November 27, 2007

Training has been making the days pass quickly. So quickly that I often forget to write my journal entries. A couple of days ago we had to go to the shooting range during rain and fog that lasted all morning into the mid-afternoon. It was so bad we were laying in mud puddles shooting pop-up targets, wearing body armor and helmets to boot! Today we had a 6 mile road march that started at 5AM this morning and didn't end until we got back at 7AM. Most people get blisters, however I am one of the lucky ones that doesn't have to worry about that. Drill sgt. "C" always makes myself and the other tall guys march at the back of the line. The bad part of being in the back is, during a road march the people in the front get strung out and spaced, then the drill sgts yell so the guys will close the gaps and those of us in the back end up running half the time! Oh, the reason they put tall guys in the back is because we have a longer stride and won't leave the short guys behind if we are setting the pace. During road marches we are miserable because we are loaded with 60 lbs. of gear and we're at the mercy of the weather outside. This morning was not bad, other than all the residual water everywhere. We have a specialist in our platoon named "H". "H" is a 28 year old with a ton of wit and a great sense of humor! He is inspiring because he went to college, had a good pencil pushing job making decent money and still chose to serve in the Army. He's here for a lot of the same reasons I am. However, he hurt his balls during GFT, and now he's missing a lot of training this week. It's funny as hell though every time he gets back from the doctor, he gets everyone around the fire guard desk in a semi-circle and pulls out his GIANT, BLUE nuts just to hear us groan and turn away. Nobody here is bashful anymore around each other. I guess when you are forced to shit, shower and shave together, one begins to forget about bashfulness. Well, it's about time for lights out and I have already written an essay tonight, so I'm going to hang up the pen for the night. I love you all at home and I miss you. 16MORE DAYS!!!!!! I'm coming home!!!
Anthony