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Comment by IDCmom#1 on December 5, 2015 at 2:42pm

In the late 60s, my dad had an isolated assignment to Korea.  We had a very elaborate stereo system in our house in Texas. Daddy kept us up to date by tape recordings.  On one tape, my dad asked my brother to set up the headphones and for us kids to leave the room, so mom could listen to what he said, privately.  Oops, Mom came to say she couldn't hear anything.  That was because brother had switched to outdoors speakers and the neighbors were being treated to mushy things Dad had to say to Mom.  I think Skype is better!

Comment by JerseySusan on December 4, 2015 at 6:52pm

TennNM...Our sons last deployment was with a Marine Unit. He made some awesome friends!! Maybe our sons will be standing side by side someday.

Comment by IDCmom#1 on December 4, 2015 at 6:36pm

Without a doubt, growing up a military brat makes being a Navy mom or dad easier.  I was born in an Air Force hospital and will be buried on a Navy base. 

I thank God for Skype.  We only saw our grandparents every three to four years and my children grew up as Dept of Army Civilian brats, mostly overseas, so only saw grandparents when we went back to the States every couple of years. My parents had retired in the Panama Canal Zone so it was rare that we were on the same continent. 

Tenn Navy Mom, your son's years in the Navy have been much more difficult for you than my son's have been for me.  His first deployment was not physically dangerous and I was unaware of the danger on his second until after the fact.  Next one will be scary but I have no idea where it will be and that is probably for the best. 

Right now, the most difficult part of being a Navy mom is having our three grandchildren too far away to see them regularly.  The older two have spent more time with us but the baby is only 8 months old and we are missing all the things he is doing.  Again, thank God, for Skype! 

Comment by TexasDocMom on December 4, 2015 at 9:44am

I'm a veteran of both worlds. My dad served almost 30 years in the Navy with each of us siblings being born on different bases. I was born in Newfoundland (on a NAS that is not even there any longer), the rest range from Texas, California, Utah. My son did his four and then re-upped when the 2/2 was headed to Afghanistan, but thankfully, Ma Navy moved him to another battalion since he didn't re-up in time. One of the few times I have appreciated his lazy habit of waiting to the last minute. He was at 29 Palms for a brief time, then in charge of the Methadone Clinic at Lajuene. Boy, that was an eye opener and so very sad. Then they moved him to Camp Bullis in San Antonio to be an instructor and he was an hour from home! Now he's safely out, I can say I wish he'd had some of the stations that would take him to Europe or Hawaii, I would have loved to have visited him there. He mainly made war zones.

I know with the current situation, our war zones are shifting, and your fear has to be overwhelming. So much we just don't know, and quite frankly, I don't want to know. I think it's good that the Navy is keeping lids on where people are so no one is chatting on social media about it. I am one to believe that military matters should be kept close to the chest. I have no patience with those who want "openness" when it comes to the safety of our troops. 

IDCmom, my son looked seriously at that, he was offered whatever he wanted to do to stay in. He told his CO he was a corpsman and to him that meant greenside. He didn't mind being an instructor but if he stayed in he wanted to go back to the Marines. IDC is a very intense job, good on your son for being so qualified to do it! 

Comment by IDCmom#1 on December 3, 2015 at 11:12pm

My IDC corpsman has just gone over 12 years.   There was a brief period when he thought it was time to leave but reconsidered.  I think it is the best thing for him and his family. 

Comment by IDCmom#1 on December 3, 2015 at 7:53pm

JerseySusan,
Oh, I envy your son his assignment in England.  A hundred years ago (ok, not that long ago) it was my husband's assignment right after we got married.  I was not command sponsored so money was really tight but absolutely our most fun years pre children.   

I wish my son would get some great assignment but he seems destined to ping pong back and forth to the west and east coasts. 

Comment by JerseySusan on December 3, 2015 at 5:29pm

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Coming into the month of Dec., we've had a few announcements. Our youngest will be leaving his "paradise" base in Ft Walton, to do 3 years in England. So, we are going from a 6hr drive, to an 8hr plane flight. We are happy for him, he's wanted this for a while, but me, I'm not so happy, just a little sad if I'm being selfish. Of course, situations over in Europe are even now more challenging then they were a few years ago. But, I'll just put in the hands of God. And, on the other hand, he has proposed to his girlfriend of whom we all Love & Adore. He couldn't have chosen a better person to stand beside & take abroad with him, she's 'perfect'. 

Comment by TexasDocMom on December 1, 2015 at 1:45pm

I always look for the "like" button! 

Pam, my son was right at 7, he had to decide to go for broke or leave. Thankful he fell in love and left, altho I know he misses his buddies and his job all the time. 

Comment by Pam on November 30, 2015 at 1:49pm

This additional 3 years will put him at 8 years and 7 months.  When he signed on for Hawaii he had to extend his 5 year contract.  And thanks TDM - he looks just like my Dad. 

Comment by TexasDocMom on November 30, 2015 at 11:49am

What does that bring him up to? Look at at that handsome sailor!

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