Thank you, Pam! My son comes from a long military line. Every man in my family is prior Navy (and I am, too, actually). John's father is also still in the Navy as a Command Master Chief. John has known since he was 6 that he wanted to be a Marine, but I tell ya, it was a lot easier when he was 6 or 12 or even 14 when he would say that was what he wanted. It was a lot different the day I came home from work and there was a recruiter sitting in my livingroom asking me to sign papers for my then 17 year old to enlist. He was in delayed entry for a year before he left.
John is a mechanic and is stationed at Camp Lejeune. His unit is slated to go to Iraq in September, unless the unit he is supposed to replace does not return. I'm not freaking out or anything (very unlike me as I am Super Overprotectomom <insert superhero music here>) because anything can happen between now and then.. but come August, well, that may be a whole other issue....
Regardless, I am so incredibly proud of him... and he'll be the first to tell ya i'm his number one fan... LOL