Chris arrived safely to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri on April 30th. He was able to call with a brief scripted message letting me know he made it there safe. He was then in processing for a week and I didn't hear by mail or by phone for a solid week. I got an unexpected call from him on May 7th and I was just ecstatic! It was his ONE phone call home until graduation and it was only 3 minutes long. What can you possibly say in 3 minutes? Well, a whole love of "I love You's", "I'm Proud of You's", and "I Miss You's" :) It was JUST what I needed to get me through these past 3 weeks! And wow, have the days/weeks flown by! I received my FIRST letter from Chris Friday, May 11th. He is in Echo Company, 4th Platoon they call themselves "The Devil Dogs. He says he Drill Sergeants are crazy tough because they are known to be the BEST platoon. Oh and his head is shaved, haha.
Chris said the first thing to happen when they arrived to actual Basic Training was they all got "Shark Attacked". They all drove in a bus in silence, he said he could tell the majority of the men (including him) where a bit nervous and then all of a sudden they were surrounded by Drill Sergeants screaming and making them do exercise after exercise. Chris said the first lesson he's learned is, "If a drill sergeant says it, you better freaking do it! And do it FAST!" (This made me laugh because ALL through out his letter's Chris talks about how much "fun" he's having.) Chris has made some good battle buddies and everyone looks out for each other. He pulled a muscle his first week training and got blisters on both his heels that popped and became infected. They put him on crutches, but has been recently RTD (Returned To Duty) and didn't miss ANY of the REAL training (Thank Heavens!) He asked me to have everyone pray for his leg, it is still very sore and he worries about busting it more. So, please pray for a full recovery on his pulled muscle.
Chris say's a typical day in Basic Training right now goes like this:
0400-Wake up, Get Ready, Clean
0500(ish)- Drill Sergents come in and usually "smoke" them
0610- Get in Formation to march to the DFAC (Dining Facility)
0630-Breakfast (But every meal is called "chow")
0650-Back in formation and march back to barracks
0700-Briefings (sitting in class) and assorted "smoking"
1110-Formation march to DFAC
1130-Lunch
1150-Formation and march back to barracks
1200-Briefing, cleaning, getting "smoked", learning drill and ceremony etc.
1630- Formation march to DFAC and dinner
1700- More of the same stuff explained above and getting "smoked" some more
2000-Personal time, (Shower, Letters, etc.)
2100- Lights out.
This was all in his own words and "smoke", "smoking", and "smoked" I've learned means EXTREME exercises. Chris says though he doesn't have access to a scale he can see himself becoming leaner and leaner everyday.
Chris' battle buddy's last name is Kingsby, he's 19 and from Fresno, California. He says he's a cool kid and has looked after her while he was injured as has the rest of his platoon. It sounds to me like Chris is the "favorite" everyone is always asking for his help he says and Chris is constantly sharing everything and anything he can with everyone. He is one amazing guy my husband :)
Chris even sent me a Mother's Day card from him and one from Jack! He must have purchased them before hand because I'm pretty sure the PDX doesn't carry that type of stuff. Chris goes to church every Sunday and he says he looks forward to it EVERY week! He said on his first Sunday when the bus arrived to the LDS church there where members lined up waiting to greet them. He said, "It took every ounce of strength to not break down into tears right there and then. Everyone is so nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's truly breathtaking to see first-hand how the church is like home no matter where you go."
Chris said a member in his platoon practically begged him to read scriptures with him every night because he was having some trouble adjusting. Chris says it's like he's on a second mission. Non members are constantly coming up to him after getting back from church with tons of questions and a few have even gone to church with him! This goes to show God's plan is FAR greater than ours. Chris has gotten constant confirmations that he is where HE NEEDS TO BE, and so have I.
The Ward even sent me a directory of numbers to call if I needed anything and they sent my a picture of Chris too! He looks sooo different to me, but still so unbelievably handsome.
Soldiers are constantly asking Chris about his family and religion. He is showing that he has an extra something' about him because he is able to do the exercises with little efforts and walks taller than the rest on the really hard days. I'm so proud of my husband, I really truly am. I love him more than EVER and love our relationship we've created with God and ourselves.
Please write to my husband. He writes me EVERY DAY and I KNOW he would also love to hear from all of you besides me.
His Address is:
PFC Kenner, Christopher
E CO 2-10 In 4th PLT
495 Iowa Avenue, Unti 42
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 65473
Also, remember to write 4th PLT on the back for the envelope!
He can receive letters and pictures, but NO packages!
<3 B
