Comment

Comment by Lloyd on December 22, 2013 at 6:03pm

069 is getting calls. Stay by the phone!

Comment by boo_PIR1_24 on December 22, 2013 at 6:01pm

No call here but A's mama mentioned he son from 911 called last night and said it would be the last call until battlestations so we may not be hearing from them for awhile.

Comment by JAB'sMom on December 22, 2013 at 5:56pm

Anyone from Div 911 getting calls today? Spoiled to get calls last 2 Sundays and nothing today when he said expected to be able to call.! Thanks

Comment by bobbij1026 on December 22, 2013 at 3:04pm

Thank you ladies.. The support is well needed and much appreciated.  I keep staring at my phone thinking if I stare at it long enough it will ring and he will be the one calling.. So silly....

Comment by MomOf4 on December 22, 2013 at 9:38am

Hi bobbi. I totally understand and agree with diannep. My SR left for BC the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so was gone for that holiday and will also be gone for Christmas and New Years as well. I have three younger sons and I am trying REALLY hard to not make them feel like their sister is the only important one in the family (she isn't). I am focusing on the last call I received from her and thinking about all the other SR's that are away from their families this year too. I don't wish ANY momma pain this holiday season but unfortunately there are a lot of us in the same boat (no pun intended). Hang in there, we are here to support you and lift you up when you need it! Sending Navy Momma (((((HUGS))))) to you!

Comment by diannep on December 22, 2013 at 9:11am

bobbi:  It is hard for husbands to understand a "mother's heart" during times like these.  My son also was in bootcamp, both for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New years--  4 yrs ago.  Not an easy time....didn't feel the same at all...he is always the "mouth" and provided much entertainment on Christmas morning.  It was just my older son and myself opening gifts that year....very hard....he is my quiet one.  We had it over with in about 5 minutes.  Thank goodness, my sailor son was able to return home for Christmas after that year. 

But I do agree that you have other children to be concerned with, so just do the best you can!  I'm sure they are missing their brother too....so I know they understand the difficulty of this year's Christmas.

Good Morning All !

Comment by bobbij1026 on December 21, 2013 at 9:46pm

Still no letter.. : (. Was hoping or another call today too, many other moms from other ships were getting calls, maybe tomorrow.. Fingers crossed. Hope everyone is doing well, still not in the spirit of Christmas, barely have the tree up and still tons of decorating left undone.. Finally got out of the house today and got some shopping done but heart just wasn't in it. Normally my shopping, decorating and wrapping are done by mid November, with him gone I don't even want to look at any of it. My husband keeps reminding me that there are others living in our house and it's not like nick isn't coming back, but without him here or Even worse not being able to talk to him, it's just not the same and almost unbearable!

Comment by Craig on December 21, 2013 at 9:08pm

*** Weird Navy History ***

 

Who would think that potatoes could save a U.S. Navy warship? But that's exactly what happened at the height of World War II.

On April 5, 1943, the destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD-450), on patrol near the Solomon Islands, was sent to investigate a blip on the radar. The blip turned out to be a Japanese submarine casually floating on the surface. The Japanese sailors, unaware that they had been discovered, were sleeping on the deck — even the lookouts were asleep on their watch.

The Americans were poised to ram the sub, but at the last minute the captain, worried that the sub might be filled with explosives, gave the order to swing the rudder hard to avoid a collision.  With the O'Bannon so close to the sub, an explosion would have destroyed both vessels at the same time.

 

When the sleeping Japanese sailors opened their eyes, they were startled to find an American warship alongside them. The two ships were so close that the O'Bannon's guns could not be lowered enough to fire upon the sub. For a time no one seemed to know what to do; sailors on both sides just stood and stared at one another.

Suddenly, the spell was broken and the Japanese made for their guns. Unwilling to be sitting ducks, the American sailors looked for something, anything that could be used as projectiles. What they found were measly potatoes in a nearby storage locker. In a stroke of genius, some sailors reached into the storage bins and started pelting the enemy with them. The Japanese, probably thinking that the potatoes were hand grenades, hurriedly caught them, and with no time to think, throwing them back at the O'Bannon or overboard into the water. They were kept so busy battling the potatoes that they had no time to man their guns.

With the enemy occupied, the O'Bannon was able to maneuver into a position from which her guns could be used. Several shots were fired and the sub's conning tower — the compartment that houses the periscope — was hit. Nevertheless, the sub was able to get below the surface, but it was too late for the Japanese. The destroyer moved into a position just above the sub and set off a depth charge. The sub was sunk, and the potatoes were credited with the victory.

 

When the Association of Potato Growers of Maine heard the story of the O'Bannon's exploit, they had a commemorative plaque made, which read:

A TRIBUTE TO

THE OFFICERS AND MEN

OF THE

U.S.S. O'BANNON

FOR THEIR INGENUITY IN

USING OUR NOW PROUD POTATO

TO "SINK" A JAP SUBMARINE

IN THE SPRING OF 1943

PRESENTED BY

POTATO GROWERS

OF THE STATE OF MAINE

JUNE 14, 1945

The plaque was awarded to the O'Bannon, where it was proudly displayed near the mess hall - where the sailors thereafter put the potatoes to more peaceful (and hopefully more delicious!) purposes. It was perhaps the only time in history that a potato was credited with winning a naval encounter.

 

Craig
PIRGifts.com (Providing 100% funding for NavyDEP.com)
NavyDEP.com – Our Mission: Remember - Honor – and Teach
“To Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve, and to Teach our future sailors the value of freedom.”

Comment by CatMom509 on December 21, 2013 at 4:21pm

Hi Friends~

     "Surely God is my help;

      the Lord is the One who sustains me."

                                             Psalm 54:4

Comment by diannep on December 21, 2013 at 10:41am

Good Morning All !

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