LETTER 5, WEEK 3

Sun. Jan. 11
Hi, I told you I'd write on Sun!! First, happy birthday Lilly and Winston, only a few days to go, bud! I hate I won't be there. I want to tell you about some of the girls here.
First, our new Guide-on, Big Lee, is about 5'9", super muscular, big black girl w/a big tattoo on her back. She's so sweet, and kinda timid though. She's always encouraging the others. We've got our FRPs (the girls that failed PT, and have been at PI for a while).
L. is a really smart girl who went to the Citadel. She's got boy short hair and at first I thought she was gay, but not now.
B. and E. are the two who can't do ANYTHING right, get us all in trouble, and have both been to the Sand Pit at least half a dozen times already.
There are a LOT of Hispanic girls here, and surprisingly enough, I get along the best with them. I've caught myself speaking English with a latin accent :) Almost all of them are Catholic, and I had a great opportunity to witness to one of them last night and she came to church today! Andrew told me to just ask questions and talk to the girls about their faith, and they'd open up to me, so I don't have to stress about what to say. He was right. She ended up asking me how I thought people could get into heaven, and I shared the verse where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me." I can tell she's thinking about it; and it all started with talking about tortillas!
There's a girl named R. who I swear could be Shea LeBouf's twin. I don't mean it ugly, but bless her heart...
We have a girl her named C. who looks exactly like Little Black Sambo w/ short fluffy hair. She's like 4'10.
Today we drilled so much that the grime from my M16 is embedded into every wrinkle of my hand, and it's not going anywhere, either. We also learned to take apart and clean our rifles. I LOVE messing with all the parts & bolts. It's fun to assemble a machine that will work when you're done. (and secretly, I like getting the grease on my hands) It's hand AND head work, just like my job's going to be.
Church was great, and it's awesome to see all the big, tough male Recruits and Marines raising their hands in praise, singing out loud, and I've seen a few cry. At the end of the week, all the hymns and praise songs just hit you right in the heart, and everybody is moved. And since it's just once a week, you just try to soak up as much as you can.
I love you all, and I'll try to write again soon.
xoxo Ruby

WEEKS ONE-THREE

HERE ARE RUBY'S LETTERS FROM BOOT CAMP.

Week 1

Boot camp is a LOT harder than I expected. The pace is very hard, and things are a lot dirtier than I thought. I'm in O company, the fittest company on the island, and with the toughest DI's (drill instructors) . There are 53 girls in my company, we have 9 shower heads, 90 secs to bathe, and we're not allowed to wash our hair or shave. Dad's right, the food is great, but we have so little time to it, I've lost 10 lbs already.
The first 2 weeks are processing and forming (paperwork and gear) I have SOOO much gear! (and an M16!)
Those who go to church have little time to write. Our company guide is really good, and she ought to be...she's been here 7 weeks already in the physical readiness platoon (where they send you if you are not fit enough to start) I like almost all the girls here, and I'm crazy about my bunk mate, who's dad was a Sgt. Major in the Marines.
My run is slow, because I am worn out. We yell 24/7. We can sometimes hear the female cadets that are about to graduate calling cadence and it gives us chills, and makes us want to graduate that much more.
The first night I cried like a baby, I wanted to go home so bad. So did everyone else. I miss you all so much.
Ruby

Start of week 2

Hi again!
Tomorrow is our first training day. Today they let us wash our hair. I get homesick a LOT, but our senior DI gives us speeches every once in a while to keep us motivated. We already lost 4 girls, and there are several times when I wanted to quit too, and go home; but when that happens, I just think of walking across the graduation deck. Parris Island is beautiful! It's warm and green during the day and cool at night. I met a Christian girl and we decided to hold each other accountable while we're here.
The sand fleas are awful, I am covered with bites.
Church is wonderful, and now I get what Grant (a fellow recruit) was saying about renewal. Church here is like coming up for fresh air after holding your breath underwater for a long time.
Graduation seems like forever away, but I just go from chow to chow, and try not to think too much about it.
O Company is the Senior DI's last before she retires, and she said she'd looked forward to this company for many years, and that "we're going to be the baddest group of (blank) to ever graduate off this place!"
Tomorrow we do PT, Martial Arts, drill, and I think obstacle course. I love you all sooo much, I miss you, pray for me and send me letters as often as you can. I could use them.
xoxoxoxoxo Ruby

Week 2 Letter 2

Hi everybody!
Guess what? Today I cut a recruits hair! And it looks pretty darn good, too. It's really short, but that's what she wanted.
You know the DI with the fake eyelashes I told you about? Well, she's here, and she has 2 sisters that are also DI's here! One is a twin!
I LOVE drill, cuz it's outside, we're pretty good, and I like the cadences. I hate the knowledge parts though. You have to sit inside perfectly still.
We wake up at 4am, and hit the 'rack' at 9pm. I think this week is supposed to be the hardest one, so we're looking up. I miss you so much, but I try to put home out of my mind while training, like they say to, but it's hard. There are two other 17 year olds here, but they say they have not gotten homesick yet.
Happy birthday Lilly! I love you so much, and I wish that you could be my bunk mate (again). I can't believe you're 15!
I love you all, and I gotta go.
Ruby

End of week 2

Hi everyone! Well today I got a HUGE compliment from our senior DI, because I did really good on my rifle reports tot he company commander. I just tried to sound confident, (even though I was shaking inside). It seems to be working. I don't get jumped on as much.

We had another girl refuse to train today and get sent home.

Tomorrow we get to work with the bayonets! I hope you got my address, I need to hear from you, I miss you guys, and I know I sound like a broken record, but I love you sooo much, I miss my bed, I miss having time to read or talk on the phone, or eat what I want.

I found some boxing dummies in the laundry room yesterday and it made me think about daddy. (I'll admit, I cried) I'm trying to stay excited and focused on what my life will be like after boot camp, but it's hard.

I'm thankful for senior DI M. she keeps us hanging on.

I came down with a cold today, and it's bad; but mom's health stuff paid off...I'm eating all fresh fruit and veggies and lots of oranges.

I gotta go, only 2 mins. to lights out.

xoxoxoxoxo Ruby

DISCLAIMER: We had sent Ruby about 4 letters by the time we got this letter, but they hadn't gotten to her till after she wrote. You know we wrote our girl!!

Week 3

Hey!

Well, boot camp is definitely getting easier. PT is still hard, (I'm in the 1st squad platoon! THE BEST!) and the DI's scream just as much, but you build up a callous inside to it, I guess.

Our PT sessions include 1/4 mile sprints, lifts & presses w/ weights, dips, push ups, sit ups, assisted chin ups, rope pull ups, squats, stairs, swinging weights, and a couple of other things.

The runs will get longer as we get farther into training.

Guess what!!?? Today at chow, a girl almost choked to death and my bunk mate, K, saved her! We were eating, when all of a sudden Gatorade was spilling down the table. The girl at the end of the chow hall was sitting in her chair, face PURPLE, eyes rolled back, and goo running our of her open mouth. K ran over, did the Heimlich maneuver, and all this Gatorade and food came spewing out. The battalion commander PERSONALLY thanked her! It was pretty awesome.

Today we did bayonet assault course with giant k-bars on the ends of our M16. We killed a bunch of rubber tire enemies, and learned some really cool techniques.

I'm glad Winston is doing well in skateboard lessons, I knew he would.

Mom, please mail me some chap stick? My lips are always cracked and dry.

Alpha and November Co. graduated today which means that Grant is officially a Marine! I can't wait to graduate, and see all of you and Andrew again. I love you, and I find time in the night to pray for you .

xoxoxox Ruby