...Against All Enemies

Hello Everyone, Last Wednesday night I drove three hours away with my son to the city where the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is located. I reserved a nice hotel room for us, so he wouldn't have to stay with all the other applicants in the MEPS hotel on his last night as a civilian. We went out to dinner and had a steak. I bought a couple of beers for the hotel room, since he isn't old enough to legally drink in the restaurant.

I thought a lot about how he must have been feeling. I remembered the day my father drove me to the MEPS. I stayed in the MEPS hotel. I took a train from Jacksonville to Charleston. From Charleston airport, we took a bus to Parris Island. My journey began that day. I remember the experience vividly, even though it took place in 1984. To anyone who ever made that journey, you probably remember that final night at the MEPS hotel too. I don't think many people forget that whole ordeal. That's why I wanted to share my son's last night as a "dirty, nasty civilian" and to show him that I love him.

Thursday morning, we drove to the MEPS around 5:30 AM, and my son started his inprocessing around 5:45 AM. I wasted some time eating breakfast and drinking coffee at the Burger King next door. I loitered watching the homeless people outside until around 8:00 AM, and then went up to the MEPS station where I was allowed to give my son his oath of enlistment and to swear him onto active duty in the military. One of the MEPS officers walked us into a room filled with flags and a lectern, handed me The Oath to read, handed me my son's enlistment documents, and quietly walked out. My son and I stood there alone, looking at each other. I raised my right hand, and he raised his. I read the oath to him, and he repeated after me:

"I, TBone Jr., do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

When we were done, I signed my son's enlistment document as the swearing officer, and officially made him a soldier. It was an honor that not many fathers have the privilege to bestow, or receive. Until that moment, he was legally my dependent son; but that all ended with the stroke of a pen. I was deeply moved.

Before we left the room I shook his hand, hugged him, kissed him, gave him twenty dollars for food, and told him I loved him. I wished him Godspeed and good luck, and then I left the building. I drove home thinking of all the times we spent together over the years. I never knew what love meant until he was born. He's made my life a better place. I wish him success and prosperity.

Good luck, Son!!