Parker, a chapter of life...(updated)

From the day we dropped him off for basic training to the day we picked him up as a Veteran of the Army 2010-2014

 

Graduation from Basic ~ Ft. Sill, OK Feb 2011
Air Defense     MOS: Patriot Missile

First taste of freedom!!

Getting ready to leave for Korea for a year ~ Aug 2011

Korea 2011-2012 ~visiting a famous memorial- Hill 303

~ just a good photo ~ taken in Korea ~

While in Korea, he made the post softball team!

Home from Korea ~ Aug 2012 ~ with Brody and Sam ~ next station, El Paso, TX
MOS: Starting a new unit for the Thaad Missile, in charge of the Armory

Oh, and while in El Paso, he played a little softball, like 3-4 days a week, every week for 2 years. Won the championship most seasons ~ just sayin' ~ Played for "Toxic" mainly, some other teams here and there, and the post team. Along with playing flag football and working out at the gym.  Job, work, you ask?  Yes, he did that too.

The next chapter of The Life of Parker: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX... stay tuned...

We are proud of Parker! Proud he joined, proud he's out, proud he's headed to college!

Just a little story about him joining~  Months before, Luke had joined the Marines, well signed up but had not left.  It was something that Luke discussed with us a good bit, we knew of his interest.  So all summer, we would tell people that Luke would be going into the Marines in Jan 2011 (was suppose to go in Aug 2010, but broke 3 bones in face, had surgery and had to wait 6 months before they would let him in), so we would tell everyone that Parker was going back to ABAC in the fall, he would be our college student.  WELL, one night we were sitting around watching TV and it was getting late and usually Parker would have gone upstairs by now, but was still hanging around chatting, so I causally asked Parker what he was up to the next day, you know just making conversation- WELL, he said, causally, "I have joined the army and tomorrow I am going to Jacksonville to be sworn in."  WHAT????  Where the heck did that come from???  Total surprise - TOTAL!  I mean no discussing this with his parents first, nothing (which explained why he was still hanging around that night - he was probably trying to figure out how to tell us- he knew he had to and time had run out). Of course we were fine with his decision (and in the back of my mind I was thinking- whew, I was just about to send in his tuition, like the next week!! that was close- don't know if they give refunds or not).  So Luke joined like the beginning of the year and had to wait a year before leaving.  Parker joins in Aug and leaves in November!! It was all very quick and very much a surprise.  Oddly the 4 years did go by kind of fast, even though he only came home 5 times in 4 years, and we went to visit him twice in Oklahoma (once when Luke was there too) and once in El Paso.  So I saw him 0nly 8 TIMES in 4 years - that makes me sad. But he is here now and for 6 weeks.  I will enjoy each day of it!!