Journey to Shiloh: A Tribute to an Airman! (Part one)

It was February 28, 2006. Our eldest son had joined the US Air Force...

...and on that cold Tuesday evening he was leaving for Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas.

The evening before, during family worship, Daddy said we were going to read Joshua 1&24. As I turned the pages of my Bible to find the book of Joshua, my mind went back to our living room on Farrand Drive in Richmond, VA. I was sitting on the couch talking to the Lord about a name, flipping through the pages of my Bible. Earlier that day, we had learned by ultrasound we were going to have a son; I was five months pregnant. He lead me to read the book of Joshua. I knew then it was to be our child's name and began praying for a warrior son who would lead God's people. Now he was embarking upon that path!

After many hugs from his 13 siblings, his father embraced him and prayed a blessing over him. We were so proud and yet sorrowful; this son would be missed. Joshua climbed into the limo to go to the Chicago MEPS for final in-processing and staging for the next-day flight to Lackland Air Force Base!

One week later there was a knock at our door. Flowers were delivered. The card said, "My Mother". I knew they were from Josh by the handwriting. Come to find out, he and his father had purchased them the week before he left to help ease this mother's heart. It worked!

But those flowers also brought back memories of two weeks prior, when on that Saturday, we celebrated Josh graduating from high school and entering the Air Force with a wonderful party in the church basement attended by many family and friends!

And then the next day, the Lord's Day, Josh stood before the congragetion at church sharing his testimony and calling from the Lord to go into the Air Force. The Elders, his father and two grandfathers (Papa and Granddad) laid hands on him and prayed. It was a very touching time and very fitting as he was going in the military as one of Christ's ambassadors!

Joshua was just a little boy of eight when he declared he wanted to go into the military when he grew up. He had had many other interests including marine biology, computers, and videography, but he never lost the drive or desire to join the military. (A calling he and his brother shared to this day.)

After his eighteenth birthday, he began to pursue his life's calling....

It all moved rather quickly, in September 2005, he took his ASVAB test recieving a score of 77. In October, he went to the Chicago MEPS for physical screening. In February, he was sworn in and given his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) of Communications-Computer Systems Operator later to include Top Secret Security Clearance.

And then on Wednesday, March 1...

...Josh arrived at Lackland Air Force Base, late that night, sitting in the hall under the sign (to the left), before being assigned his 'Flight' (or unit).

Now a Recruit, he was then marched the good half mile to what was to be his new home for the next six weeks.

Josh made his first phone call home the following Sunday, early in the morning. He was also able to call the next Sunday using the phone cards we had sent down with him. Towards the end of basic, we heard from him quite regularly as he was having to fill out reams of paperwork to receive his Security Clearance.

Our family had to be investigated too. Having siblings adopted from Russia added to the drama! The investigator had to ask if our children, ages 14, 12, and twin 11 year olds, were still in contact with anyone in Russia...think of the movie 'Salt'!! We assured him they had no contact with anyone from that country nor do they want to be. Needless to say, Josh's security clearance went through.

Finally the six weeks had passed. It was April and time came for us to go to Texas for Josh's graduation.Our first glimpse of him was during the Moto Run early Thursday morning....

See that grin on his face...relief and joy...his family was there!!

We were not going to be able to be with him until that evening so we spent the day touring the Base.

Observation in 2012:

How thankful I am we color coordinated for easy tracking of our 13 children.

Six years later, it makes for an easy photo time-line:

yellow-Thursday, green-Friday, blue-Saturday, and white-Resurrection Sunday!

Evening came and we headed to the bleachers over looking a small parade ground. And then we could hear them.

The airmen came marching to the grand stand arena in military fashion. Watching them march in formation, in perfect form and step, was quite surreal; especially in light of the fact they had just learned how to do it over the last six weeks.

Finally...for the first time in six weeks...we get to hug our 'boy', yet a 'man'!

The next day was a big day...GRADUATION!

And now we get to hug an........AIRMAN!

Josh gave us the tour of his barracks and showed us his official Air Force photo...

We enjoyed a quite evening of eating....pizza! Then we had to return him 'home'. The next day was a 'free day' for the Airman to spend with their families. We went to see the Alamo, walk the River Walk, and eat at Hard Rock Cafe, but first Daddy have to give his 'baby boy' another hug!

(Can you believe how young they look?!!)

The following day was Resurrection Sunday!! Worship was held in the chapel and brunch was held in the enlisted club. Gramma captured this 'cool' photo of our Airman!

All good things must come to an end...it was time to say 'good-bye'. Josh was headed to Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi for four months of Tech Training. But this time we would be able to stay in touch...he had one of our cell phones!!