I was happy to get any kind of letter when I was in Marine basic.
In fact, I wrote several to a girl I knew in High School. But she never wrote me back. But her sister did, and I just wrote back and forth with her sister all during boot camp.
And the irony of this is, I eventually married the girl I tried to write to. And we have been married for going on 24 years now. And over the years, one of her complaints is that when I am deployed, I do not write enough letters (even though she still rarely writes me one back). :rofl
A year after I graduated Boot Camp, I put a buddy of mine in the Marines. I told him I would understand he would not have much time, but that I only wanted 3 letters. 1 at the beginning of 1st Phase, to get his address. A second during 2nd Phase, to know he was doing OK. And a third during 3rd Phase, so I could arrange time off with my command to attend his graduation.
Well, I got his address finally from his dad. I wrote him a letter every 2 weeks, always putting them in a regular envelope and useing my dad's address. It was getting close to his graduation date (once again supplied by his dad), and still no letter from him. So I got even.
I spent 4 days writing about 15 pages. I would write while I was on post. I would write about what movie I had seen. I would write about what music was popular on the radio. This is because I knew the DIs were very likely to have the recruits open a letter if it was thick enough to hide contraband.
And for the finishing touch, I took a Playboy centerfold, and wrapped it around the completed letters, so that the first thing visible were the breasts. This was something I knew was definately "contraband".
Then I sealed it in a Marine Corps envelope, and put my military address as the return address. It took 2 stamps to mail it.
Sure enough, when I saw him after his graduation, he told me about getting "The Letter". He said the DI pulled it out, called his name, did a double-take at the envelope, and dropped it on the floor with the directions "Open It!" He saw the envelope, and said he knew it was going to be bad. He pulled it out, and it was obvious to everybody what was wrapped around the outside of the letter.
He spent 15 minutes doing pushups, kissing the exposed part of the centerfold each time. When he was finally allowed to recover, the DI looked at him and said "You were supposed to write him a letter, and did'nt do it, did you?"
So if any of you go to boot camp in the future, write your friends and family back. Because we sure can get at you, even if you think you are safe.
:lol:
