He Did WHAT??
“He joined the Army on his way home from the store.” Now there’s a story for the grandkids. I was prompted one day years ago to write this on an online diary I once had. I had been upset that my husband was away, and was given the typical response of “Well you knew what you were in for when you married a soldier! Suck it up!” Well, news flash. I didn’t marry a soldier. I married a civilian. Right up until 9/11, and a chain of circumstances that came after and changed my life.
The day of the attacks, I was at work. He saw it live on TV as it happened. I didn’t know until 2 hours later. I got home, and he grumbled something about how he was ready to go enlist in the army. Well, he never said any more about that, so I figured it was just a anger and shock. At the same time, he was up for a promotion at work. One that would almost double his salary. We talked about how great that would be, and how he was sure he would get it. Never another word about the Army, which was a long time dream of his. He had actually seen a recruiter shortly after we got married, but was told no, because he had a wife and children. This after I talked him out of going right out of high school.
Anyhow, I got to talking to a mutual friend. She asked about hubby`s promotion, and out slipped the big secret. Turns out he had told her if he didn`t get this promotion, he was joining the Army. This was October 2001.
Well, guess who got the promotion? If you guessed the bosses nephew, you win
It was October 29, 2001. Ken was off work that day from the printing press, and we needed smokes and pepsi. So, I sent him to town to get it. The drive is about 10 minutes each way. 2 and a half hours later, I’m wondering where the heck he is. I figured he had stopped off to BS with his Dad on the way home. Well finally, he walks in the door. Of course I have to ask where have you been?? His reply was “at the recruiter’s office”. What? Excuse me? for what good reason? He had decided he wanted to join the army. Have I mentioned at this point we were married for 8 years, had 2 kids and he was 28 years old? There’s a shock to the system for ya. Of course being the spoiled brat that I am pitched a royal hissy fit that would have put Miss Scarlett herself to shame. Then after a bit of fuming, I shut up and listened.
As he was telling me about the benefits, the pay, the perks, etc…all I could think of is “yeah great, but I’m alone for 3 months!!”. But reason won out. His job was steady, full time, and secure. Unfortunately it had crap for pay (do we buy food or have electric??), and no family benefits. He’d work 12 hour shifts. Mon, Wed, Fri one week then Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun, the next, and switch from 7am-7pm to 7pm to 7am every month. I was working at the time myself, so we maybe got 1 full day together every 2 weeks. Just as I was considering all of this, the phone rang. the recruiter needed him to go in the next day and pretest for his asvab!! Now, considering he didn’t have his diploma, or even his GED at this point, I though it was a shot in the dark, but things would stay the same. How wrong I was….
The next day, I was at work, he was at the recruiters. I was nervous all day for him, and it was torture waiting. Finally he came to get me. Then informed me that he’d only gotten a 30 on the pretest. Ok, case closed right? WRONG! I was informed we needed birth certificates SS cards, and a copy of my marriage license, AND I had to meet with the recruiter. So the mad dash begins. We got everything together, and I met the recruiter. He told us then, that in order for Ken to get in on the GED plus program, which at the time was about to shut down, that he had to go on Sunday to the MEPS to take the asvab, and physical, and all that jazz. This was Friday. So after I was told about the good, the bad, and the ugly about the army, I agreed we didn’t have a better option where we were, and Saturday night, he left for pittsburgh.
After waiting all day Sunday, he finally called and told me he passed his test with a 70. He only needed a 35 to make it. He was told to pick an MOS (job) and a duty station. So he chose infantry, with assignment to Ft Stewart, GA upon completion of basic and by monday evening he was signed sealed and ready for delivery. His scheduled day to leave for Ft Benning, GA for Infantry school was January 27. That’s when the state of PA decided they just HAD to change the GED test, so we went through our first delay in his departure, and the date was changed to Feb 27, giving him what we all thought was time enough to take the test and get the results. WRONG again!! As the 27th rolled around, we still didn’t have his results. So, he re-signs yet another contract. Low and behold, now Ft Stewart wasn’t available, so he went needs of the Army, because his other options sucked. This time he was to leave March 27. And he in fact did.
Graduation was to be July 13, 2002. He started his training in Early April. In may, he wrote a letter and mentioned a nagging pain in his right hip. By June he was on profile, and by June 28th he was on his way home with 30 days convalescent leave and a stress fracture of the right femoral neck. 2 days before he left to come home, he found out the needs of the army guys were all going to Hawaii after graduation.
July 28 he returned to Ft Benning to pick up at weeek 7 where he’d left off. After 3 weeks of waiting, he was finally back to training. He graduated with his company on October 11, 2002…with orders to Ft Wainwright, Alaska, where it all began.
That was the beginning of our life as an Army Family. There have been highs and lows, good, bad, and ugly. But through it all there has been Us. I wouldn’ trade this life for anything. Which is strange to admit when it throws so much at you sometimes. But it sucks you in, it has a comfort all it’s own, and a pride that can’t be rivaled. As much as him becoming a soldier scared me to death for obvious reasons (seperations, deployments, etc), the thought of him being a civialian again is twice as terrifying. It’s a strange concept to understand unless you’ve been where we were before he enlisted.
Before enlisting we had moved I believe 12 times in our 8 years of marriage. Since, we have moved twice. Before enlisting my working outside the home wasn’t a choice, it was a must. Since…I’ve been happy as a stay at home wife and mom for 7 years. Before enlisting the thought of a sick child elicited fear, because we had no insurance. Since…we have the comfort of knowing we’re covered. Before he enlisted, I was always proud of him. Since…I still am. After? I always will be.