Basic Training
ARLENE MARQUIS: It wasn’t so much letting them go. It was just what’s it going to be like for them. Will it be so hard that they fail? And, I was just nervous in that regard.
DARRELL HARPER: His family couldn’t go with him. He had never been away on his own.
SHERRIE GIBSON: The toughest thing about basic for Christopher was the no contact, not being able to call home, or call his friends back here, just knowing that he’s moving on in his life, and his friends are moving off in their directions. It’s a sad time, but it’s also an exciting time.
DOUG PARKER: That’s a very emotional day. You’re proud of him, but you’re also saddened that you’re going to be leaving him. Basically, we had to look at it that we were giving up our son to the Coast Guard Academy.
RONALD BROWN: She told me she completed all her obstacle courses, and had fun, and was kind of leading people.
ARLENE MARQUIS: David was really good at keeping in touch with us while he was in basic. He wrote letters, sometimes daily, and at least once a week.
DENNIS COSTELLO: Basic Training hasn’t changed a whole lot since I went through. The best way is to volunteer to be a squad leader, volunteer to be in charge of the various organization activities, and it really builds leadership and discipline skills, as well.
KATHY JEROME: He was ready, but he did say physically it was really, it was tough. He said it was really tough, especially with some of the things that they made them do, like on their survival days, and on their… yeah… Some of the days were tough, but he made it through. Now he tells me the stories.
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