Comment

Comment by Mary, Proud Mom of Nick on November 6, 2010 at 7:04pm

Hi Linnie, welcome.

Those ole' itchy blankets have been around since the beginning of the military! They are itchy but they are the warmest blankets around if you get used to them.

We sent our son a Kindle for Christmas last year, everyone in our house loves to read so I thought it would be a great option for him to be able to download books. I am totally clueless what to give him this year and will be looking for great ideas too.

Regina - great post, hope some of our sailors and veterans get a chance to take advantage of these deals.

Comment by linnie on November 5, 2010 at 6:28pm

Hi there,
my son is stationed in Japan on the USS McCampbell. I was wondering about gifts he might like for Christmas. He has not told me about "itchy" blankets, I will have to ask him for sure about that. He may get to come home January. Anyhow, I will keep reading for good Christmas ideas and even care package ideas. Thanks!

Comment by LindainIvorVA on November 2, 2010 at 6:51pm

Hello again. thanks for the welcome ! Yea, it's in Pearl Harbor. Ok will do ! can't w8 for her to come home next Friday !!! Oh happy Day !
So proud of all our sailors.. it's just such a joy to know our babies are doing well & safe..

Comment by spensmom on November 2, 2010 at 10:11am

Welcome, Linda........Isn't the Chafee based in Pearl Harbor? Come join us in the "Hawaii" group, too.

Comment by Mary, Proud Mom of Nick on November 1, 2010 at 10:19am

Welcome Linda, we are delighted to have you and if your hubby is active on the site, we have an AEFC group that I invite him to join us at here, almost 500 ETs and FCs members would welcome his knowledge and experiences.

Welcome home to the USS Geo. Washington group!

Comment by LindainIvorVA on October 30, 2010 at 9:51pm

Hi everyone ! Im new to this site. I'm not far from Norfolk . My daughter will be going to the Chafee end of this month. I work in Newport News, VA which is where the Northrop Grumman is. Too funny to be going through this. My husband is retired ETC . I did nearly 9 yrs but got out (dumb mistake) I was RM 2318 . I believe it is now IT . looking forward to chatting. So proud of all our sailors :)

Comment by Mary, Proud Mom of Nick on October 30, 2010 at 10:55am

We share in your excitment Theresa!

Another proud Navy day...

USS Gravely gets proud send off at Pascagoula shipyard


Updated: Oct 29, 2010 5:49 PM
Video Gallery

Shipbuilders excited to see USS Gravely set sail
2:29
USS Gravely leaves Northrop Grumman
2:12

USS Gravely (Photo source: US Navy)
Click image to enlarge

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By Steve Phillips – bio | email

PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) - It's a proud day in Pascagoula. The USS Gravely, the Navy's newest aegis destroyer, left Northrop Grumman shipyard Friday morning.

The men and women who helped build the vessel were at the dock to bid the ship farewell.

One longtime shipyard worker said the next best thing to wearing a military uniform, is having a hand in building one of these impressive war ships.

The Gravely is the 27th aegis destroyer on a contract to build 28 such vessels.

American patriotism and a pride of workmanship were abundant during the morning's launch. It was most impressive in dawn's early light.

"510 feet long, about 65 feet long, and carries a heck of a punch to the fight," said Commander Douglas Kunzman.

The DDG 107 is named for Samuel Gravely, a courageous African-American who helped break down color barriers in the 1940s Navy.

"The ship's motto is first to conquer and that's because Admiral Gravely was the first to conquer so many challenges in changing the way the Navy and this country thought about diversity," said Commander Kunzman.

Many of the sailors aboard the Gravely are young and excited to be a part of sea trials and pre-commissioning duties.

Joanna Mendez is a quartermaster from California.

"It's the first ship I've been on and it's pretty awesome begin here on a pre-comm ship. Eveything's brand new. So, I'm real excited to get underway," she said, smiling.

The past few weeks have been transition time, when the destroyer goes from the shipyard who built it, to the U.S. Navy which will own and direct it.

"It's a very proud day," said Artensie Sabino-Grace.

She is most proud of how the destroyer looks, since she served as paint foreman during the ship's construction.

" A feeling you can't explain. Because you know that you did something and it's going out to serve your country. And we're sending them out with a perfect, completed ship. And it looks outstanding," she said.

As the ship prepares to pull away, it's an exciting moment for crew members and bittersweet for the workers who invested several years of sweat and effort building the best ship possible.

"It's just an awesome, awesome feeling to see one of these sail away and know that it's going out to protect our freedom for this country," said electrical foreman, Steven Searcy.

Danny Givens served as Ship Program Manager, a job that oversees construction of the destroyer.

"This is one of the highlights when we get a ship we've almost birthed like our child. Now we see it leave. So, it's a great day for our company. Great day for the Navy," said Givens, "This ship right here will go in harm's way and we built it like our children are riding it. So, we're awfully proud today."

The USS Gravely is headed for Wilmington, North Carolina where it will be commissioned on November 20th. The ship's home port will be Norfolk, Virginia.

Comment by spensmom on October 29, 2010 at 2:58pm

Another thought........it seems to be fairly chilly where they sleep on the ship and my son says the issued wool blankets are really scratchy. So a nice blanket thats made out of fleece might be good....not too thick and bulky to send.

Comment by Steph on October 29, 2010 at 2:58pm

A Sailor's Mom, I do the pillow cases that I wash before sending so that they smell like they came from our bed. I also send my husband t-shirts and ziploc bags. The t-shirts are to replace the ones that I want him to send me back in the bags so that I have something to put on my body pillow that smells like him.

Comment by spensmom on October 29, 2010 at 2:57pm

I've sent "washed and dried" sheets as well. :) Also, they are always in need of new white undershirts and underwear. Also, the Purex wash/dryer sheets probably do well on the ship.....haven't heard if my son's used them yet. I've sent powdered Gatorade and an empty water bottle that's the right mixing size to put it in. Remember they don't have a lot of space if you're sending it to the ship.
Sailors Mom - Like the christmas-tree-in-a-box idea. :)

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