October 31, 2010 - Day 19 - Happy Halloween

We received our first real letter from Zach. No sugar coating. No brave face for the home front. Reads like a new recruit at MCRD should read. After all the movies, discussions at home, talks with the recruiters, viewing the Marine's website, Zach is in total shock.

So, I guess the old Marine's phrase, "We still make 'em like we used to." "We never promised you a rose garden." are all still true. The reality is that it is hard for me to hear as a Dad. It's comforting for me to hear as a former Marine. Semper Fi Zach.

July 22, 2003

PFC Sarah M. Hickey
Staff Correspondent

We STILL don't promise you a rose garden

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (July 22, 2003) -
In the early 1970's, a Marine Corps recruiting poster featuring a Drill Instructor menacing a recruit began its tenure. The poster served to remind prospective Marines of the reality of their obligation with the harsh phrase "We don't promise you a rose garden." It ran from late 1971, to mid 1984, but no one expected the poster to become such a legend and staple of the recruiting offices, least of all the model for the poster, former drill instructor Sgt. Charles A. Taliano.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - Day 15

Howdy All,

Due to films, television and just general knowledge of the Marine Corps, Pugil Sticks is one of the more famous aspects of Marine Corps Boot Camp. I'm putting this in here because if you send Zach a letter by the time he gets your letter this is what he will probably be doing. First Phase (the first four weeks of bootcamp) is the most difficult for most recruits. Pugil Sticks is an integral part of boot camp and of the growth of the recruit. Check it out!



Pugil Sticks

Please keep Zach in your prayers.

Tim

St. Crispians Day - Day 14 - First Letter

Today we received Zach's first letter. The form letter. The one where he is allowed to scrawl in our names and then fold and put into an envelope and send to us with his address. (Except Zach scratched in "Send to Mom and Heather, Plz.") We did. Please email us if you would like to get his address. No Cards, no packages, no medicine, no pain-killers, no socks, no underwear, no snacks, no candy. Just letters.

But since it is St. Crispians Day and Zach and I had read this several times I thought I'd put in one of the more unique renditions of this famous Shakespearean speech. And since Zach's in the Marines wouldn't this be an appropriate version? Enjoy:

Atlanta actor and Marine Corps machine gunner Jay Peterson performs the St. Crispian's Day speech from Henry V while disassembling and reassembling an M240B Machine gun twice.

Here is one of the most famous versions of the same speech - this time by Kenneth Brannagh:


"We few, we happy few!"

Semper Fi! Z

The Longest Thirteen Days of My Life

Zach left on October 12, 2010 and today is Sunday, October 24, 2010. We haven't heard a word yet from Zach. It has been the longest 13 days of my life. It is my fervent hope that we will get a letter tomorrow.

I've had so many memories of my experience in the Marines flash through my head over the last two weeks. I am reliving that time in my dreams at night and in waking dreams in the morning. I remembered how I used to not go on liberty until AFTER the first mail call had been delivered. I remember coming back to the ship to see what mail had come. This even in the most exotic and wonderful liberty ports that I had the privilege of visiting. I still wanted to touch home and be in contact with my family and friends. I suspect that Zach will be much the same.

Don't think about the whole thing!

October 19, Day 8

Howdy Zach,

You’ve been gone for a week and it seems like a lifetime. I miss you far More than you can ever know. I love you so much. You have always beenSo important to me. In the last week I have had flashbacks, dreams and Thoughts of you constantly. You must know that you are in my prayers

In virtually every moment of the day. Ok. Enough. I am so proud of you For the decision that you have made and that you are following through With that decision. I’m following through on my commitment to you as well.

We've received dozens of encouraging comments from friends and family concerning Zach. Some don't know how to handle it, but Zach's Godfather sure does. Prayer, support, comfort and communication. Zach and we have been so blessed as a family to have such incredible friends and family members.  

As I told Zach in his first letter. "Don't think about the whole thing. Stay in the moment and enjoy the moments!"

Thanks for your support.

Please keep Zach in your prayers.

Tim

So, started my first letter to Recruit Private Zach Ziegler. I know that this experience is as much for his family as it is for Zach. This is how he is going to grow up and become the man The Lord wants him to be.

Day 6 Sunday 17 October 2010

Every recruit's experience of bootcamp is different.  But the Marine Corps gives both recruits and parents a variety of tools to learn about their potential experience.  Here are a few links:

Twelve Weeks - Recruit Training
http://www.marines.com/main/index/making_marines/recruit_training/marine-bootcamp
This link is a side-by-side comparison of a recruit and drill instructor's view of the 12 weeks of bootcamp.  If you reference this link, you'll have a good idea of what Zach is experiencing during that week. 

This first week has been mostly administrative, medical and evaluative.  Tomorrow will start the real meat of bootcamp. 

Another source is
http://www.lifeasamarine.com/
I spent several hours today reading through the various links under this page.  There are some eloquent and touching stories about the young men and women who have joined the Marine Corps.  I would recommend them to you if you wanted to learn more about what Zach is doing, and possibly about how you are feeling about what Zach is doing.

Thanks for your prayers.

Tim

No News is Good News

We haven't received any word from Zach and that's probably a good sign.  Since he wasn't allowed to call in when he got there, we were hoping he'd get to call later. So far, not yet.

