Jacob's Basic/Infantry Turning Blue & Graduation

Well, we made it down to Ft. Benning again for Jacob's Turning Blue Ceremony and Basic/Infantry Training Graduation. Below are pictures from the Turning Blue Ceremony on Thursday - this is where they receive their blue Infantry Cord. Parents were able to place the cord onto their soldier. It was a very nice ceremony, but cold and they told us to dress even warmer for the graduation ceremony that would be held the next day - and they were right! George had been unable to come with us as while Jacob was receiving his cord, George was taking his first oath into the Army up in Ft. Lee, GA (ashame we can't be 2 places at one time). More on George in a minute - as there have been some changes in his plans.

Doesn't he look sharp!!!!

Friday was their Graduation Ceremony (pics below) and we nearly froze to death. The temp was 20 degrees and a good breeze was blowing. They put on a little demo for us and then the guys marched in and then marched in front of us before the ceremony ended. Not much to it, but still impressive. Since Harold is retired Navy we got VIP seats and got to sit in the pavillion on folding chairs instead of in the bleachers, so that was nice. Most of the ones that seats were saved for did not show up - or at least did not opt to sit there. I wish they had as there were seats for a LTC Prather 2 rows in front of us, but he never showed. I had planned to introduce myself, but unable to and Jacob did not know who they were related too as he did not know of anyone with that name in the company. Jacob is in the second row on the far right of the picture of his platoon. In the picture of them marching in front of us he is the second guy on the last row.

We had a very nice visit with Jacob. He got a pass for the weekend and spent it with us at the hotel. We went to see the Pine Mtn. Wild Animal Safari. It is a small drive-thru zoo, but it was fun. Mostly deer, elk, zebra, and pot-belly pigs with a few other things thrown in - most of the African animals were in pens, but we could see them, except the giraffes - I think they decided it was too cold to come out. They also had a walk-about zoo with a few other animals. We also went to the movies and saw "Gran Torino" with Clint Eastwood. Very good movie! We also visited a local establishment that one of my Red Hat ladies told me to visit (she met her husband in Ft. Benning 40 or so years ago). She told us to go to Dinglewood Pharmacy and have one of their "World Famous Hotdogs" and we did. We had the special "Scrambled Dog" which is a hotdog on a bun, smothered in chili (and I do mean smothered) and topped with cheese, onions and oyster crackers. It was very good.

Now for the update on George! He originally wanted to learn to work on Black Hawk Helicopters, but there were no openings now and he didn't want to wait any longer to go in, so he picked one of his other choices and will now be going to Ft. Knox, KY to train to be an Abrams Tank Crewmen. He will be taking his final oath and leaving on Feb. 4th. Harold will be giving him his oath like he did Jacob. Even thou he did not get his first choice, he is still very excited about going into the Army.