Date: July 25, 2008
Clint Prayer Platoon West Point Graduation Update
( See small album of pictures on Newsletter at this link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=8z7enib.9sqyjbjf&x=0&y=-rcmg0u&localeid=en_US )
Clint graduated in style and by the grace of God. We were so proud of his graduation, and particularly proud to see him listed in the Commencement Program as recipient of the Army Rugby Award for "Best Bepresenting Army Rugby On And Off the Field". He also was recognized for maintaining at least a B Average in his major, Portguguese.
But, what a week! He was on crutches and had a million errands to run to close out accounts, complete reports and turn in gear. All had to be done before he’d be allowed to walk that stage and get his diploma. We were all highly motivated as you can imagine. Happily we planned to go early anyway so we were there with a mini-van (lots of leg room for peg-leg) to run him hither and yon.
Family and friends arrived without a hitch and we had just a marvelous time. Looked like it might be stormy on Graduation morning (Sat the 31st) but God forestalled the clouds with only a light sprinkle at the very end. Clint was on his crutches, a mere 2 weeks after his surgery of course. But, as they marched under the stadium approaching the tunnel out on to the field where the Class of 2008 would experience their graduation ceremony, he threw his crutches to the side shouting, “I feel Jesus! He will hold me up!” So he gimped to his seat, and then up and across the stage and back down again. He pulled it off and became a legend instantly with his Company H-3. Let’s pray that he didn’t “pull” anything else out of whack.
He has at last started rehab just this week back at West Point, so we may know soon if he did too much damage. Below are a few highlight pictures to give you a good sense of the week. If you are interested in the “whole enchilada” you may peruse the full album at the Kodak Gallery link at the end of this email. I listed for you at the very bottom a sequence of events to give you some context of what you’ll see on the album. Hope you enjoy.
Brief update on his medical and other status.
Clint enjoyed his 3 weeks at home so much. Just hanging out with family including his new niece, Molly. And mostly fishing with friends and his brother-in-law Jack. We enjoyed having his girl friend, Tyfani with us for a part of that time.) They also returned on July 11th so he could participate in the wedding of his life-long friend, Katie Potts.) He went back to West Point on June 25th, and then it took a full week of paperwork and in-processing for the Warrior Transition program (soldiers coming for medical treatment or rehab). After that it took a couple of weeks because all physical therapists were deployed. But, sounds like everything is going OK right now.
His first apartment is all furnished now and he thinks it is the greatest place in the world. He is beginning to enjoy his job. He is in the Operations Office (G-3)for all of West Point. He is technically on the Superintendant’s staff. He participated this week in a big briefing with General Hagenbeck and a lot of other top officers and civilian leaders. He is meeting some very powerful and influential people this way, and also getting a chance to observe firsthand a lot of organizational issues which will be beneficial down the road.
So, God clearly continues to bless him, even in this “set back”. At the end of the Fall, he will then go on to his Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK. Then on to Ranger School if his knee is up to it, or more likely now, probably on to his platoon at Ft. Polk, LA. But, truly only the Lord knows. He may yet take some interesting and unexpected turns. Undoubtedly! Again, thank you for your prayers.
We will keep you posted on any big news. Please continue to pray for Clint in these areas:
- His spiritual walk and development as a spiritual leader
- His and Tyfani’s relationship…to grow in Christ and to remain committed to the Lord in all their ways
- Complete and successful rehab of the knee – including Clint’s psychological strength and faith in its full recovery
- Tyfani’s shoulder surgery in August to repair her javelin-throwing-induced injury to the rotator cuff
Appreciatively
Curtis Hail
Clint Prayer Platoon West Point Graduation Update
( See small album of pictures on Newsletter at this link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=8z7enib.9sqyjbjf&x=0&y=-rcmg0u&localeid=en_US )
Clint graduated in style and by the grace of God. We were so proud of his graduation, and particularly proud to see him listed in the Commencement Program as recipient of the Army Rugby Award for "Best Bepresenting Army Rugby On And Off the Field". He also was recognized for maintaining at least a B Average in his major, Portguguese.
