1st time for Son to go to IRAQ

[Natalie]

Hello! I'm a new NAVY Mom and my son just found out about a week ago that he is going to Iraq the day after Thanksgiving. He's still trying to wrap his brain around the idea. I feel bad for him. I think it's happening pretty quick for him. Do any Moms out there have any tips for me to HELP him adjust to the idea? THANKS sooo much!!!

[Natalie]

My son, Christopher, is an E-5. He's having a hard time right now. Says they are working him 12 hours a day and even more weekends. Not sure why. He has been in the Navy for 3-4 years. I know it sounds bad but I cannot remember when he first went in -- it was either 3 years in May or 4. I think it's 3.................he says the "qualified" guys are giving him a hard time. He's like me -- he's sensitive and things don't just roll off his back easily. I hope and pray things get easier for him and I know they will..............just takes time to get used to the other guys and them him, etc.
He signed up for an extra 6 years (for a $25,000 bonus) so he has to make the best of it now!!!
Thanks for writing! Happy weekend!
Natalie

[cindy]

Hi, just read your note and can really relate. my son is currently in Iraq. He is a Navy Seebee and has been there since March. I can tell you that the saving grace for me has been the e-mail. He is able to communicate through e-mail and also tries to phone about every 7-10 days. it has been stressful and very few people truly understand how it is. It is the main reason I signed up on Navy for Moms. My son knew at some point he would probably be going over there, so he was not shocked. I believe he has been well trained for what he is doing and they do a good job of preparing them. He looks forward to talking with his family and those care packages that we send often are really important. I know my son has good friends over there and the guys have a special bond between them. I know they rely on eachother for mutual support. You can get through it and your not alone. Wishing you the best, cindy.

[Natalie]

Thanks much, Cindy! How old is your son? Did he say it was harder over there than he thought or does he talk much about what it is like over there?
My son should be in a plane when he is "working" in Iraq, I think because he's a flight engineer. He had to memorize ALL of the buttons on right right side next to the pilot in the cockpit. OH MY!! Glad it was him and not me!! I'm so proud of him. It was very hard for him but HE DID IT!! Keep in touch. Shoot me an email anytime at [e-mail]
God bless you and your son in Iraq and your entire family.

Natalie (How's your weather up there? Did I mention my son is in MAINE right now?)

[Dianne (Drew's Mom)]

My son's PIR was in June. He is in CT for Sub School, which I like because it is about 3 hours from home. I live in Maine. Southern Maine. Where is your son stationed? I'm wondering if it's Brunswick. They just had to move about 89 planes out of there because we've been having wicked storms. We've even had tornadoes in Maine and New Hampshire, which is virtually unheard of around here. I will be praying for you and your son :)

[Natalie]

Wow! Thanks for the information, Dianne! I just talked to my son on the phone about an hour ago and he didn't say a word about the storms or them having to move the planes! (I wonder why -- maybe he didn't want to worry ole Mom!!)
He IS in Brunswick...........he love his apartment there but has to give it up when he goes to Iraq in November. Said that he was told that he has to move his stuff BACK TO FLORIDA (Jax) before he goes to Iraq. Said it's because they are going to close the base in Brunswick (have you heard of this??).
Sounds wacky to me.

I gotta run. I'll check to hear from you tomorrow (my internet is at my real estate office -- I'm a realtor in the Fort Worth/Arlington area of TEXAS)

Thanks again, so much! Stay safe! Hope the "bad stuff" passes you by up there! PLEASE send us some coooooooooler weather!!!!

Natalie

[Natalie]

Thanks so much, Cher! I'm much better now than I was but...........then................about a week ago my son tells me on the phone that he's going to the "middle east" and he's not saying Iraq anymore. I am surely hoping that it doesn't mean he's going to Afganistan!!
I know it's much crazier (more violence, etc.) over there. I don't know why he's saying "I'm going to the middle east in Nov." instead of Iraq. I need to ask him (again) if this is just something the Navy told him to say to be "vague" but now that I think about it, he did say it's because it can change at the drop of a hat. (where he will be deployed)

Anyway, thanks again. We are getting lots of rain here now from Hurrican Ike...hopefully, we will ONLY get the rain!

