Skyeler went through the Gas Chamber Tuesday Feb, 28th. I got his letter today of him describing his experience. I will again just type up what he has written me. I don't think I could explain it quite as well and plus he paints a good picture.
"so we really did it today. We went to the CS (Gas) Chamber. Holy flipping crap! That was quite possibly the most physically horrible thing I've ever gone through and in so short a time. I've never felt that close to dying before ever. If anyone ever tells you, " The gas chamber isn't that bad.", they are full of crap. Now the overall experience wasn't terrible. Like the march, the briefing, the chamber, the aftermath. But the minute and a half or longer that we had the mask off was absolute hell. The reason I say the overall experience wasn't terrible is because it did in fact end, and we quickly got better..... Well not quickly but faster than I imagined.
When the gas contacts the skin it burns. Especially where I shaved. At first we had to lift the mask slightly to break the seal, then clear and reseal it. That wasn't too bad. We got a small taste of it, but after a few coughs and deep breaths with the mask resealed it was almost back to normal. We did some simple head movements and jogged in place, again not bad. Then we lined up in front of the back door in groups of ten and were instructed to remove the mask completely and place it back into the cover. They told us to breathe as they gave us a quick pat on the back. HOLY CRAP! That first inhaled breath that followed was painful and incomplete. I felt like I couldn't breath at all towards the end. We were all spitting and coughing up wads and wads of slimy phlegm.
Finally the door opened, the heavenly light poured in, and we ran our sorry butts out of there with a speed that would have guaranteed us all high points on the PT test. Many fell to the ground in agony grasping for air, coughing, barfing, loogying, spitting. Some of us stood, flapping our arms in order to remove some of the gas from our clothes. I never vomited but I came close with some "cough, cough, dry heaves!" After about twenty minutes, most of the crappiness went away. We were all soaked in the face with our own tears, vomit, and mucus. Most of us have been sick with cough and congestion and we were all cleared out very effectively. I hope it lasts. Now I can say I have gone through the gas chamber. No matter what happens from here on out, I have that bragging right."
Sky then continues to say that he got my novel. (I sent 12 pages front and back) then the birthday cards. I'm so relieved to know he got them. Funny story. In my first letter that was written on Feb 26th he asks if I remember Elder Mackelwrath. He was a ward missionary in our stake in Orem. We had given them a ride to a church one day and Sky helped them out with some stuff. Then when we moved to Richfield we saw him and his companion at Radio shack there in town. We thought that was funny. Skyeler went on to tell me that he saw him at the chapel at Basic. Crazy huh. What are the odds. He originally from Florida.
Skyeler loves going to church on Sundays. Even if it is only for 1.5 hrs instead of 3. I even got a letter from the church there on post. That was interesting.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading his experience. He did draw me pics and I wish I could put it on here but I'll just have to share my letters when I see you next. They are quite funny.
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