Several people have asked how to get in touch with him.  He can only receive letters, old fashioned snail mail.  We don't have an address yet.  He will get to write us and let us know then how to get a letter to him.  Once we do, I'll let you know.  If you'd like to write him, please email me and I'll send it to you. 

There is a fine line between getting mail, which is good and he'll enjoy very much, and getting TOO much mail so that you stick out.  As Tim says, you don't want to be the nail sticking up at bootcamp - You're likely to get pounded!  Make sure you send letters only - no postcards as they tend to get read out loud to the whole platoon.  And as far as I know right now, no goodies or packages.  Just letters.

When we hear something, we'll let you know!
Thanks for your prayers for Zach's health and mental fortitude!
Margaret

Swearing In Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Day 1

MEPS DENVER

From Wikipedia here is the oath of enlistment that Zach just took:

I, Zachary Adam Ziegler, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

While I'm standing outside waiting for this ceremony I hear a father say on his cell phone, "He's grown up about five years in the last 20 minutes!" Later, I got to meet that family so emblematic of all of the families of these young men. (Earlier groups had young women in them too.) Good people. Proud of their son, happy at his decision. Concerned about what may happen and placing their faith in God that things will work out well for their son.

Zach was pretty serious - as he should be.

Lt. Brown, US Army, did a wonderful job of speaking to the enlistees of all branches about their oath and what bootcamp would be like for them, "This isn't like the movies. In the movies the only things you see of bootcamp are negative, people yelling, beating on you, and other horrible images of life in bootcamp. Yet, our people often tell us that bootcamp is one of the most positive experiences in their lives. Make this a postive experience in your life!" Words to live by.

Proud Papa!

How appropriate:

‎"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Chris and Emily Wood's son with Zach and Lt. Brown. L.T.'s (pronounced Ell Tee) smilin'.  The kids are not! (Emily took these photos!) 

And the Journey begins....

On Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, Columbus Day, Zach reported to MEPS in Denver to begin his journey in the USMC.  Again!

First it was his shoulders.  Could the doctor send a note saying he was fit to be a Marine?  Done.

Then it was, well, the USMC needs to see the entire medical file.  Could you send that over?  Done.

Then it was, where is your Social Security Card?  Even after applying in person with his recruiter, the Social Security office had no record of it.  So, the second application was sent and one ship date passed by.

After spending almost an hour on the phone (mostly on hold), we come to find that the first application for a replacement card was never pulled, meaning that the Social Security agent wasn't exactly honest in telling Zach and the Marine Sgt. that it was destroyed by the Post Office.  But the second one was on its way.  And another ship date passed by.

By now, it was the running joke - when would Zach ship?  I don't think Zach thought it was funny though!  He has been ready to go for a long time, so when Monday came and he was told he could go, there was more relief than excitement in the air.

Tuesday morning was the swearing in ceremony and a final goodbye to family who could meet them downtown.  Tim went and commented that it was the same place he shipped out of when he joined the Marines "years ago".  It was a proud moment for them both to say goodbye, good luck, do your best and be proud of all that you do.

Then our wait began.  We knew that he would be calling us from MCRD in San Diego sometime early in the morning on Wednesday.  He would have a sheet he had to read from informing us that he had arrived safely and he would contact us by letter with his platoon assignment and address.

Imagine our surprise when he called from the Denver Airport about 9pm on Tuesday night!  When I asked him what he had been doing all day, he said jacks**t.  Yeah, well welcome to the Marines, Tim answered.

Turns out he almost didn't ship.  He was on the wait list.  After leaving the Sergeant's office when he was told he might not go, he said he sat down and fumed about 30 minutes.  Then he marched back into the Sergeant's office and said something to the effect of, that's my reputation you're fooling with here!  I've told people I'm leaving.  I'm ready to go and I was told I would be going.  So what do I need to do to make it happen?

And then the hand of God reaches down - a guy who was supposed to ship could only do 2 pull ups in his physical and when this sergeant was called about a replacement, he said, take Zach.  He's ready to roll!

So we say goodbye to Zach while he's waiting to get on a plane, expecting to hear from him around 2 or 4 am.

And we wait ---- and wait --- and wait ----

When the alarm goes off at 6am, it's obvious that he hasn't called and Tim is now pretty worried.  In all his dealings with the USMC, he's never heard of a recruit not calling home.  Tim calls the recruiter around 8am and he agrees, that's very strange.  Oh, that's reassuring!

After 10am comes and goes, Tim calls again.  Still no word.....

After noon comes and goes, Tim calls again saying, we need to know.  Sure enough, an answer comes back - Zach is where he is supposed to be and all is well.

Whew!

So, why didn't he call?

The only explanation the sergeant can find is that his drill instructor kept the whole platoon from calling.  Who knows why that is, but I'm sure we'll hear about it in Zach's first letter!  I can imagine that many of the guys were worried about their families not knowing they were okay, and Zach is sitting there thinking, oh, Dad will know.  And if he doesn't, he'll find out! 

Sure enough, he did!

The only other thing the recruiter said was that Zach probably wasn't going to get any sleep for the first 36 hours or so.  No biggie!  He did that all through high school!

More news and pics of the swearing in when we get them.
Thank you for your prayers!
Margaret and Tim