My soldier had his first “sick call” last week. I’d gotten a letter from him saying he felt like he was swallowing razorblades, and something was going around the barracks because several of the guys in his battalion had been sick previously.
I’m guessing he was missing Dr. Mom at some point as I don’t imagine his DS was quite as sympathetic as I might have been. The dichotomy may have been something like this:
Instead of being awakened by Mom for class with a kiss on the check (at his age, I have to steal a kiss while he’s sleeping sometimes), reveille was still at 0500 with toes on the line at 0530.
Instead of mom checking his temperature because I noticed he was hot and bringing him some water and fever medicine, he still had to show up for PT before he could be released for sick call, unless maybe he had a high fever, but maybe not …
Instead of Mom bringing him some soothing tea for his throat and breakfast, he still had to report for formation and give his DS info so he could get permission to go to the clinic/triage.
Instead of Mom bringing in just the right medicines/foods/drinks to get him through the day, he probably just got a shot of a penicillin equivalent in the butt and had to head back to whatever already-in-progress training was being conducted that day.
And I hope he remembered the note from the doctor/clinic so his DS didn’t think he was just a slacker, which he isn’t because he hates to be sick and it basically takes something the size of an elephant to knock him down.
How do I know it might have gone this way? I had a Col. Dad a long time ago. 
I haven’t heard from him in several days, actually not since I got the letter saying he was ill. I’m pretty sure he’s not dead or they would have contacted me.
I’m also pretty sure the “homesick” scale might have gone up a notch.
Have I mentioned he’s still my baby?
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