In July of 2007, Local 12 profiled four Oak Hills High School graduates who decided to join the Marines together.
Nick Smith, Dan Mullis, Mike Williams and Brian Steinriede all enlisted, hoping to be placed together in boot camp, knowing they'd be split up after that.
At the time, the four said they were prepared for the challenges of training and the possibility of deployment in a war zone.
Nick Smith and Dan Mullis also promised to write from boot camp. Check back for more blog entries from these two local soldiers. To see photos of Dan and Nick, go to our photo gallery http://community.local12.com/photos/oak_hills_graduates_endure_marine_boot_camp/default.aspx.
To write to Nick Smith:
RCT - Smith, Nicholas, J
PLT 2106 2D BN G Co
Box 12106
Parris Island, SC 29905-2106
September 11, 2007: Nick Smith
Dear Family and Friends -
It's September 11th today, and it's been a really heavy day. A day of constant remembrance of 3,000 innocent people dying in a fiery inferno. And a day spent remembering why we're training to be Marines.
We've been told to imagine our family and friends in the towers as they fell. To imagine terror attacks hitting home. It's a depressing thought; one that fuels my motivation to fight.
First to fight for right and freedom. One idea that stays fresh in our thoughts. We've all already been promised a "paid vacation" to Iraq. I'm pretty sure they even have the plane tickets made, the way they talk.
National defense, something that I formerly didn't care about is now my priority #1. I only ask for prayer that this recruit can become one of the finest U.S. MARINES out there.
A Marine that graduated from my company got a medal of honor in Iraq a couple of years back. He stuck his kevlar helmet over a grenade and dove on top of it. He gave his life to save his fellow Marines surrounding him. I hope to reach the same level of honor, courage, and commitment. - RCT Nick Smith
"If the Army or the Navy ever look on heaven's scenes, they will see the streets are guarded, By THE UNITED STATES MARINES"
Nick Smith
August 8, 2007: Dan Mullis
I'm one of the five Oak Hills students to be at boot camp. Sorry it has taken me 'til now to write but I have been extremely busy lately. Boot camp turned out to be a lot harder than anticipated. It's not that the physical things are hard, it's the mental stuff that's hard. Just the o ther night we had a kid from our platoon run. He ended up being caught a bit later.
Me and Brian are now in the same platoon and Scott and Nick are in another platoon. So things didn't turn out as planned. Dan Mullis
August 13, 2007: Nick Smith
I will spare openings and get straight to the point; BOOTCAMP IS HELL. The stress it puts on you by being such a hostile environment, coupled with sleep deprivation puts too many kids in the hospital every d ay. I'm just now recovering a small illness myself, thank God I didn't have to go to medical, though it caused me to fail my run time and delaying my graduation day.
The setup here is nothing you would expect, but everything you would believe necessary for creating America's finest fighting force. Here, recruits are the lowest life form imaginable. From what I've collected, it goes Marine drill instructors and personnel, civilians, rodents, insects, then us.
I wake up every day thinking why did I join, and go to sleep every night remembering. I hope my parents are still proud of me because right now I'm not proud of myself at all.
I end with this: Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Semper Fi,
Nick Smith
