Letter 2.. Dated September 16th

Well, I have a few minutes at least now. We got our rifles today, that was cool. Yesterday we did the victory tower. It was 2 repels and a rope swing and a whole ropes course really. It was a good time. I was officially titled as our platoon guide today. We have 35 soldiers in our platoon so I guess that puts me over 34 and myself. That happened night one. No idea How that happened. Then they also made me Bay leader. That really sucks. I have to try to get my platoon and all of the guys from the other platoonto keep the bay clean and take FireGuard watches. . . Have to be up at 0430.

....

He misses us all! He also went on to say that because of his leadership roles, he has no personal time to write. Things can always change... He also sent me a list of things to ship to him.. lol... It seems to be taking about ten days for his mail to get to me, so I don't know how long it is taking to get to him. His tentative Graduation Date is set for November 18th! So excited! 56 days left!

thanks to all!

kristy

Letter 1... Dated around Sept10, 2010

Ricky says:

So we got smoked this morning for not being in formation on time. I was but not everybody. So of course we all got smoked for it. Then one of the other companies was missing a soldier and couldn't find him. I think they found him in the latrine with his wrists cut. Those privates have probably never run so fast in their lives. He was okay though. Everybody in my platoon is pretty cool. No drama yet. I got a bit more sleep last night until the SGT on duty was spitting off football scores all night on the loud speaker. It was actually kinda funny. My throat still hurts. So I've been here for like 2 days and I already have a southern accent. Everybody does. It's kinda funny actually. Today is our last day of reception. Tomorrow the good stuff begins.

I miss you so much! I hope and pray you guys are well.

PFC Barlow

Address:

PFC RICHARD BARLOW
1-13th IN REGT, A-CO, 2nd Platoon
4420 Jackson BLVD
FT JACKSON, SC 29207


Please only send encouraging and uplifting letters. If you can't do that, then don't send anything! He is being torn down every which way you can imagine. Lets keep it positive!

Welcome to Hell!!!

Well, almost literally..... Ricky has been in "Reception" this last week and starts official "Basic Training" today. Until today, he has had his phone and has been able to call me and tell me what's going on. It really has been wonderful to get to talk to him... Even though they are still in Reception they are still getting "smoked" as Ricky likes to call it. These punk kids, probably first time out of their parents houses, keep running their big mouths and everyone gets punished for it. It is so funny to me to hear the background noise while I talk to him, because the first think I thought was, You get a group of guys together, and the first thing that happens is the alpha tries to establish himself. Well, with a huge group of cocky kids, you can imagine it gets loud. Everyone trying to bark out orders and sound bigger and badder then the next guy... We are hoping that Ricky will get put into a leadership position quickly, seeing as he already knows all of the Drill and Ceremony from being in the Guard, and is a little more, well, mature.. that is an odd thing to say, especially in regards to Ricky. Almost seems like an oxymoron.. Mature Ricky... lol.. but in that situation, he knows when to keep his mouth shut and say yes sir... or hooha... or whatever he is supposed to say.

But officially today it all begins. So we have our countdown till we see daddy next. I can't wait till we get to a month, then a week, then we're there! As soon as I get his address, I promise I will post it. Until then, thank you for your support!

-Kristy

Last Days Before the Big Send-off

So we had an interesting situation with Ricky's departure. Because he is in South Carolina, and all of the flights leave from SLC in the morning, he ended up staying in a SLC airport for two nights before leaving. The week before we had a wonderful adopted member of the family put us up in Park City at the beautiful MountainSide resort. One of the days we had a sitter come spend the day with us so Ricky and I could go play while the kiddies slept. What an amazing time. It really is so wonderful that after 8 years, we can still play together and laugh, and have so much fun. So we rode the coaster, and the zip line, and the slides, over and over until I was about ready to throw up...

Then we had a great BBQ Saturday with some great friends and family so that whoever wanted to could come and see him off. Then Monday we drove him up to the Hotel that the Army put him up in, had dinner together and took off. Tuesday morning he had to go to MEPS... its the Military's medical checks to make sure he is still fit to go. He was done by noon, and didn't fly out till the next morning. So we got to go to the zoo for the day! What a fun last day for our little family. We had an enjoyable time, the kids were great (for the most part) and then we got to have dinner and dessert with mom and dad Barlow. When we dropped him off to the hotel that night, we had been instructed to use that as our goodbye time. So it was a very tearful event. I can't imagine how it was for him, how it IS for him, having to leave his wife and children. But we did it.

He flew out Wednesday morning, and really was traveling all day. He took his cell with him so he could talk to me, until it gets taken away. So I got updates all throughout the day. He got into South Carolina around 4pm, but then had to wait till almost 9 for all of the other soldiers to get in. I know he didn't get to sleep till 1am, didn't fall asleep until 3am, then had to wake up at 3:45am to get showered shaved and ready for formation. I have had a chance to talk to him a few minutes here and there... So far it has been a lot of hurry up and wait. A lot of waiting in lines to get uniforms, boots, haircuts (even though he shaved his head before he left), vaccinations, etc... He sounds positive, tired but positive. Monday is when he officially starts Basic Training... His phone will be taken away sometime before then... and that is when the "REAL" fun begins. As soon as I get his address I will post it. Anyone who is willing to write him, I know he would appreciate it! (unless you happen to be some loony that we don't know... then maybe not)

Anyway, that's all for now!