[Note: Read this post first for an introduction.]
This was the first letter I wrote to Grandma while I was in the Navy. Reading it again, I found my description of boot camp surprisingly apt: “long days and short weeks.”
At the time I had no real clue what a cryptologic technician did but my guess wasn’t too far off. What I didn’t know at the time was before I would leave boot camp, my “A” school would be switched from Pensacola to Ft. Devens, MA. I still got to “P-cola” after A-school but it wasn’t as much time to visit Grandma as I had first anticipated.
1300 05 March 88 [age:19]
Postmarked Orlando, FL
From:
SR TURNER USN xxx-xx-xxxx
C096 DIV 3
RTC ORLANDO, FL 32813-6100Dear Grandma,
Hello from Orlando! I am enjoying my stay here at Disneyworld, but after three weeks here, I still haven’t seen Mickey…
Funny, but even though I’ve been here for 3 weeks, it seems like yesterday when I was a civilian. The best way to describe it here is the days are long and the weeks are short. When I “pass in review” on April 7th, I’ll wonder where the time went.
Military life presents some challenges to the civilian-minded person. My hair (what’s left) will never be the same. I march, even without thinking about it, and trying to sleep with 75 people snoring isn’t easy. But, all I have to think about is “A-school” at Pensacola for 6 months and, after that, I could be anywhere!My “rating” is Cryptologic Technician. I’ll be working with computers alot, as well as other radios, etc. I hope to get lots of computer programming out of it, and a top-secret security clearance.
As soon as I’m done here (April 14th), I’ll go back to D.C. to get my car. And while I’m in Pensacola, I’ll stop by on the weekends to take you to Piggly Wiggly!
Oh well, gotta run. See you soon!
Love,
MarkWrite Me At:
SR TURNER USN
xxx-xx-xxxx
C096 DIV. 3
RTC ORLANDO, FL
32813-6100