I went to Basic Training at Fort Jackson in the early 1990’s and I was about 27, not the oldest in our platoon but I was close.

Mail call was always a good way to end the day. Usually.

One of the guys was very thoughtful and answered his mothers question by telling her just a little something about each of us, even if it was just our name. He didn’t realize he was sentencing us all to smoking.

Over the weeks everyone got an envelope from his father. The envelope contained a brief comment about his (the father’s) time in boot camp. It also contained a scantily clad woman. This man had gone on to be a professional photographer and these shots were of models he worked with and who gave him permission to send these to us.

Eventually guys were looking at return addresses before opening letters but the Drill Sgt wouldn’t let the letters be returned or go unopened. I don’t recall the smoking for these letters being especially rough.

I still have my picture stored away. Somewhere.