My sweetie sent me flowers!! :) Thanks Herm. I love and miss you soooooooooo much!

OH YEAH!! SHOW IT OFF BABY!!! :) YOU DESERVE IT!

Randy the day after Hell Week ended! He is wearing a "I survived HELL WEEK" sweatshirt. He was also at Sea World enjoying a free day. :)

And now he is a BROWN shirt...which means he made it thru Hell Week!! HOOYAH RANDY! We are SOOO proud of you!

Randy and his buddies, before Hell Week. They are thinking, "we can do this!"

This was taken before Hell Week started.....he was not smiling for long.......:)

*** please note Clint's address change***

LT Clint Waggoner
MiTT/GSU 0320
Q-West
APO, AE 09351

CORONADO, Calif. (July 20, 2007) - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen prepares to secure students of Basic Under Water Demolition Seal Training (BUDS) Class 266 from the "Hell Week" portion of their training during a visit to Naval Special Warfare Command. Mullen conducted an all hands call with Sailors assigned to the Special Warfare command, presented three Bronze Stars with Valor and a Silver Star to four Special Warfare Operators (SEAL) for actions undertaken during combat in Iraq. CNO is on travel to the West Coast conducting fleet visits in the San Diego area. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley ************Randy is the 2nd to last guy down on the left****************

HE DID IT!!!!!!!! RANDY PASSED HELL WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS FINALLY OVER!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!!

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYAH!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU RANDY!!!!!

Lady Bug is exhausted thinking of what Randy has to do this week. :)

GOOOOOOOOOO RANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://seals.longboys.net/mud.jpg&imgrefurl=http://seals.longboys.net/buds.htm&h=166&w=250&sz=16&hl=en&start=32&um=1&tbnid=MhoIhqLbpoc9wM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dseal%2Bhell%2Bweek%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SUNA_enUS231US231%26sa%3DN


This is another good link with some great pics.

Do you recognize this guy??? Well, it took me a minute too, but it is RANDY! : ) He had to go on a 'mission' the other night and this was his outfit he got to wear. Makes his cheek bones really pop, wouldn't you say? :)

TOMORROW marks the start of HELL WEEK! Thanks to everyone who participated in "OPERATION WRITE RANDY." He called me yesterday and was so very happy that people took time out to write and encourage him. And of course it means the world to me and I will not soon forget it, that is for sure. I believe he is ready for the week to come. He is in the FIRST TIME EVERY TIME group (meaning he passes everything the first time). They say Hell Week is 90% mental and 10% physical and I believe with all of my heart that Randy is capable of achieving his goal. I have faith that God will carry him through this week, as well as the rest of BUDS training. Thank you again for your prayers and your words of encouragement for him.

Randy, PUSH IT OUT and GET R DONE! : ) I (we) could not be more proud of you my sweet boy.

For those that are not quite sure what HELL WEEK is, let me give ya a little insight...the name alone should tell you a lot. What follows is an excerpt from an article on HELL WEEK from the Navy News Service. At the end is the link so you can read the entire article. There is also a few pictures of what the guys go thru.

