that's not true, I did touch Alan's gun about 26 years ago, because he was a Private Investigator when I married him). He used to leave the apartment, go and stand in the hallway, and he had something called a quick-loader. Then he would be off to work.

He kept the gun and the quick loader in some special locked box HIGH UP IN OUR CLOSET.

He made me promise never to touch it. He hid the box behind some stuff. Only he was allowed to touch that box. Once I asked him if I could touch the gun and because he never kept it loaded, he let me touch it. Now I have no idea why I had to do such a thing but that was the last time I went near the darn thing.

I asked him why he was making such a big deal of putting it way up high in the back of the closet and he replied: "'I don't want our son to touch this"

OUR SON WAS 3 DAYS OLD AT THE TIME!!!!!

I never laughed so hard.

LOL Melody. I'm sure you pointed out that 3-day-old limbs don't do much more than flail. :p

His concern for his son was sweet, but it doesn't surprise me. Isn't this the same man who was willing to crawl on his stomach in church for his son's religious ceremony? :D