PFC Daniel A. Hendrix

Today was the last day of our visit to see Daniel graduate. He graduated from 3^rd Battalion, 34^th Infantry, Bravo Company. Tomorrow (Sunday), he jumps in a bus and heads for Fort Lee, VA for his Quartermaster school for 10 weeks. We had a great two days here with him. We bowled, shopped, ate, and generally cut-up the whole time. Daniel always brought a “battle-buddy” along who was alone and without family. I’ve included some pictures on my flickr account of the graduation. You can look at them here. We were so busy, I forget to get any pictures of him. This picture to the left is taking at 8pm at night at his barracks and it’s our final moments with him before we leave. He looks very serious in the picture but it’s right before saying goodbye and he’s already had some emotional and tearful time with Mom saying goodbye. It was hard leaving him.

US Army BCT Family Day

We got to finally see PFC (Private First Class) Daniel today. He looked incredible in uniform. Today was Family Day where we watched him form up with his company. They released him at noon and we had him back at 1945 hours (7:45pm for you civilians). We went bowling and shopping but the main thing Daniel wanted to do was eat REAL food. We did Taco Bell, snacks, and finally Outback Steakhouse where he ordered the 20 ounce steak. Tomorrow is the actual graduation and we get to spend the day with him again until 1945 hours again. It’s been a full day and I’m exhausted. You can see some pictures here.

It’s time to see the third of our sons graduate from Basic Combat Training. Daniel graduates this Thursday and Friday at Fort Jackson, SC. He’s been there for the last 9 weeks and he’s really glad it’s almost over. Next, he goes to AIT at Fort Lee, VA. We leave tomorrow (Wednesday, October 29, 2008) and have Timothy (our youngest son) with us out of school. We both have our Canon cameras and will be updating flickr.com during the trip. Enjoy the trip with us.

I had a great day. Went to church, taught Sunday School, and then went with Daniel to pick some great steaks for a Father’s Day cookout at a good friend’s house (Tim Wood). Daniel got me a hilarious card and a book called “99 Questions – God’s Answers for Dads.” Ben got me a book called “No Atheists in Foxholes: Prayers and Reflections from the Front.” Thomas, who is an active duty Combat Medic, called and let me know he still loved me! He’s stationed in Washington, D.C. with the Old Guard (Army’s oldest regiment). Timothy is the only son, my youngest, who was not at home. He’s in Indiana with World Changers working on homes. Ben and his wife Andrea came over and played cards with us for the day at home and also gave us some great news — another baby is on the way. They already have one child Dominic. This will be the second. I’m starting to feel old! It was a wonderful day. I am truly blessed.

I was honored to be at my son’s graduation today from Airborne jump school. He completed his 5 jumps and is now airborne qualified. I was even more honored to pin on his wings at the graduation ceremony. We’re here enjoying a weekend with him before he starts RIP (Ranger Indoctrination Program). That will be a 4 week course that will get him into a ranger regiment and then eventually ranger school. He will also be attending, after RIP, Special Operations medic training at Fort Bragg, NC, which is above and beyond his basic medic training he’s already received at Fort Sam Houston, TX. He’s been busy and still got a lot more to do. All this and he’s still a teenager at 19 years old. For more pictures, go here.

Thomas didn’t get to jump today — the plane had to be repaired. I guess that’s a good thing. He’s thinking they might do all of the last 3 jumps tomorrow but he’s not sure. I’ll update here as soon as I know.

Thomas has been at Airborne Jump School now for two weeks. He’s completed Ground Week, Tower Week, and is now in Jump Week. Monday, he completed two “Hollywood” jumps (no extra gear). Today, he is going to jump two more times (combat jumps — full combat gear). Tomorrow (Wednesday), he will do one night jump at 9pm to complete his 5 jumps and then be allowed to wear his Airborne Wings. We will be leaving Thursday for Fort Benning, Georgia for the Graduation Ceremony Friday. This father will have the extreme honor of pinning the wings on his uniform. When he completes jump school, it only gets harder. He then has to prepare for RIP (Ranger Indoctrination Program). He has to pass this to be assigned to a Ranger regiment and qualify to go to Ranger School. He’s already finished basic, combat medic school, and by Friday, jump school. All this and he’s only 19. Please keep him in your prayers. I thank God for these young men and women who stand in harm’s way for this country.

Here we are at Fort Sill and our son Thomas has graduated from Basic Combat Training. He’s been here 9 weeks and is glad to see us. We’ve left the army post and he’s got two pay checks to spend and the first place we went was a mall and a WAL-MART. Now we are leaving the hotel to have pizza and then bowling. It’ll be a full day. Mom and I are very, very, very proud of this young man. Please keep him in your prayers as he leaves for Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas where he gets his Medic training for the next 16 weeks.

Go here for more images from Fort Sill from my flickr.com account.