SEAL Training Hell Week

From Navy News Service
"Of all the battles a SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) must fight, none is more important than their first– the battle of mind over body.
The voice was back. That small, self-doubting messenger returned to pitch its familiar monologue, “This is BS! Why are you putting yourself through this? You are never gonna make it all the way, so quit now and call it a day!”
Basic Underwater Demolitions and SEAL (BUD/S) instructors know the human machine is capable of amazing endurance even in the harshest of conditions and environments, but they also know the mind must be made to ignore the pleading of the body.
As their name suggests, SEALs are trained to conduct operations in any arena, and successful candidates spend 18 to 24 months in training before being assigned to teams. Every step is a challenge, and each test is progressively more difficult. On average, 70 percent of candidates never make it past Phase One.
For most, the greatest challenge lies in Week 4 of Phase One. A grueling 5.5 days, the continuous training ultimately determines who has the ability and mindset to endure.
“Welcome to Hell Week.”
Trainees are constantly in motion; constantly cold, hungry and wet. Mud is everywhere–it covers uniforms, hands and faces. Sand burns eyes and chafes raw skin. Medical personnel stand by for emergencies and then monitor the exhausted trainees. Sleep is fleeting–a mere three to four hours granted near the conclusion of the week. The trainees consume up to 7,000 calories a day and still lose weight.
The inner voice mimics the BUD/S instructor pacing the line of waterlogged men with his bullhorn. “If you quit now you could go get a room at one of those luxury hotels down the beach and do nothing but sleep for an entire day!
Throughout Hell Week, BUD/S instructors continually remind candidates that they can “Drop-On-Request” (DOR) any time they feel they can’t go on by simply ringing a shiny brass bell that hangs prominently within the camp for all to see.
“The belief that BUD/S is about physical strength is a common misconception. Actually, it’s 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical,” said a BUD/S instructor at the San Diego facility. “(Students) just decide that they are too cold, too sandy, too sore or too wet to go on. It’s their minds that give up on them, not their bodies.”
“Whaddaya think? All you have to do is get up and go smack the hell out of that shiny, brass bell. You KNOW you want to. …”
It is not the physical trials of Hell Week that are difficult so much as its duration: a continual 132 hours of physical labor.
Through the long days and nights of Hell Week, candidates learn to rely on one another to keep awake and stay motivated. They tap one another on the shoulder or thigh periodically and wait for a reassuring pat in response that says, “I’m still hangin’ in there, how ‘bout you?” They cheer loudly when they notice a mate struggling to complete his mission and use the same as fuel when they themselves feel drained. They learn to silence that inner voice urging them to give in and ring that hideous, beautiful bell.
Sleep. He would do anything for it. He couldn’t remember what day it was, or when he had last had sleep. But, he knew it felt good, and NOTHING about “Hell Week” felt good. He had been cold and wet for days. There were open sores along his inner thigh now from being constantly soaked. And every time he moved, the coarse, wet camouflage raked over the wounds, sending lightening bolts of pain through his body. Maybe the voice was right. Maybe he should just get up, walk over, and ring that bell."

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navytrng/a/sealhellweek.htm

I wanted to post this so that all who come across this site will have an opportunity to pray for 'Sam' and his family. I cannot imagine this kind of pain, suffering and torture. I count my blessings every night and pray for peace.



Clint Waggoner wrote:
Howdy all,

I am writing to ask that one of our interpreters "Sam" be added to your prayers. His family (Wife and 2 Children) has been kidnapped because of his involvement with the American "infidels". They will almost surely be killed and it is really taking it's toll on him. He is a good man, one of very few that I have met over here.

Thanks,
Clint

Who, me????

;>)

Wendi, Me, and Lorrie (Dr. Dajani).

Love you girls!

More of my girls from Jax:

Wendi, Me, Lorrie (Dr. D), and Sondra.

Thanks for coming out to see me girls. I love you and miss you so much! I had a great time!

Randy....GOOD LUCK on week #3 Babe. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Everyone remember that HELL WEEK starts next Sun (15th). You know what to do :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VALERIE! Hope your day is FANTASTIC! : ) See you tomorrow! I will miss you when you leave but enjoy your family. Keep in touch girl! Love you. :)

Us girls at Pete's.......yes we were allowed back in and I am happy to say there were no incidences...almost, but......:)

I had the best time in Jax. Thanks girls for making it so great!!!! Betsy, you are the best and I miss you already!

How's the pool and tree swing?? :) Be careful now and remember to pick up your feet! hee hee hee

love u! : )

Kat and Betsy at the beach for 4th of July fireworks. It was a beautiful show right over the ocean! ;)

Yes this is me with three BIG dogs...two are Pit Bulls (Precious-dark brown and Duchess-tan) and the brindle color one (Diamond) is well, I am not sure but she was big! Waaaaaaaaay different than my wittle bitty pugs :) They were all very loving and playful, and loved sleeping with me.

