USS RAMAGE (DDG 61) FAMILIES

Comment

Comment by Melissa (Tucson) on March 4, 2009 at 1:56pm

Monika:
Matt called yesterday from Cypress also. He got first leave too. I just got off the phone with Delta. We're coming back on April 2nd. Flight leaves Norfolk at 3:52pm. It's Norfolk to Atlanta to Tucson. So we may not get to fly together unless you can get the flight to Atlanta. We have a 3 hour lay over in Atlanta.
I made my reservations at the Navy Lodge today. I'm arriving in Norfolk March 29th. Meeting 2 other Navy Moms for fun, fun, fun. One is from Oregon and the other is from Atlanta. Can't wait!!!

Comment by Monika on March 4, 2009 at 12:46pm

Hi all! I am so excited!! I did get leave from work and will be heading out to Norfolk end the month. I haven't made any arrangements yet. Brian called from Cypress. He will get leave as soon as he gets back. Maybe we can fly home together. Happy me, Monika.

Comment by Auralei - Mom of Chris on March 4, 2009 at 4:26am

Melissa, Chris is Damage Control. Glad to hear they have email on the ship, Chris did get a laptop and a cell phone, so hopefully we'll be able to hear from him some when they are out to sea. He's not a poker player, but I'll bet he will learn how to play lol. The steel picnic sounds pretty neat!

Off to work, but I'll email when I get home this afternoon. I know you all must be so happy that they are returning soon :)

Comment by Melissa (Tucson) on March 4, 2009 at 12:23am

Auralei: What is your son's rate? Matt is a Sonar Tech. They have email on the ship and Matt calls home about twice a month. Currently the Ramage is on deployment but will returning soon. I can't give you the exact date because of OPSEC (Operational Security). We aren't allowed to talk about where the ships are going, but we can talk about where they've been.
Matt has his laptop, XBox, iPod, digital camera. And they have weekly poker tournaments. And they have 'steel picnic' (BBQ on the deck of the ship). Here's my private email: murray54@q.com

Comment by Auralei - Mom of Chris on March 3, 2009 at 6:52pm

Hi all, I am the new Ramage Mom :) My son is finishing up in GL, and should be on his way to Norfolk end of this month or early April. We are so proud of him and so excited!

First question for me, are they able to call home/email while out to sea? Trying to figure out how often they go, too, we knew that he would have alot of sea time due to his rate. He wants to travel, he picked the right career ;)

Thank you for the link again, Melissa!

Comment by Melissa (Tucson) on March 3, 2009 at 6:39pm

Ramage Sailors Recommit to Service, Shipmates
Story Number: NNS090303-11
Release Date: 3/3/2009 3:47:00 PM


By Ensign Patrick Whitmore, USS Ramage Public Affairs

USS RAMAGE, At Sea (NNS) -- The crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) held a mass re-enlistment ceremony Feb. 14.

The ceremony paid tribute to the dedicated and tireless efforts made by 14 Ramage Sailors who ranged in rank from petty officer third class to master chief petty officer. The group re-enlistment was a benchmark event for Ramage, commemorating a total of 149 years of honorable duty in the U.S. Navy between the 14 Sailors.

"The opportunity to re-enlist side by side with 13 of my shipmates was both an honor and a privilege," said Gunner's Mate 1st Class (SW) Charles Lozano. "This re-enlistment reflects not only on the dedication we have towards our Navy but also on our commitment to our mission."

While each Sailor re-enlisted for different reasons, they stood together on Ramage's forecastle and in one voice recommitted to defending the U.S. Constitution.

"With deployment lengths increasing and turnaround times decreasing, this was probably the hardest reenlistment decision I have had to make," said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW) Joseph Burmeister.
"However, the Navy has been my life for almost 20 years. I love what I do and would do it all over again."

Sailors continue to cite economic reasons for re-enlisting.

"With the way the economy has been recently, searching for another career would have been extremely difficult for me and for my family," said Storekeeper 2nd Class (SW) Franco Margarella. "I feel very fortunate to have been able to sign on to serve four more years."

The 14 Ramage Sailors re-enlisted for a collective $126,000 in tax-free, selective re-enlistment bonuses (SRB). More importantly, they vowed to further serve the U.S. Navy for a collective 59 more years.

"I re-enlisted for the friends and the brotherhood I have with my shipmates on Ramage," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Brian Wells. "My hope is that I'll be able to share my experiences and camaraderie with Sailors I'll meet throughout my career."

Ramage is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group supporting maritime security operations (MSO) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

Comment by Melissa (Tucson) on March 3, 2009 at 6:16pm

Hi Ramage Families:
Are you all getting as excited as I am???!!!!! I can hardly wait!!! We have a Navy Mom that just joined the site and she has a son in "A" school who just received his orders the the Ramage. Would you all take a minute and drop her a welcome???

Click Here

Comment by Melissa (Tucson) on March 2, 2009 at 6:31pm

Snow is okay if you have thick blood. My blood is soooo thin I can't take the cold. Please get rid of your snow before I come through....lol. I'm leaving here in about 3 weeks. It's 90 outside right now.

Lucky Tim! That's so nice of you to help Amber get settled in. He'll have a really nice homecoming! I can't imagine getting married and then hubby deploying. That must be so hard for all of them.

Well, we're great grandparents to a one year old. We get to babysit her every Saturday and she is the highlight of our week. But after she leaves, we both calapse!!!

I'm meeting another Navy Mom in Norfolk. Her name is Molly (like in Molly's Adopt a Sailor group). She's from Oregon and her son is stationed on a carrier that's in the shipyard getting updated or whatever it is they do to the ships....lol

I'll PM you my cell # as the date gets closer and hopefully we can do something the day before they arrive. I'll be in Norfolk on the 29th.

Comment by Carrie F on March 2, 2009 at 6:16pm

We've lived in NC for almost 13 years and we've had more snow this year than I can ever remember. But, I love it. (I'm a Jersey girl!)

Yes, I will be there when they come in. I can't wait! Tim and his wife bought a house in Va Beach and they close on Thursday of this week. We're going up there this Saturday to help her move in and get settled.. That way, when Tim arrives, he'll already have a home and his new family to start their lives together. (I don't know if you knew it, but he and his High School sweetheart, Amber, eloped about 2 weeks before they deployed.) She has a beautiful little girl, Kylie, so now we're instant grandparents! We have several family members in Virginia Beach so I'm sure we'll stay with one of them. I ordered a huge vinyl banner with Tim's name & picture on it.. I can't wait to see them come in manning the rails! I'd be waiting by the pier today if they'd let me! (haha) We definitely need to hook up. I'm looking forward to meeting you ...and Matt, too!

Comment by Melissa (Tucson) on March 2, 2009 at 11:09am

Oh, Monika is from the Phoenix area! Are you planning on attending? Have you made any plans yet?

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last