John is our 26 year old son! He has been married now for 5 years, to his wife Jessica, and in August they told US they were expecting our grandbaby, and shortly before Thanksgiving, they announced it to the rest of the world with the wonderful video above! They also just bought their first home, in Orange County CA, so this has been an amazing year for them, and 2009 holds even more wonderful things for them, I'm sure!
He graduated from Pacific Coast High School on June 6, 2000. After one year at Irvine Valley College, he decided college wasn't what he was looking for right now, and sought out the local USMC recruiter! After the usual testing and physical, he signed up for the Delayed Entry Program on 31 Aug 2001. He headed off for Boot Camp in Jan 2002 at RDSD and graduated 19 Apr 2002! After graduation, he came home for his 10 days leave, got one week of Recruiter's Assistance, and went back to Camp Pendelton for MCT at SOI! The day he graduated from that, he was off to Aberdeen, MD to attend the Small Arms Repair School there, for 9 weeks. He got about 2 weeks leave, and came home for a visit, before flying off to his first Permanent Duty Station, at K-Bay, Hawaii! 
Rough life, eh!?! He got the MOS he wanted, and he got stationed where he wanted (Hawaii), but all the silly boy could do was complain that he wasn't in a deployable unit! Did my mother's heart good.... and then he got out! yea! and is back in Irvine working for the Irvine Police Department as their Armorer. So, all in all, life has turned out well for him. :-D
While in high school, he met his future bride, Jessica. She graduated in 2003, and they were married in November of that year, in California. She later joined him in Hawaii, where he was stationed, and they were able to live on base. They got a dog while there and named her.... Kitty!!! When they moved back to CA, Kitty came with them, and they found apt(s) that took dogs. In fact, they have now gotten a second dog, an older rescue and named him Bubba ;D And now that they are back in the OC, both John and Jess are enrolled in college... both at IVC! Doing quite well, I might add!
John first decided that he "needed" his own car, when he found a 1982 Jaguar XJS at the great price of $3995! Something about the car being the same age as him appealed to him ;-) He and his wife have all "new" (to them) vehicles now that they are Conus, again, including a new motorcycle. He had a Valkyrie in HI, but he sold that after moving back to CA. We had the chance to go riding with them, when we were visiting Hawaii one time- we rented a Harley in Waikiki and we all toured around the island for the afternoon... a very nice day together!
John had the chance to work with his dad setting up shots for the Miramar Air Show back in 2002, when John was still in training. They worked together really well; I was so proud to be able to share part of that day! John then was stationed in permanently in HI, working as an armorer at the SNCO Academy at Kanheoe Bay. He had always wanted to work with guns, and/or be a cop, when he was young... he got his wish, and is working as an armorer for a local Police Dept now that he is back in SoCal! We are very proud of him :-) We have an entire branch of our family that is mostly into police work; my cousins, who are his Godfamily, and whom he has always admired. We visited John in Hawaii several times, as a family. One time we enjoyed a lovely family vacation, with all 5 of us going over to the Big Island for 4 days! Paul was able to be there to promote John to Cpl, on 1 Sept 2004! The next time he was promoted, to Sgt, he was on terminal leave from the Corps, and his wife pinned him!
Links to other sites on the Web
Poolee Page For those on the DEP (Delayed Entry Program) like John was (and Paul was before him!)
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego CA Where John went to Boot Camp
School of Infantry Camp Pendelton CA Which John attended after Boot Camp Graduation
Popular Mechanics Magazine
The only Archery Store on Oahu
The only Archery Range on Oahu
Aloha Stadium swap meet J&J's apparent favorite hangout
E-bay John and Jess are e-bayers, in addition to swap meeters.
Hurricane Center, HI for info on eastern Pacific storms
© 1997-2001 john_dirm@yahoo.com
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