One More Patrol

It's Sunday. The sun is finally shining, and Gary and I are thinking about making a visit to the Botanical Gardens. The phone rings, and it's Adam checking in.  He tells us he's been busy and he's working hard. He also announces that he's getting ready to make his last official infantry patrol before returning home. We are so excited by this news.  He confirms to us the exact day he expects to fly into California. We talk of our upcoming reunion, and we re-affirm our plans to be there when he arrives back on base.  Adam has decided he wants the four of us to spend a few days together in San Diego, and we are thrilled.  We speak of our month together in New Rochelle and Adam's plans to return to 29 Palms after his leave.  We tell him how much we love him and how proud we are of him. And then we end our short conversation with parental warnings - Be careful!  Don't get complacent!  No heroics!   After the conversation, I reflect a bit and just have to laugh.  He's been a Marine for almost two years, he's had intense training, and he's been living in a country at war for six months.  Yet we just can't stop being parents and issue those warnings. But Adam has indeed grown up, and he takes the warnings in stride.  "Yes mom," he answers, "I'll be careful.  Don't worry.  I love you too."  We hang up, and I try to follow his advice. I tell myself we've gotten this far.  He'll be fine.  But I will rest easier in a week, when I get another call from him that he's done.

To give you an idea of what a "patrol" is, read the article Marines Keep Vigilance High During Marjah Patrol.  And to get some idea of what Adam's specialty training is, read Mortarmen Bring 81s to the Fight.  Both articles are about different Marines in different bases, but they could have just as easily been about Adam and his unit.