This photo was taken minutes after he look his Enlistment Oath at Ft. Gilliam in Forest Park, GA
I haven't shown this picture to too many people. I took this one right after he walked away. And yes, I absolutely fell apart!
Now on to the good stuff!
DJ, now known as Private William Ray graduated from Basic Training on September 22, 2006 at Ft. Sill in Lawton, OK
We picked him up on Family Day, September 21st and his first request was 'real food' and for him that meant dinner at Chili's.
He was thrilled to finally get to see Vicki, his girlfriend. She is great! She is currently attending college at Texas A&M.
DJ and his Battle Buddy Steven Perri. His parents must have a sense of humor, they named him after the lead singer of Journey, it rubbed off on Steven!
One very proud Mama! It was so good to have my arms around him again! We don't look a thing alike! *grin*
One proud Papa! These are my two favorite men on this planet!
It was very good to see him laugh! He was so excited that Basic Training was finally over!
The next day we all prepared for DJ's Graduation along with 218 other Privates! This picture is of about 50 of them in the 4th Platoon called the Colbras (DJ's Platoon).
A close up of my baby! He sure is a cutie huh? Of course he his! I gave birth to him! *grin*
They all sat in a huge auditorium, completely still and looking straight ahead. No one moved, it was the coolest thing!
Taking the Oath.
Just after Graduation. There is a lot of standing at Attention!
One of the Pastors at Church said that he looks like Tom Cruise in this picture! Hey, hey, hey! The Army turned my boy into a Superstar!
When we started on this journey together as a family I was frightened, depressed and filled with grief! Now, ten week later, seeing how happy he his and filled with the knowledge that he is doing what God has asked him to do, I am looking forward to his future defending our Country. How fortunate my son is to have such an important mission from our Father so early in life!
The United States Army has turned our Son into a better version of himself. He left us a boy and how his has grown into a man and I am so very proud!
