Sniper's Last Leg of his Deployment

On are way to the base, we pick up another Marine. We roll onto base at 0430. Sniper was worried that very few of his Marine's would show up on time. We pulled up and there was only a few missing. Good, but not good. They were all supposed to be on deck at 0430. I saw Sniper's Marine side within the first 15 minutes. He was cool, calm and collected for 15 minutes and then the Marine in charge kicked in. One of the Marine's not on deck, he called to find out where he was at. Being so early in the morning, it was very quiet until that phone call. I won't discuss the conversation, but boy does that boy kick ass. Apparently the Marine was still asleep in the barracks. I don't want to be him when he shows up. I learned alot of new things this trip and this morning was no different (being new to this side of the Marine Corps). I didn't realize that Sniper was hand picked by the Colonel to lead (SNCOIC, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge) this deployment. He is the only Staff Sgt going with 5 new Sgt's. He was hand picked to train his new Lt (3 months in) and Sniper is in charge of all these Marines. Not one of the other Marine's have been deployed. For some reason this bother's me. However, I am very proud of him. Sniper starts kicking everything into gear. He was told the Colonel is going to be out here this morning and everything needs to be perfect. He sets up the scales to start weighing everyone with there gear. Remember they have to under 400lbs. They need to weigh in and state your name, seabags set in one spot, packs in another. Sounds simple to me, but the Marines took a little while to figure this one out, including stating there name. I am now seeing "Marine" Sniper and so far for me, he is not doing anything I wouldn't expect from him. I have to admit, I had to hide behind the truck to laugh. It was pretty funny, when they couldn't even follow simple directions like stating there name, but I didn't laugh in front of them. Sniper grabs a scale and takes it around the back of his truck. He's worried he is over. Nope, 390lbs. Just barely made it. That's okay. 0555 Sniper is in definite need of coffee. We had out to Starbucks on base. (God, I love that man. He didn't care where the coffee came from, but knew I liked my foofoo coffee.) As were driving, he turns around and again for the upteenth time asks if I am okay dealing with the Marine side of him. I hugged him and told him, you and Wingman already told me "Marine" Sniper is a d*ck. Yep, you are, but I also know the man who you are (I put my hand over his heart) and I love that man inside. As a Marine, you have a job to do and you are doing that. I feel much better having you share this side of you, also. Besides I don't think your that big of a d*ck with them, yet. Sniper said, you haven't seen nothing yet. Wait until the bus leaves and they are all mine for the next year. I will do everything in my power to bring each and everyone home with me. They may not like me, but they will all be coming home. 0615, we come back and sure enough the last Marine missing (the one who was still sleeping) was there. (I was waiting for him to absolutely lose it with him. Nope, he said that he will pay when they get to the place where they fly out. He along with the rest of them will have to build the palates, then break them down and rebuild them over and over again. He will make them sweat for this.) From here it starts getting pretty hectic. Sniper's family shows up. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt and 2 cousins. I have never met them until now and we sat and chatted the whole time. They know all about me already. About 0700 the Colonel shows up, the truck to take the gear and the buses. (I know it's getting closer) They start to load up the truck with gear. By now, I haven't really talked to Sniper in awhile, just watching him in action. I am getting very anxious and nervous at the same time. All of a sudden the start of "Colors". I was in absolute pride as I watched this. The Col came over to his family and I to talk to us. I have never really been around active Military, but to have the Col talk to us, made me even more proud of Sniper. He walked up and starting talking to Sniper's Grandfather (Retired Marine Capt). The Colonel thanked the Capt for his service and they chatted for awhile. Then he turned to me, placed his arm around me (half hug) and said he is very proud of Sniper and that he is a damn good Marine. Sniper had told him we are getting married. He kept praising Sniper and all that he has accomplished. I was very moved by this. He gave me another half hug and said if I need anything, let them know. I was very moved and humbled. I told him Thank you. Then the SgtMaj came over and started talking to us. Again, first address the Capt then the rest of his family. The SgtMaj turned to me and said "You must be his finance." Ummmm....yes! (I know it's not official, but damn that felt good. He talks about me non-stop. I knew he said he talks about me all the time, but to actually know he talks to his higher ups about me, gives me great pride). He also said a lot of the same things the Colonel said. He also said he knows that with the 100 Marines under Sniper, he will do well with them. Again, if there is anything I need, just ask and then walked away. I was able to talk to Sniper a few minutes after this and let him know what transpired. I then told him the Col gave me a hug. His reply, "Where's my rifle and where is the Col." He was laughing the whole time he said this. Then they loaded up the busses. We hadn't had our good-bye kisses yet and I was getting worried that this wasn't going to happen. I needed my kiss. I kept staring and waiting. I hadn't shed a tear yet. I had promised him, but it was getting hard. I had a huge hole in my check, but no tears. I promised. Then he jumps down and says get your camera ready. By the time I turned around and realized what he wanted. I missed it. I said do it again, and this is what I got: Him and his grandfather saluting each other. You cant see Sniper saluting, but he is. I was so moved by this as well as everyone else around us. Then he stated, alright guys this is it. Who is getting kisses? (I was already told grandma gets the last kiss. She got the last one last time and that's his good luck charm).I looked around and told everyone, "I'll be damned, but I get the 2nd to last kiss and they better hurry up. I'm right before Grandma." Everyone else kissed him. Then he turned to me and I got a big hug and my kiss. Then Grandma got a hug and a big Kiss. Then he loaded up on the bus. I stood next to his Grandma and his cousin behind me. Each of us holding on for dear life. The tears were leaking a little, but his cousin was crying. I told her over and over to "F*ckin Suck-It-Up! I promised and I am not breaking this promise." I was laughing and smiling the whole time (along with small tears streaming down my face). He and I kept mouthing I love you, making the I Love you sign in sign language and blew a few kisses. The bus rolled out. (See you Next Year My Love)! His cousin and I turned to each other. Then I lost it. We both cried hard. Wingman comes over and says lets roll. Being a Man, he doesn't do to well with emotions. Wingman and I load up into Sniper's truck and I am crying pretty hard. The phone rings and he says "Yep, his gone. No she's not doing well. See you in a few." Wingman knew what I needed. He brought me to Red. (Red is a Navy Corpsman, stationed at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton). I walked into her office and lost it some more. She just held onto me and let my tears flow. She understands. (Her and Wingman are going thru a divorce and they both have been deployed before) We leave and Wingman takes me to my mom at the hotel. (My mom didn't end up coming to see Sniper off. Things got down to the wire and we were afraid that Wingman wouldn't be there). We loaded up the car and left. Sniper: I Love You With All My Heart. See you at Homecoming My Love!!! dyzgoneby Sniper's Deployment Part 1 Sniper's Deployment Part 2