Natalie =)

[maria]

Hi Natalie,
This is my sons second time over there, There's no way to wrap yourself or him around this. i'm sure your son is very trained in his job. Mine will miss every holiday birthday and I don't know how to adjust to this. I can share something he told me ,"mom you can sit here and cry or be depressed , i'm sorry he said, i'm a volenteer and I love what I do ". He willingly chose this career and thank God he's happy. Me on the other hand is scared to death ,he will feel the jitters they all do. Just tell him we all love and support him and thank him for his service.

[Natalie]

Thanks, Cher. Right now I am more worried about me than him. He's in town right now but will be leaving to go back to Maine on Tuesday and then on to the middle east the day after Turkey Day. Will be sad to not see him at Christmastime this year but it's just how it is going to be.

Had a party for him yesterday at my Dad's house in Arlington. I got him a neat cake with an anchor on it and "we are proud of you, Christopher" and got some red white and blue helium balloons, too. I think he had a really nice time.

Thanks for your support. He's now telling us "the middle east" when we ask where he's going. Can they NOT tell you exactly where they are? I get really confused about that. I just hope he doesn't get sent to Afghanistan. He will be doing stuff from a P-3 because he's a flight engineer so I am HAPPY about that.
Love that he's not on the ground or in a ship.

Thanks again. Write anytime -- easier way for me is just send an email to [e-mail]

Natalie

[Jean C]

hi Natalie, Yes,, they can send them, and not tell the family 'where". After two tours, i found it better not to know exactly where son was. you hear things on tv and automatically think 'OMG my kid is there,,i just know it", and it turns out all that worry was for nothing, as he wasn't near that area at all.
now is the time to start finding all the fun things you want to send him in his 'goodie boxes". We always sent maplesugar candy....he loves it/ and said to send at least 3 boxes, as everyone wanted to try it!! LOL.
We would hit cracker barrel,,,and buy all sorts of goofy things,,,,,,,, Jeff was known for driving the family nuts with a harmonica, when he was little..........so sent him one/ and told him to drive everyone over there nuts. GET his name on a school mail list if possible> they love receiving mail from the younger kids with their drawings< and don"t forget to add his name to your church list>
i know it"s hard but keep busy< and just take care of yourself>

[Linda Mathis]

Hi Natalie
I am sorry to hear your son is going to the sandbox and I will be thinking of you both and pray that everything works out for the best and Nick will be fine. My son was there last year and he said it was not anything like he thought it would be nor was it like people were being lead to believe. I think it will be important that you write him often and send him care packages. The small city where we live sent things to my son. At Christmas last year thet sent him 5 boxes of junk food etc. You can send letters to the sandbox via motomail.com they get it pretty quick. Anything I can do inbox me

[Natalie]

Thanks so much, Linda. He's in town right now and I get to spend some more good quality time with him tomorrow (he is staying at his grandma's house in Fort Worth with her and his dad).

He doesn't know for sure where he's going yet but they are now saying the "middle east".
I just will be praying every day for his safety and it will be his first Christmas to not get to come home and hang around here with me and his dad in Fort Worth and his sis and help put up the tree, etc.

Thanks sooooo much. Please write to me anytime at [e-mail]

Natalie =) (he leaves to go back to Maine on Tuesday and then he will leave the day after Thankgiving to go "to the middle east")

[Linda Mathis]

Natalie
Hope you had time to enjoy your time with your son. I know how you feel about the first Christmas away I had to deal with that last year. When my son returned from Iraq his cake had all the holidays he missed.
Fourth of July, His 21st Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. So I just wanted you to know I will be thinking of you and praying for your sons safe return. Keep us posted. Good Luck to both of you.