Thank you God!! He does answer our prayers!

[Kristy-Danno's Mom]

I am so happy, my Danny is finally coming home!!!!! He's scheduled to be discharged Monday Sept. 8th!!!

For anyone who has not been following my son's adventure, I'll fill you in.

My son left for BC on Aug 13th just a day after his 20th birthday. He was going to be a CE (Construction Electrician) he was supposed to be sent to A-school in TX. He was scheduled to PIR on 10/10/08. But that dream came to a sad end when I got a phone call from my son on the 22nd of Aug. He told me that he was being medically discharged due to his shoulder. It seems that his shoulder keeps popping out of the socket. He had xrays done and the Navy doc told him that he had broke his collarbone sometime in the past and it never healed right. So his shoulder keeps popping out. I find it strange that my son's shoulder never gave him any problems before going to BC.

My son was in a head on crash on April 28th, he was coming home from work after working long hours and he fell asleep only 10 miles from home. His drive to work was about a 30 minute drive. God had him in his hands that afternoon as Dan only sustained a cut on his nose and hands. They were worried about his neck at the time but now I am wondering if something didn't happen to his shoulder then and they missed it. I know they did xrays of his neck but I am not sure if they xrayed his shoulders or not. We are going to get copies of all reports and xrays when Danny gets home to make sure nothing was missed.

Dan had been in the DEP program since Feb. '08, so he had already been to MEAPS and been checked out before his accident. Thinking back I would have thought that after him being in such a serious accident that his recruiter or MEAPS would have wanted an ok from a doctor to make sure he was still alright to go to BC. But that's all in hindsight now.

Dan will have spent 18 days on ship 17 by the time he comes home on Monday. While I am thankful that he didn't have to spend as much time there as others before him have, I'm just glad he will be out of there. Dan's experience on ship 17 was not so bad, at least thats what he tells me right now. I might find out different when he is home and not afraid anymore. I just can not understand how the Navy can allow our young men/women to be treated like this when being sent home for whatever reasons. Criminals get treated better and have more privileges then what our sons/daughters/loved ones receive while on ship 17. IT"S JUST NOT RIGHT!!!!

He called me last Sat. night Aug 30th, from the VA hospital at 9:15 pm and told me he was going in for surgery in an hour to remove his appendix. It seems he doubled over in pain while on watch the night before and couldn't sleep that night. He got up Sat morning and went to chow, only to lose it later and the pain was getting worse. He went to Tranquility and they did some tests and had him taken by ambulance to the Va hospital that day. He had his surgery at about 11:30pm and I got a call from the doctor at 1:30am telling me that my son had come through ok and that it was early stages of appendicitis and that all was well. I was so relieved that he was ok. It was very hard though as it was my son's first surgery and I couldn't even be there for him. It saddens me he had to go through it all alone.

It was so nice to get to talk to him as much as I wanted to, but that ended on Sunday night as he was being released and sent back to ship 17. I spent all this week with no word from him as to how he was, and have yet to talk to him. Hopefully he will call today!!

My son told me he is being discharged with an E-3 so he could someday maybe try to be a Sailor again. But right now he does not want to think about that. He says he is never going back.

My son's experience with the whole Navy process was not always positive. He was promised things that never happened. He went to college for about 6 months, so had student loans to repay. He was promised by his recruiter and by a lady at MEAPS that his student loans would be payed by the Navy if he enlisted. I know that was one of the reasons he did enlist. As well as him wanting to serve his country and make a difference in his life. Well, about 4 months into his DEP he was told that they would only pay for the federal loans. Which was wonderful at least those would be taken care of and he wouldn't be starting his new life buried in debt. Then a month before he left I talked to his recruiter and inquired about his loans and what was going on as we hadn't heard any word. He then told me that none of my son's loans would be paid because he attended a "trade school" instead of a "college". Well this trade school is a huge school it has campuses all over the United States (Wyo-Tech). I didn't really understand this, but I didn't know anything about how that stuff works so I let it go. So I know that shattered my son and he said to me "what do I do now Mom?" I told him he would just have to make the best of it and repay his loans back while being in the Navy, that they would help him set up payment plans and all would be ok.

