I have sat down numerous times and tried to put into words how special this was for all of us and have failed miserabley. So here goes there is a lot to say ...
First and foremost I have never been prouder of Dusty. This was his time and he did such a fine job. The other soldiers were so close to my little man it amazed me. I cant tell you how many times I heard Uncle Dusty... and there were tears when it was time to say good bye. How special it was to see my son made a difference in their lives. This is a man that has struggled for some time with himself, and he was never sure of himself, that he had what I knew he had to offer.Well it was obvious in their actions and their words that he is all I knew he would come to be. I have always told him he could do anything , be anyone he wanted to be that he just had to want it bad enough. He wanted it bad enough. He wears success well. Since we have gotten home he has gotten phone calls from the guys asking him what should I do about this etc...
I am proud of the fact that he didnt quit. that he did what he needed to do. But I am more proud that he was there for a lot of very young scared boys that have no choice but to be men now.I wish I could tell you about one of the young men who Dusty took under his wing but it is something he asked me not to repeat So I will respect that but to say I am very proud that my little man was a friend and a refuse for a very frightened young man, he didnt have much of a family life before he joined the Army , but found family in my son. He is the young man who said you are the brother I never had on the back of his unit photo, I met him he looked like a little boy. I pray that he is the man he will soon be forced to be to survive the days that are ahead of him. I could go on about this kind of thing because it seems the young men were so much alike . Very young and unsure. They were Dusty 4 years ago...
I met the DS Link who I imagined ot be 6 ft 6 and 250 pounds of mean son of a bitch, who actually turned out to be a 6 ft 6 slim Opie Taylor looking man..Very gentle and quiet but owned every young man he trained with respect & admiration. The DS who from day one had a problem with Dusty and did his best to beat him down was gone. He was relieved of duty. There was an inquiry the day before graduation. They asked the platoon if he ever "put hands on them" Dusty said hell no... which was a lie. But he said I wouldnt give the son of a bitch the satisfaction to think he broke me. Becasue he didnt, he just made me drive on... But it turns out there were plenty of soldiers who did tell. So he was just gone.. I had so hoped to meet him , but I am sure its a blessing I didnt because I would have liked to shake his hand and ask him you didnt think you could break my son now did you....well I imagine it many different ways and the rest arent anything I would find lady like so I will leave it at that.
I met a Ranger from the 6th Ranger Battalion from the PTO. He was amazing. 80 + and looking as sharp as a tack... met another fine gentleman who served with the 10th Armored Div. who served under Patton. He asked me where I was from and when I told him he said well a damned Yankee... we talked for quite some time. I saw him the next day he gave me a big old smooch and his grandson just shook his head and laughed.. He cried when he spoke about Patton He was so much the Greatest Generation.. He also told me he is from New Orleans ..and glad he left when he did but its not a problem he comes from a family of 17 he will just stay with each sibling for a month and he is good to go... He still has all of his family How amazing. I met an Officer who had 2 silver bars (I think) who was from the 3rd Infanty Div. He had a scar on his face that almost went down his entire face. It was something thsat took my breath away. He served in Iraq the same sime D.T. did and recongized the names on my bracelet. The young men on my braclet were killed in action when the war first broke out. So before the day was over I found him and I gave him my bracelet. I have wore it for 2 years or more but I knew I would find a rightful owner someday, That was the day. He was shocked when I offered it to him He said oh no I cant take that. I told him I have been looking for the right man and I know that is you. He took it with tears in his eyes and proudly put it on his wrist and thanked me. He said I think of them all the time and never thought I would see this bracelet much less own it. . I apologized to him that is was in such sad shape it was so worn and scratched and faded, but he said oh my it has character. I can tell you wore this every day and that makes it even more special that you didnt forget the sacrifices made by these young men. It was such a special moment for me I will never forget, becuase it was equally special for him if not more.
So now I have started my journal of what the day meant to me, and there is so much more ... all of it made me so proud to be an American and to be part of it was just amazing. I cant ecer express how proud my sons have made me. They are growing right in to the next Great Generation before my eyes and I am damn proud of both of them