Jonathon is beginning his career in the army. He recently graduated from Basic Combat Training (BCT) and is now in Advanced Individual Training (AIT). He is studying to be a Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator. I asked what that meant, but he said if he told me he'd have to kill me.
You can write him at this address:
PFC JONATHON HARDIN 3862or email him.
B CO., 305TH MIBN
FORT HUACHUCA, AZ 85613
Thursday was a full day. We got up around 6:30 and left the hotel at about 7:10. After passing through the gate we realized we had forgotten to ask for a map and we had no idea how to get to Abrams theater where the family orientation would be held. After asking about three different people we finally found someone who could give us directions.
We arrived at the theater at 5 minutes before eight o'clock, and I couldn't believe how few cars were there for a program that was supposed to start in 5 minutes. As we entered the theater we were given copies of a map and information about what Jon could and could not do while we had him checked out, and what time he had to be back.
We soon realized due to the size of the crowd that the program was going to start at 9:00 instead of 8:00. That made for a long wait when we were so anxious to see Jonathon, but I guess one more hour wouldn't kill us. At precisely 9:00 a Drill Sergeant marched to the center of the stage and started calling cadence. From backstage we could hear the whole company answering his cadence. They started marching out, and Terri was the first to see Jonathon on stage. But you wouldn't expect any less from a Mom would you? Then the neatest thing happened. They had seated family in the left and center sections and saved the right hand section for the soldiers. When they marched in to their assigned seats, Jon ended up on our row. Of all the rows he could have been on, he was sitting on the same row we were. What a blessing. Then most of the others leaned back in their chairs, but he was leaning forward slightly, so we had a great view of his profile. How neat!
The ceremony was very moving. I couldn't help but tear up as they talked about how brave these young men and women were for being willing to join the Army in a time of war. I admire all of them for their courage, and am so proud of my son. After the ceremony was over the soldiers marched out in formation, and the family members merged into a bottle neck at each door trying to get outside and find their loved ones. Terri and I got separated from Catherine and Jill. We were fortunate to find Jonathon first, and then we went off together looking for the girls. Although Terri and I had certainly gotten big hugs, we were put to shame by the way these girls latched on and wouldn't let go. They had both missed him so much.
Once all the hugging was out of the way, we tried to make the day all about whatever Jonathon wanted to do. After all, he hadn't gotten to do whatever he wanted for over two months. The first thing he wanted to do was shop! He had been working at his first full time job for over two months with very little opportunity to enjoy the fruit of his labor. We went to the Post Exchange (PX) where he bought a portable video game system and a CD. We had lunch in the food court there at the PX. We left there and took him by the Post Office, but his mail wasn't up yet. After that we left the Post and went to Rolla, a university town about 25 miles east of the base. There we visited an AT&T wireless store so he could pick out a new cell phone, a WalMart, and a couple of different book stores. He had wanted to go to a Books-a-Million or Waldenbooks, but none of those were available in the area. Nevertheless, he found several things he wanted to read.
When he had finished spending money for the day we headed back to the hotel to relax for a couple of hours. Jon was able to read email and check up on the latest post at some of his favorite fiction website. Around 5:00 PM we left the hotel and went to the Cracker Barrel across the street. Jon thoroughly enjoyed the food there, but said that the Army food had been pretty good. When we finished eating we realized it was raining outside. We didn't want him to get his dress uniform wet, so Terri and I walked back to the hotel, then I took the car back to the restaurant to pick up Jon and the girls. Afterward we came back to the hotel and Jon was able to get a brief nap before we had to return him to the base.
We had a scare trying to get back on base. Terri had left her purse in the hotel, and they were going to make us go back and get it because she didn't have any ID. If we had to go back to the hotel, Jonathon would have been late signing back in. But finally they saw him sitting in the back seat and said he could vouch for her. After a stern warning and an early "happy birthday" to Terri they let us proceed inside the base. We were able to drive right up to the barracks area and see where he had been sleeping for the last several weeks. We waited outside while he went inside to sign back in. Then we got one more round of hugs to last us until graduation morning.
It was so wonderful seeing him again, but our time was much too short. We hope that we can see him a few minutes after graduation, and maybe even hang out with him for a few more minutes at the St. Louis airport tomorrow. After that we'll have to wait until Christmas break for any more of those great hugs!
Graduation Night, 2007
Jonathon is surrounded by Uncle Jeff (Mike's brother) and his wife Christy, his girlfriend Jill Banister, and Peggy (Grandma) Hardin.
Jon is now a Private in the United States Army. He graduated again on October 26, from Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. From there he went to Fort Hauchuca, Arizona for further training. After that, who knows? Jonathon has made a five year commitment to the Army, and his family couldn't be prouder.
Piano
Party
Catherine has been taking piano lessons from Deborah Beasley, the pianist at our church, for about 14 months. This picture of Terri, Catherine, and Mike was taken after the October 2007 party. The kids have more fun and get less nervous if we don't call them "recitals".
Mike is pastor at First Baptist Church of Lovejoy, Georgia. Terri teaches at North Mulberry Elementary School in Jackson, GA.
Jeff lives in McCrae Georgia with his wife Christy. He works as the chief of the Milan Correctional Institute fire department, and also volunteers in the McCrae department. He and Christy have two children, Justin and Alisa.
Peggy still lives in Eastman in the home where we grew up. About a year ago she sold her business, Martha Sheldon Florist, after owning and operating it for 23 years. She now works part time for the Colony Bank in Eastman.
We lost my dad, Gene Hardin, in June of 1998 at the young age of 56.
Catherine
Jonathon
Mike
Terri