I was also witness to my son's recruiter lying about my sons physical fitness test. My son was on the phone with his recruiter one day and he told my son congrats that he passed a test. My son said to him "what test did I pass, I didn't take any test." He was then told that he had passed his Physical test and he did fine. My son said again that he didn't take any test. Well having been through the whole "recruiter lying" thing in the past with my brother in law. I didn't want my son starting out his Navy career with lies.

So I called his recruiter and questioned him about lying on Danny's paperwork and he told me he didn't really lie that he knew my son could do the physical part of his test so he passed him. I again asked him if he knew my son could do it then why lie? Just have him do it! He told me it was a minor thing and everything would be ok. I told him that I didn't want anything to happen to my son's dreams because someone was lazy and didn't want to do things the way they were to be done. He assured me that all would be ok and that my son was very capable of doing the physical stuff that was required of him. Then I asked him again then why lie? Well that was pretty much the end of that story, as my son told me everything would be ok and that his recruiter wouldn't do anything that would harm his chances.

My son believed everything his recruiter told him and trusted him 100%. I told him many times do not believe everything he tells you. But my son trusted him and wouldn't listen. Don't get me wrong this young man (recruiter) was very polite to me and was very nice. I just question why he did things the way he did them. My hubby met this recruiter the day my son left for BC and he said afterwards "there is something about him I just don't like." My hubby is a pretty good judge of character as he is a Corrections Officer with our County Sheriff's Dept. and works in the Jail. So he sees all kinds of people at their worst.

It's funny, just after my son left for BC this young recruiter is now retired! He told me if I needed anything to call him and when I did try to call him my calls was never returned and I was told he had left the recruiting office and had retired. Hmm... make me wonder about some things!

Anyway, it's all over for now. Someday my son might change his mind and decide the Navy is for him again, but for now he wants to come home and find a job and start a new life. After we get his shoulder straightened out of course. He will always have a tie to the Navy as his best friend, who has been like a brother through the years is now in A-School in MO. And my son supports him 100% in all he does and is very proud of him!

So, although my son at this time won't be a Sailor as planned. I still have a "son" in the Navy who I will continue to support and follow through his dreams. I am so proud of both of our young men! My son went and tried his best, but God must have other plans for him!! I am for now just happy that he will be coming home and can start a new plan for his life!!

I want to thank the Moms/Others of this site for all the support and care that I have received since joining N4M's. All of you have been a Godsend and I don't know what I would have done without you!! I will continue to be a member here if it's ok? As I love it here and am still part of a Navy family so to speak with my other son (my son's friend). I also want to help and support anyone who might need me, as well be a part of the "Adopt a Sailor" program. I am still a Navy Mom at heart even though my son will not be a Sailor at this time. Who knows what the future holds and I am proud of my Son no matter what he chooses to do!! Thanks for letting me ramble on and for listening! I am just so happy to finally have my Son coming home!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for everything!!!

God Bless you all!!

((((((HUGS)))))))

Kristy - Danno's Mom

[LynnDear]

Of course it is ok that you remain a member. The diversity and different experiences make us a REAL family. I am greatful that you son is able to come home so quickly after being discharged. My son also had surgery at Great Lakes. He broke his hand and needed surgery the next day. I knew that I could not get there that quickly and felt bad that he had surgery alone. So I made plans to meet other moms in Texas, where I had so much support. He said that he was in good hands and is healing nicely. I thought at the time, if he has to come home, I hope that he regains his ironing and cleaning skills. Good luck to him on his next adventure

[Rose R]

Kristy I am so happy for you that your son is finally coming home. Please do stay and help other Ship 17 Moms. I did, and it has grown apparent that there was a need for a Ship 17 moms group. We also have a Moms of Discharged Sailors Group . So you know, there is a number and address to contact about dishonest recruiters posted at the top of Ship 17 moms.

[Jackie]

Kristy, I'm so glad that your son is going to be alright. I hope that he finds a new dream to follow and that he has a wonderful life. Hus to you!

[Dianne (Drew's Mom)]

Kristy,
I too am glad that you will have your son back home, and not languishing in Ship 17. I'm sure he has gained much from his Navy experience. I'm also sure that God has something in mind for your son that we don't know yet. Give him hugs from all of us moms!