Off He Goes, Into the Wild Blue Yonder

**Prester John** · 31st January 06, 09:15 AM

My eldest son leaves for the USAF this morning.

Here he is last September.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frjohn...&.dnm=6a02.jpg

My dad also served in the USAF honorably. Though I know they need chaplains, they won't let me go. I'm too old, they say.

I don't have a pic of him in the Robertson Red yet, but hopefully when Boot Camp is over.

This is the one who did 62 out of 63 days in Parris Island Marine Corps Boot Camp, only to have 2 broken legs at the end, so they wouldn't let him to the Crucible, and therefore couldn't graduate, and enter the Reserves before College.

Mom is happier with the Air Force.

Please keep him, and us, in prayer!

**Moosehead** · 31st January 06, 09:30 AM

Outstanding! What MOS?

**davedove** · 31st January 06, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Prester John

My eldest son leaves for the USAF this morning.

Here he is last September.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frjohn...&.dnm=6a02.jpg

My dad also served in the USAF honorably. Though I know they need chaplains, they won't let me go. I'm too old, they say.

I don't have a pic of him in the Robertson Red yet, but hopefully when Boot Camp is over.

This is the one who did 62 out of 63 days in Parris Island Marine Corps Boot Camp, only to have 2 broken legs at the end, so they wouldn't let him to the Crucible, and therefore couldn't graduate, and enter the Reserves before College.

Mom is happier with the Air Force.

Please keep him, and us, in prayer!

He is in my prayers. Be sure he knows we thank him for his service. As an employee of the Medical Research and Materiel Command, if anything goes wrong (and I pray it doesn't), we've got his back.

**KiltedKnight** · 31st January 06, 12:52 PM

I'm sure that you're very proud of your son, all of them. My sons never showed any interest in enlisting though I served 21 years in the Army. I retired in January of 91, just before the first action in Iraq. I served in Viet Nam and Grenada so you know that I was wishing extra hard that I could have been attached to a battle group in Iraq but they said that I was 'too old' as well. The service is a great place for a young man. Good on him.

**Prester John** · 31st January 06, 01:26 PM

He qualified for everything, but wants a job in intelligence. For that, he has to get an available slot...if there is one currently available. At this level, where we are the last to get them, we don't know right now.

However, if there isn't an opening, that is ANY job at this moment in intel, he's heading into something in electronics.

I won't know the outcome for awhile yet, but he seems happy either way.

**Prester John** · 31st January 06, 01:54 PM

KiltedKnight

Thank you, sir, for your service to our country.

**davedove** · 31st January 06, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by KiltedKnight

I'm sure that you're very proud of your son, all of them. My sons never showed any interest in enlisting though I served 21 years in the Army. I retired in January of 91, just before the first action in Iraq. I served in Viet Nam and Grenada so you know that I was wishing extra hard that I could have been attached to a battle group in Iraq but they said that I was 'too old' as well. The service is a great place for a young man. Good on him.

I have LOTS of respect for anyone who has retired from the military, not only for their service, but because of all the BS they had to put with over the years (I still work for the Army, so I know what goes on).;-)

I got to thinking the other day that if I had stayed in the Army, I could have retired this last October, instead of having to wait another 11 years.:-(

**Sherry** · 31st January 06, 03:50 PM

May he go with God's blessings on him--& a few extra angels wouldn't hurt either. :grin:

**Prester John** · 31st January 06, 04:27 PM

Amen to that.

From your lips & keyboard to God's ears! ;)

**NewKilt** · 31st January 06, 05:05 PM

Fr. John,

You can certainly be most proud. You have a fine young man there. Great picture - he wears the kilt with pride and distinction. I will definetly keep your son, and all of your family in my prayers.

I'm a Navy Vietnam veteran, and my father served in the Navy during WWII.

Here is an alternate verse to The Navy Hymn for those who serve in the air, rather than on the sea. I thought you might like it:

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!

Darrell