Me and my girls on Jax Beach. I LOVE the beaches in Jacksonville. We spent a lot of time here! : )

Cindy, Betsy and Kathy: Together again in Jacksonville, Fl.

This was the day I got there (Sat-June 30th). We went to have lunch at Harry's.

It is great to see the girls again. It has been 4 years since I last visited Jax.

Here is our boy!! I do not like to brag.....BUT!!!!!!! : ) I asked him if he ate my Randy! I think he is doing alright, wouldn't you say???

July 15th will commence HELL WEEK! Please remember to keep our boy in your prayers, as well as Daddy Waggoner and all of the military and their families.

Randy, I am SOO proud of you. Keep it up, push it out, and GET R DONE! HOOYAH!

Randy, Mr. Sailor Man, with his buddy, Rock. You guys look GREAT! ; ) I miss you Randy!

The Navy's finest, without a doubt! : )

He is so cute! ;) You would scare me for sure! : ) hee hee hee

This was from his wetsuit.

He says this is from his wetsuit. Dareck says it is not normal to have muscles on your ribs....hee hee hee

RJ's hands after 243 PULL-UPS. :(

HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY APRIL!!! We love and miss you. Hope you can celebrate your special day with friends, family, your sweetie and lots of love and laughter! Wish we could be there to share it with you!

07/07/07...how COOL is that!!! enjoy!

~Kat, Chandra, Maggie and Sean~

(Tom and Dareck were off riding The Griffon)

Look at all of those roller coasters in the background! What an awesome day!!!

Tom, Chan and kiddos spent a week at Williamsburg, Va. which is about 35 minutes from me. We visited them often and loved having them so close (cuz they are usually so far away at 2.5 hours!..hee hee hee) Anyway, we had a great day celebrating Chandra's "29th" bday.... Would only have been better if Clint and Randy were with us. Thanks to Busch Gardens, we have enjoyed a FREE day on them every year since we got back from Sicily. Hope you enjoy the pics. HAPPY SUMMER!

Lucy (and her mini-me) and Ethel, gettin down and dirty. :)

Isn't he precious! :)

Me and Dareck at the Clydesdale's...they were sooo beautiful and lucky us, there was a baby! He was soooo cute! :)

This.....This is THE GRIFFON...a beastly thing that goes up 205 feet only to make a 90 degree drop at 70mph....check out the video.....

http://www.griffoncoaster.com/

Needless to say, Chandra and I opted NOT to ride it....but Dareck and Tom rode it FOUR times. Clint and Randy, you would have LOVED it!

GO NAVY! : )

Every year, Busch Gardens allows the military member and his dependents a free day! This was ours and we were very proud to represent our Sailors! (and military) : ) We missed you Clint and Randy!

wow! that is some wetness!

Chan...just a little wet....: )

Me, Dareck (in the front left) and Chan and kids behind us. wooooohooooooooo!

This is Dareck, Sean, Tom and Mags (in the front row) at Busch Gardens. We had a blast!

Chandra, the birthday girl :) Happy Birthday Best Friend!

Hello REENEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a special hello for you for when you FINALLY check out the Waggoner blog ;) . It's about time!!! Hope you enjoy it! :) Love you!

Happy 4th!! Thank you to all who serve and sacrifice for our country! : ) Hope you can celebrate our FREEDOM with someone you love today. Clint and Randy, we are missing you every second. I am soooo proud of you. I love you with all of my heart! God Bless You all and God Bless America!!

I am in Jacksonville, Fl. having a GREAT time with my friends. Dareck is back home in Va. celebrating with his friends and Lady Bug is holding down the fort. ;) I miss you babies. I go home tomorrow. I will be sad to leave my girls, but so happy to see my babies again.

Have a great day! HAPPY 4th of JULY : )