Lots of News!

Cass graduated from AIT yesterday! He got to come home with us. Hooray!!! He will be home participating in the Hometown Recruiting Program for approximately 20 days. He works with a local recruiting station for 24 hours a week trying to recruit people he knows etc. We are so exciting to have him home! I do not expect to see him much though. He will stay mostly with his Aunt Bridget and Uncle Joey in OKC. I can't drag him down to Chickasha because all his buddies are in OKC. I don't mind though--I'll just drive to the City everyday and get what I can.

Cass got stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. It is an amazing location--beach, mountains, Canada etc. He could not have gotten a better state side base. It is a long way from home. He is excited about it. But like I said a long way from home so he has some tempered reservations. I am really proud of his courage. Not many 17 year olds could do what he is doing.

Last weekend Pat and I went to see Cass for Family Day. We spent time with him and his two good buddies. It was really good to see their interaction with each other. You could see how much fun they had with one another and the trust and reliance they have with one another as well. Pat and I really enjoyed the trip. Even seeing Friday the 13th (like part 30 I think). You know the young men chose the film (wait to call it a film is way too generous - flick maybe). I have some pictures I will post as soon as I can.

Cass looks really good, if I may say so myself. He has gained 20 - 25 pounds since joining the Army. He looks better each time I see him. I cannot express to you what an amazing young man he is. He has grown so much. The area that stands out a lot is his patience! Those of you that are reading this know what I mean! He actually can stay sit down for a full meal and even chit chat for awhile afterwards. I'm so proud of him!

Cass has to be in Washington on March 18th. He is assigned to the 61st Chemical Decon Unit-as best we can tell. He knows a few soldiers from AIT that are going there as well. Please take time to see him while he is here. We have no idea when he will be home again.

In closing, I have to say "I love him whole bunches!"

Mom

UPDATE- Technical School - Cell phone trouble

Too long again...I know!

As many of you know, Cass is in technical school (AIT).  The Chemical School is at Fort Leonard Wood so he is still in Missouri.  AIT should finish towards the end of February.   Then he will be shipped to his first duty station.  We do not know where that is yet and will not likely know until a week or two before he ships out.  However, some of his classmates have gotten their orders (subject to change) and will be stationed in various locations such as Colorado, Kansas, New York. etc.   I am told that the last group through Chemical School went mostly to Korea.  It is a wait and see game.

There is a chance that Cass may get to attend some advanced training after AIT at the Chemical School.  The one he is interested in is LIMA 5, which is recon. The training would be for 6 weeks and he would remain at Fort Leonard Wood. He should know about that soon.  

I can tell you all that he is really getting tired of the same old routine.  I can hear it in his voice!  You know how he is -- he never was much for routine and needs some excitement.  Cass is a quick student so it does not take long for things to get old.  Plus, he is stuck there with no car--you know how he hates that!  Soon though very soon.  He can have a vehicle at his first duty station.  Soon very soon.  If he goes state side, I would like to see him go to Colorado.  Overseas options are limited-Korea and Germany seem to be the largest placement of CBRN's.  Italy and Japan is possible but rare.

For those of you that do not know, the screen on his cell phone is broken so he cannot text or see who calls.  He is not good about checking his voicemail either.  So I just call until I reach him.  Evenings after 8:00 seem best.  It really lifts his spirits to hear from you all!

Cass is HOME!

Cass is home of Christmas! He is spending his time with family and friends. I found some pics that I thought I would share. Please enjoy! The first one is the puppy that Cass "brought" to Ian for Christmas. One is a picture of the barricks that Cass has been in for about of month. The other two speak for themselves.

Cass would love to hear from and see you all.

Update / HOMECOMING!

 It has been a while since I have posted so I'll start with and update. 

Pat and I were able to go see Cass on Thanksgiving.  We only got a half of day with him on Thanksgiving and about a half a day the following day.  But we were thankful for the time we did get.  At the first of the week they had their pass for Thanksgiving taken away because some of them were caught drunk/drinking.  So we were happy to get what we got!  We fed him a Thanksgiving meal from Cracker Barrel.  Not as good as most of you got I am sure but much better than was the Army fed him.

Right after graduation, his unit was moved into new quarters.  Much better than the BCT barracks.  Much like college dorms.  He shared a room with two others.  They had real beds!  They shared a bath room with 3 others in the next room.  They were able to have TV's with cable, XBox etc.  Well, unfortunately that did not last long.  They gave them a taste of the "good life" and in a matter of days they were moved back to a barracks because their AIT class got pushed back several weeks.  They were bumped for the National Guard and Reserves that were training for Chemical.  It seems they have priority.  In addition, the MOS was overbooked and they had too many soldiers.  Cass and his unit moved around 3 or 4 more times having to carry all their belongs from place to place.  The last place he was had like 60 beds in one room.  All the electronics locked up.  Nothing to do and limited on-base passes.  So, even though they had graduated they were being treated like they were still in BCT.  Obviously, frustrating.  The hardest part is seems in talking with Cass during this time was the waiting.  The soldiers were bored, sick of each other and increasing agitated with one another.  I was really proud of Cass for the way he handled himself during this time.  He was patient and tolerate even though it was such a trying situation.

Finally, they started AIT on December 5th.  It as started off slow but at least they were able to get away from the barracks.  Last week Cass had a hazmat (spelling ?) certification test.  I think it was to be certified as a first responder.  He did really well.  They are supposed to have driver's training for the Humvee the first three days of this week.  I spoke to him this morning and it was -10 wind chill.  His Platoon waited out in the cold for 30 minutes to be picked up and they were a no show.

This  past Saturday he got to move back into the dorm style housing.  He said he slept better Saturday night than he can remember.  He has been sick, so he needed it.  With 60 people in one room it was difficult to get any sleep.  When I talked to him it was always really loud in the background.  So I can only imagine how much better life is for him with only two roommates and some peace and quiet and some sleep!  I think he had hung on as long as he good, good thing they got moved.

He does have he phone and is generally available to text and talk in the evenings.

BEST NEWS . . . he comes home on Thursday!!!!  His dad, Rick, is going to pick him up bright and early.  Cass has to be checked out on base.  Everyone has to report to one location, so there is going to be a long line to get someone checked out.  I am hopeful that he will make it to OKC around 3:00.  He says the first thing he want to do is to drive his car of course.  He has already made a lot of plan as you can imagine.  He intends to make the most of every minute.  He has be back in Missouri on January 2nd.

Sidebar, on Thursday Cass and I are going to pick up the puppy we got for Ian for Christmas--Her name is Lucy. 

More Graduation Pics

More Pics from Graduation-Relaxtion

Basic Training Pictures

  At graduation we were able to buy a CD with pictures from Cass' BCT Company.  There are over 1000 photos but there were over 150 people in his group.  I have been able to locate these pictures of Cass so far (DOUBLE CLICK ON PIC FOR LARGER PHOTO).  I had to use multiple posts because I can only post five pictures at a time.  Pretty awesome stuff. 

 Look up Warrior Tower and Rappel Tower at Fort Leonard Wood on YouTube: 

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmRF8GQ6n0A

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIHgdEYry3Q&feature=related

Heights--no problem!

ARMY STRONG!