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I got up early and caught a bus from Miramar to Camp Pendleton. I checked my box lunch to see what kind of sandwich the chow hall had packed for me. Then, settled into my seat for a nap on the hour-long drive to where I would spend the day helping spot shot as a rifle coach.
After getting to the range, my cell-phone (which was humongous by today's standards and didn't have internet. I know!) rang. It was my mom.
Considering I was at the range and zealously guarded my minutes at that time, I denied the call and put my phone back in my pocket.
Considering I was at the range and zealously guarded my minutes at that time, I denied the call and put my phone back in my pocket.
She kept calling.
Again . . .
And again.
Again . . .
And again.
So, I waited for a break in the rifle fire and decided to call her back, but was determined to keep it in that free first minute (Remember those?).
"Are you okay?!"
Assuming there must've been yet another earthquake that I didn't feel but made the news on the east coast, I replied "Yeah mom! I am at the range and didn't even feel it."
Assuming there must've been yet another earthquake that I didn't feel but made the news on the east coast, I replied "Yeah mom! I am at the range and didn't even feel it."
That's when my mom told me about planes hitting the World Trade Center.
Up and down the line, guy began to answer their cell phones.
Up and down the line, guy began to answer their cell phones.
Like much of the world, we didn't know much of anything that day, so we finished our training at the range.
I remember the bus ride back to Miramar was eerie. Seemed like the freeway was empty. Took forever to get back on base because of heightened security at MCAS Miramar.
I remember the bus ride back to Miramar was eerie. Seemed like the freeway was empty. Took forever to get back on base because of heightened security at MCAS Miramar.
One thing was clear:
I had signed up in peacetime, but I would not serve in peacetime.
Life in the Marines was far different after that day. It seemed like everything changed.
I had signed up in peacetime, but I would not serve in peacetime.
Life in the Marines was far different after that day. It seemed like everything changed.
The next day, I went to church and sang with the saints.
That Wednesday at college group was one of the most pivotal moments in my life. The Lord used it to give me a firm conviction that the church had the only message that could bring hope to a fallen world.
That Wednesday at college group was one of the most pivotal moments in my life. The Lord used it to give me a firm conviction that the church had the only message that could bring hope to a fallen world.
