My name is Jon Randolph and this is the story of how I met the love of my life while navigating the minefields of UW Madison, The Marine Corps, Iraq and a nameless Sorority on Langdon Street. My background is relatively simple. I was born in 1984 to Frank and Anne Randolph. Dad was a Viet Nam era Marine following in the footsteps of his dad who served in WWII. I grew up an only child in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago. I got OK grades through public schools but frankly I really never applied myself. My grades were just good enough to get into UW, my dad's and grandpa's alma mater. As I moved off to school, Mom and Dad moved out of River Forest and into a Loop condo. Both of them had really good jobs and so they downsized to a modest two bedroom. Dad was a senior partner at one of the larger Loop law firms so no commute was a big plus for him.
I started my Freshman year in September of 2001 and I guess all Americans alive at the time knew what happened on the 11th. On the 12th I was in the Marine recruiting office in Madison. The sergeant I talked to was impressed with my desire to follow the family tradition and we had a great conversation. He did however point out that since my 18th birthday wasn't until November, that I would need parental consent. His advice was to sign up on my birthday while finishing at least the first semester.
That night I called my folks and they talked me into finishing the full year before enlisting. My Mom wanted me to finish all 4 years and then go to OCS but my Dad understood and I believe was proud I was following in the family footsteps. And so in June 2001 I started Marine Corp boot camp and believe it or not, I loved it. I had prepared physically by running every day and working out with weights. Dad and Grandpa had also prepared me for the mental hazing that the DIs would be dishing out and I was ready for that. Boot Camp was a pain in the ass but I was well prepared. I graduated first in my class and after Infantry School and my MOS I was ready for my first deployment.
The three and a half years of my service went by in a blur. I was deployed 5 times and sometimes there was only a short break between them. I had a real talent for house to house operations and had good leadership skills. I had just gotten my sergeant stripes and my own squad when the IED did its job. One day later I was on my way to Germany on a military hospital plane. After 6 months of operations, poking, prodding and rehab I was a civilian in Madison Wisconsin continuing my interrupted college career. I was still on a cane for support but I was assured that if I kept up with the PT I would be able to get back almost 100% of my strength and range of motion.
That brings us to September 5, 2006. At 10:58 AM I was making my way to my assigned seat in the UW lecture hall for Econ 101. Luckily my seat was on the aisle so I could straighten out my bum right leg. As I settled in the girl next to me looked up from her phone, brushed a lock of gorgeous red hair out of her piercing green eyes and said
"Welcome to 101, I'm Fiona Quincy."
"Jon Randolph" I mumbled as I fumbled with my backpack and cane before grasping her outstretched hand. Her palm was warm, dry and soft. Her grip firm as a feeling of trust and definite sexual interest passed between us and as I sat down I needed to slightly adjust my bulging pants.
For several minutes we exchanged pleasantries as I got out my MacBook and prepared to take notes. I was amazed at just how easy it was to talk to this girl. She was warm, witty, seemingly intelligent and as an added perk, was very very easy on the eyes.
As the immense lecture hall quieted down as Professor Spencer started his presentation, I marveled at how lucky I was to have met this girl.
Throughout the lecture as the obviously left wing prof extolled the virtues of socialism and the perils of capitalism we whispered little clever asides back and forth. By the end of the class period I found myself asking if she'd like to grab a soda or coffee at the Union. She accepted immediately much to my joy.
As we filed out of the hall she noted my reliance on the cane and my more deliberate and careful walking style. and so she asked me how I was injured.
I gave her the short version, Military service in Iraq but she pressed me for more info. Initially I thought it sort of strange that in the Liberal capitol of mid America a college coed was interested in anything military. She however revealed that her brother was 101st Airborne and that he was in Fallujah at the same time I was. Apparently he was back in the States awaiting another deployment.
Since she seemed to be really interested, I went into more detail than I would usually relate when asked about my injury. When my patrol got nailed by the IED the lead man got cut in half. The next two in line lost limbs and I caught the stuff not absorbed by my men. All in all I was hit by 21 fragments, one of which really fucked up my leg. My wound was bad enough that I was encouraged to muster out and finish my last 3 years of college on the GI Bill at Uncle Sams expense. I wasn't 100% sure I had made the right choice until I met Fiona.
As we walked the four blocks to the Union we chatted easily as if we had known each other for years. She had a light lilting easy laugh and a sunny disposition. Thoughtful and obviously intelligent, she was packaged in a 5'4: well proportioned body. Fiona was a sophomore like me but was 3 years younger.
We grabbed a couple burgers and soda and found a quiet booth in the Rathskeller and for the next two hours got to know one another. Fiona at one point asked if she could ask a real personal question. It went something like "are you seeing anyone now?" To which I replied something like "the only girl I'm seeing is sitting across the table from me and from what I can see, she's a gorgeous redhead with the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen in a human."
I reassured her that I was currently unattached' and that since breaking up with my long term High School girlfriend, I had only had short term relationships. I certainly wasn't celibate in the Corps but I did have a code that I stuck. Never get involved with a friends girl friend or a married woman. Never lie to get laid. Be honest to the ladies and they will be the same with you.
The history that Fiona revealed was more or less bland. She was born and raised in River Hills, a northern suburb of Milwaukee. She was the youngest of three kids. Brother Henry was the oldest and he ended up at West Point and later joined the 101st Airborne. Her sister Sally was 18 months older than her. Father Frederick Stark was a partner in an Engineering firm and mom Sarah was a home maker. Both were UW alums. Fiona had gone to a private High School and became friends with the appropriate snooty socialite wannabes. What set her apart was that she thrived on girls sports and ended up lettering in cross country, track and swimming. Sports got her out of the socialite group and had her relating more easily with the "common folk."
Fiona then divulged that she had also been in a committed relationship in High School/College that had gone way south. She had apparently been a Senior Widow while her now ex was sowing his oats with the Stevens Point Girls Volleyball Team.
We had to break up our conversation at 2:00 for classes but we exchanged numbers as we parted ways at the foot of Bascom Hill. I wanted to call her that night but not wanting to appear overeager, I held off. Two days later at the next Econ lecture I asked her out for Friday night. I picked her up at her dorm at 6:00 and we wandered up State Street until my leg started to slow me down. We found a quiet booth at the Plaza Bar and for the next 5 hours consumed burgers, beer and each other.
That date was magical. We seemed to connect on so many levels and it was as if we had known each other for years. We said goodnight in the lobby of her dorm and without any awkwardness we came together in a kiss to end all kisses. It went on and on until we had to come up for air. "Wow" was all I could say. "Wow back to you. A girl could get pregnant like that." It was then I realized that my hard on was spearing into her belly and she wasn't exactly pulling away. When I started to apologize she said "Don't, I take it as a compliment for giving me a world class kiss."