Dad's letters to Jim at Ranger school

3 Letters to Jim
From Dad
During Ranger School
Jan-Mar 2015

Hi Jim!
It was so great to receive your letter yesterday! (I hope you don’t mind me
typing.) You can’t imagine how much we’ve been looking for a letter every day. I
know mom wrote you to say we got letter 2 before letter 1, so we’re hoping that
one comes today. Congrats on great successes with land nav and the ruck. Wow. I
never thought you’d go 5 for 5 in land nav with it so cold. I figured the brain just
shuts down in those conditions. Hope the PT test went well but it appears you at
least passed.
The photo above is what I’ve pasted on my wall and Mom taped to the fridge as it
is the best I’ve found to imagine the “hell” that you are going through. We read
everything we can find (recent and from years back) and can’t imagine what it
must be like. But your letter gave us a sense. As did other postings from parents
on FB talking about their son saying “dropping into the 30 degree lake was the

coldest think I’ve ever done”. Again, we can’t imagine what it must be like. We
are so proud of you to still be getting through this!
We’re trying to prep all we can for Darby Pass, whether you get through to
mountains or not. We’ll sure have the donuts but not yet sure how to get a
morning pizza. But we’ll try! We bought a few extra socks and gloves, and a
water proof bag, and you can select what you want. Don’t worry, we’ll return any
you don’t need. A web posting from last year also noted a professional
laundromat on Victory that does a much better job of cleaning your ACU’s and
stuff than you can do at home. I phoned them today and they’re still doing it. So
I think we should go there but need to get there right away as they fill up.
Remember… we totally love and support you no matter the outcome, and know
that the one thing you can’t just overcome is the cold. So just do your best and
we’re so proud of you either way. You’re already showing that you’re a unique
and special person… you’re top 10% of everything you’ve done there and we
know you are destined for great things in the Army and after. You’re really
showing everyone what you’re made of and we never dreamed we’d have a son
with this much grit and determination to achieve what seems to us and many to
be impossible tasks.
Mom and I can’t wait to see you the weekend of the 21 st … whether it’s Friday or
Saturday we support you 110% all the way!!
Love,
Dad

Monday Feb 1
Hi Jim!!!
I’m at work now but Mom got two letters and KK 1 letter from you today! That
was great but you sounded kinda down and it made us all miss you so much!
Thanks for the love you’ve shown the family. My initial reaction reading
something like that from one’s son is to rush in and say “just quit and come
home”. I know that is probably all I’d want to do if I were there. But we know
you can get through this! It’s a lot like the whole West Point deal but now forced
into a far worse situation in a far shorter period of time. So just like being at WP,
if you CAN make it through, you’ll be forever glad you did. Be assured that we
feel the same love for you … actually more love than you can ever imagine!... and
absolutely can’t wait to get you and the family together very soon! Remember…
ONE DAY AT A TIME.
DON’T THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DAYS LEFT. JUST THING ABOUT
GETTING THROUGH THE NEXT HOUR.
I think mom sent the one quote that said something like…
So you’re proving to yourself and the world how tough
and brave you are!
When I think about quitting I
think of my track record so far for
hanging in there on really bad
days and it’s 100%.
Hey… changing the subject… some good news. I know you thought the Chargers
wouldn’t move and you’re right, so far. They’ve committed to stay at least one
more year and try to get a new stadium built in San Diego vs. going to LA. But
they’ve also already made a deal in LA that they can take, so most still think
they’ll go. But at least we have one more year! Hope we can get a deal with
them!

Finally, I thought of you again today when I found this one…
Mom and I are SO PROUD OF YOU no matter what. Remember, we know you
want to move on but if you recycle it’s no big deal and it would give you time to
recharge yourself. So either way is GOOD. Just know our whole life is thinking
of you and praying for you to get through each day. You are almost all we think
about! Every minute! So try to gather strength knowing how much you’re
loved. We’re with you in spirit every step you take!
Love,
Dad

Thursday February 4, 2016
Hi Jim!
We’re obviously thinking of you every minute. We watch the weather, prayed for
you through the giant storm this past week, and continue to pray for you
morning, noon and night.
We hope you make it through to Swamps but it’s good either way. Another round
in Mountains means you’ll get some rest first. Moving on means you’ll be done
sooner rather than later. Either way is GOOD!
If you move on to Swamps next week, three things:
1. Some good news is that I did research and Gators and Snakes are in
Hibernation this time of year! (They’ll probably tell you all this.) So that’s a
good tradeoff for being cold, I would think. Sorry you won’t get to wrestle
a Gator!
2. Those FootJoy golf gloves I sent you may be pretty good during the day if
it’s warm enough. They are made to be worn wet and they actually keep
my hands pretty warm when wet… like a wetsuit. You might at least try
them one day.
3. Finally, DON’T BE TEMPTED TO HIDE ANY FOOD FOR THE BUS OR LATER!
The rumor about being able to take food on the Bus to Florida is not true.
The guy who runs the RS3-16 Facebook Page actually called your
Commander this week to check and the Commander said that no food on
the bus or at Florida will be tolerated. You will get dropped.
I am reading through this past-RS guy’s diary/blog and he had to do
Mountains 3 times because one night in his first recycle they pulled them
all aside for a surprise inspection of everything, and he had hid a small
pouch of Gatorade in his locker. Then he said this…

“On a slightly positive note, it could be A LOT worse. A ton of
guys are getting sent back to Day One to start Ranger School all
over again for things as small as a single packet of sugar.”
Good luck with your next stage, whichever it is. Hang in there. You can do it and
you’ll always be glad you did!
We love you so much and we’re so proud of you!
Dad