Seeing Brock at Fort Sill

What a good trip.

Lori and I arrived on 7-4-07 at 2:30 am. We had reservations for flight,car, and hotel through one of those online "do it all" companies clear back at the beginning of June. The Ramada inn had only garnered 2 stars on a 5 star scale but it was the only option on-line, close to the Base.

That was the worst motel I've ever stayed in. There were cockroaches on the walls, the carpets were terribly stained, the once white walls had deep stains at thew wall corners and around where all the wall hangings used to be???!?!?? The bed was damp and the whole room smelled like a big ash tray. On top of that, the trash truck showed up at 6:30 am and emptied, not 1, not 2, but 5 metal tip over the cab dumpsters, just outside our room. Then 20 minutes later the rednecks came out of the woodwork and start the mowing chores. The grass was 8-10"'s long so the 10 year old wal-mart $40 push mower with uncle Festus' borrowed ovedrsized engine coughed and sputtered and backfired through the lawn.

We arrived to Brocks "family day" right on time and had a great time. We both shed a few tears when we finally got to hug him and tell him we love him. We got to see where he lives and where he trains. We got a lot more info on exactly how it all works. Then we left the base and went down to Witchita Falls TX, about 45 miles due south from Lawton OK, the town next to the Base. Brock spent some of his hard earned $ on a new lap top computer and we ate at "any place but the chow hall". We also checked into a much nicer hotel for about the same price as the rat hole we spent our 1st night in. I called Hotwire and told them about the place and they promptly refunded our dough. They also said they'd send someone out to ck out the problems.

The following day we went to his formal graduation. It is amazing how moving 250 young men yelling in unison can be. They all looked very stern and professional. Quite a difference from the rag-tag bunch that we saw on the video taken 9 weeks ago.

We went from the grad out to the movies and saw Transformers with Brock. After the movie we saw and met many of Brock's colleagues that were enjoying themselves at the mall. He introduced us to the Kenyan that gave him the competition in all the running he did.

It was so good to see him and he sends all his love to all y'all. He starts AIT (advanced infantry training) on monday. He said he should know what his permanent station a few weeks into AIT. He'll go there in Early September after he gets his first "leave" at the end of August. He loved getting letters from all those of you who sent them and said to tell all of you thank you.

Wyatt