Update

Okay, so I haven't been keeping up with this very well.  Sorry, guys.  John's knee is better, so he should be graduating on time with no problems.  I heard from him on Sunday, and he sounded great.  He's excited to be done with basic.  Who wouldn't be?  They have only two more big things to get through before graduation.  The first is Nick at Night, which is a night infiltration course.  This involves live fire and crawling on the ground.  Let's all hope that he doesn't decide for some reason to suddenly stand up.  The other thing is Victory Forge, which is a two day thing where they wander around in the woods making and defending camps.  I think that's what it is.  After that they get their Class A's and prepare for graduation.  Thankfully, he tells me that I get to take him away from graduation and drive him to Fort Gordon myself.  Hurray!
In other news, the move to Georgia is still on, although it has been delayed a week due to inclement weather.  There is a big ice storm expected in Missouri and Illinois this weekend.  Also, my car is in the shop undergoing $2000 worth of surgery.  Grrrrr.  That's okay, though.  We think the move will happen next weekend without any problems.  This is really an okay thing, as it will give me time to learn to drive a stick a little better than I currently can. 
We found out that John will be able to move off the base after eight weeks, provided he keeps his nose clean and to the grindstone.  He will get off-base evening and weekend privileges after four weeks.  Before that I will probably still get to see him if I come on the base myself, which I can do because I have a military ID.  Yay! 
I guess that's all the news that's fit to print.  We'll be finding out more soon when I get the copy of his orders that he promises he's sending to me.  This will tell me whether or not the military will move my stuff down to Georgia.  I hope they do, because all I have room for in the car is about two towels and a pair of socks.  :)  I'll let you all know when I hear more news.
Love,
Lizzie Nye

Letter from John Rob

We got a letter from John Rob today.  What a surprise!  He said he had time to write, because they sent the drill sergeants home because of severe weather?  Strange!  I guess the privates had to fend for their own.

 

Most of the letter was about how much he misses Liz.

 

He said he qualified with the rifle and he can’t wait for basic training to be over.

 

He explained that he fell and hurt his knee, but he ignored and kept marching for a week, but the pain kept getting worse and worse.  His drill sergeant saw him limping and made him see the doctor.  He chipped his kneecap, which was not a big deal, but because he limped for a week he has stressed his hip, so now he is on crutches.

 

Thanks for your prayers and letters to help him through this.

 

John

 

John and Sue

 

“A cold so unearthly, the two Polish mountaineers, even in their benumbed state, recognize it for what it is: the angel of death.  She has wrapped their wasted bodies in her icy wings and is feeding on them while they're still alive-gnawing at their wooden fingers and frozen toes, eating away their waxy cheeks and hardened noses." by Mark Jenkins

 

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