After nearly a week of receiving no mail, Today I received Anthony's 3rd letter home. It was written over March 4th - 6th, and was Mailed on March 7th.
On the 4th after "working his ass off" he wrote about his first mail call. He was certain that he was going to get a letter from home because I'm only one state away, but he didn't. The sadness in his letter was almost too much to bear. I had been writing and writing and writing some more, and he still hadn't received a letter. He said that he was kind of down, and that he felt he was being overly homesick, or it was just that our separation was finally setting in. He told me that he had $2000 worth of gear in his locker, $50 cash and a debit card that he would trade all for a post-it note from me, or something scribbled on a napkin, or ANYTHING. He told me that it's going to be his most prized possession once he receives a letter from me.
He also wrote about Rappelling. He said that it was kind of scary to just lean back over a wall that was 60 ft. off the ground and only be holding onto a rope, but after doing it he would do it from a much higher distance if he had the chance. They taught him to tie a "Swiss Seat." He said they were starting the Modern Army Combative Program (MACP) soon. The MACP is how to disarm people with guns and beat people up. He's excited to do that I'm sure given his martial arts background.
Later in the letter he told me about his MRE and how he was excited to have some candy or something sweet from it, but the DS passed around a "contraband box" and they confiscated their sweets. All he wants is a bunch of candy, and I'm going to make a basket of sweets to take to him for family day and graduation day! I know he will appreciate that!
He also told me that he had been doing fireguard with his bunkmate. He had to do it from 2-3 and then went to sleep by 3:30. Then the fire alarm went off at 4:00. His DS decided that they should make the best of their morning and start the day's training early. He had just wanted a little more sleep, but he's gotten used to waking up in the mornings. He said that he's starting to wake up around 4 all on his own now.
He told me that he went through the Gas Chamber on the 5th. He said that he was excited to go through it, but afterwards he said "F%^* Tear Gas!!" He said that they called it Riot Suppression Gas. They made him enter the chamber, and once he was in he had to break the seal on his mask and recite his last name and social security number, then take a breath in. He was then allowed to reseal and purge his mask. After that they made him take off his helmet and then rip off his mask completely, he then had to strap his helmet back on, hold up his M-16 and hold their gas masks in their left hand for about a minute and "just suffer." He said that his nose was "pouring nastiness" and that his eyes were stinging and watering. He said that he was "coughing his ass off" and could barely get any air. He said that another guy yelled "I can't breathe!" and tried to run out the door. A Drill Sargaent in a chemical suit and gas mask yelled "You're not going anywhere!" and pushed him back in the corner. He said that he started laughing, and it made it a lot harder to breathe. After a minute or so he was released from the chamber and coughed for like 10 minutes. He said that despite it sucking so bad he had a really good day.
He said again that he hopes to hear from somebody soon, and that he wanted me to give his address out to everyone, which I had already done. the desperation in his letter to receive a letter made me kind of upset. I wonder if ARMY personell are keeping letters for a few extra days or something.... He should have gotten something by now!
On the 6th he had written to me after going to bible study. He said that he had dosed off several times during the study, and that he felt horrible about it, but he was just so tired. He had fireguard the night before from 3-4. He said that he was having his first Field Training Exercise or FTX on the night of the 7th. They are going out into the field and staying the night in order to learn compass and star navigation skills. He also gets to go to the rifle range in about 2 weeks. He told me to go out and buy myself something, because he wants nothing more than to buy me a gift, but he can't send out packages. So, in a few days I am going to go out and treat myself to something. He also hopes that I am "X-ing" the days on the calendar off until his graduation, and he knows me too well, because I definitely have been! He wrapped up his letter by saying he would write again as soon as he could, and that he loved me.
I can't wait to get another response from him soon, and I hope he has received a letter from me already. I miss him so much, and I want nothing more than for him to feel loved and missed.
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