But, what a week! He was on crutches and had a million errands to run to close out accounts, complete reports and turn in gear. All had to be done before he’d be allowed to walk that stage and get his diploma. We were all highly motivated as you can imagine. Happily we planned to go early anyway so we were there with a mini-van (lots of leg room for peg-leg) to run him hither and yon.
Family and friends arrived without a hitch and we had just a marvelous time. Looked like it might be stormy on Graduation morning (Sat the 31st) but God forestalled the clouds with only a light sprinkle at the very end. Clint was on his crutches, a mere 2 weeks after his surgery of course. But, as they marched under the stadium approaching the tunnel out on to the field where the Class of 2008 would experience their graduation ceremony, he threw his crutches to the side shouting, “I feel Jesus! He will hold me up!” So he gimped to his seat, and then up and across the stage and back down again. He pulled it off and became a legend instantly with his Company H-3. Let’s pray that he didn’t “pull” anything else out of whack.
He has at last started rehab just this week back at West Point, so we may know soon if he did too much damage. Below are a few highlight pictures to give you a good sense of the week. If you are interested in the “whole enchilada” you may peruse the full album at the Kodak Gallery link at the end of this email. I listed for you at the very bottom a sequence of events to give you some context of what you’ll see on the album. Hope you enjoy.
Brief update on his medical and other status.
Clint enjoyed his 3 weeks at home so much. Just hanging out with family including his new niece, Molly. And mostly fishing with friends and his brother-in-law Jack. We enjoyed having his girl friend, Tyfani with us for a part of that time.) They also returned on July 11th so he could participate in the wedding of his life-long friend, Katie Potts.) He went back to West Point on June 25th, and then it took a full week of paperwork and in-processing for the Warrior Transition program (soldiers coming for medical treatment or rehab). After that it took a couple of weeks because all physical therapists were deployed. But, sounds like everything is going OK right now.
His first apartment is all furnished now and he thinks it is the greatest place in the world. He is beginning to enjoy his job. He is in the Operations Office (G-3)for all of West Point. He is technically on the Superintendant’s staff. He participated this week in a big briefing with General Hagenbeck and a lot of other top officers and civilian leaders. He is meeting some very powerful and influential people this way, and also getting a chance to observe firsthand a lot of organizational issues which will be beneficial down the road.
So, God clearly continues to bless him, even in this “set back”. At the end of the Fall, he will then go on to his Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK. Then on to Ranger School if his knee is up to it, or more likely now, probably on to his platoon at Ft. Polk, LA. But, truly only the Lord knows. He may yet take some interesting and unexpected turns. Undoubtedly! Again, thank you for your prayers.
We will keep you posted on any big news. Please continue to pray for Clint in these areas:
- His spiritual walk and development as a spiritual leader
- His and Tyfani’s relationship…to grow in Christ and to remain committed to the Lord in all their ways
- Complete and successful rehab of the knee – including Clint’s psychological strength and faith in its full recovery
- Tyfani’s shoulder surgery in August to repair her javelin-throwing-induced injury to the rotator cuff
Appreciatively
Curtis Hail
If you want to see all the May 28, 2008 Graduation Pictures please read on:
If you go to the Kodak Gallery link below for a picture journey through that week, the following listing will clue you to the events you see. The attached full Album sequence is as follows, as a guide to help you understand what you are viewing:
Superintendant’s Reception in his garden – Graduation Parade on The Plain – Lunch on the Supe’s boat – Clint get’s his Army uniform ready for bar pinning ceremony – Graduation Banquet at Washington Hall – graduation at Michie Stadium – “butter bar” 2LT bar pinning and oath ceremony with his Rugby brothers at Anderson Complex – quick nap and ice on the knee back at the room – wedding of his Rugby brother at Cadet Chapel in his “dress blues” – first visit as an Officer to the West Point Club – packing and heading out from apartment for 30 days leave!
To see full album of Graduation Week, please go to this link: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=8z7enib.a1jq7hpv&x=0&y=-dvy7v7&localeid=en_US
©2008
0 comments:
Post a Comment