Comment

Comment by Diane2557 on April 11, 2011 at 9:20pm

DJ! Congratulations! On being assigned to VAQ-134 ...What is a Garuda? Chris is the Cougars VAQ-139. Where? Chris is at 620 NW Oxford Pl., Oak Harbor. And congrats on being promoted to LT! Chris told me that making LT is the last promotion due to longevity, from here on it, you have to earn it. So, is he in training or is he already asigned to a ship? Which one and where? Chris, as I mentioned is the Ronald Reagan and spent the last month off the coast of Japan. They were released last week and apparently have been doing a little exercise with the Indian Navy (reported on their Facebook page and heading to one of the "gulfs". Did I read that the Carl Vinson just get back from a cruise? Or, soon?

Thoughts and prayers for all our boys!

Comment by Diane2557 on April 11, 2011 at 7:26am

Good Monday Morning! Like you, haven't been looking here...consumed with the USS RR group. Well, they did what they had to do, had the Japan Defense Minister board the ship to thank everyone (such a high official has not been on board an American war ship since the surrender in WWII. They soon after headed westward. Chris is happy to be flying again. How are all of you doing?

Comment by Growlermom711 on March 20, 2011 at 4:26pm

Hi everyone-I don't write here very often, but I need prayers from you all.my son was sent yesterday to take part in the no-fly zone enforcement. we are hoping for a short assignment, but he was sent because of his experience with Prowlers/Growlers.don't know when or if we will hear from him,but we are glued to CNN

Comment by Diane2557 on March 18, 2011 at 4:21pm

Hi all, It's been a while. Want to check up on how everyone is doing. DJ...has Win gotten to fly yet? Chris, deployed on Feb. 2. Guess where he is? Japan! He's on the USS Ronald Reagan that was diverted from their original plans to respond to the Japanese call for help. He's totally frustrated, has been below deck for days, and not flying...the Prowler is not needed like the Helos are. They will be there for as long as the Japanese need assistance. They will not replace them since they have already be around the contamination area and don't want to bring in any other ships to get contaminated other than those already there. He says they are all fine and taking all precautions possible, but, he is bored and busy on other things than flying.

Comment by Diane2557 on January 28, 2011 at 3:12pm

Oh I'm so sorry, DJ. I'll ask Chris what he hears. He leaves home on Monday with actual ship deployment on Wednesday. He'll be gone 7-8 months. When they come back they will transition to the Growler. Check out to see if there is a Navy League of the United States near you (www.navyleague.org). I joined our local group. It is a citizen's group in support of the sea services. As a non-profit it is dedicated to educating our citizens about the importance of sea power to U.S. national security and supporting the men and women of the sea services (Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines) and their families. They are on a multi-year mission to educate specifically our politicians and local community member groups (Kiwanas, Chambers, etc) about the need to support increasing the number of ships we have and their related equipment. Our ship numbers are declining, while other countries are increasing. I'll add my prayers for your son.

Comment by Diane2557 on January 21, 2011 at 11:11am

DJ, sorry if this was too much info. But, you get the drift of ... they work hard, play hard. I'm lucky to get as much info as possible since some of it comes from his wife!

Comment by Diane2557 on January 21, 2011 at 11:10am

Hi all! Where do I start? My son doesn't talk too much, either. Yes, they are busy, but flying the Prowler (VAQ-139 - the best squandron according to him), he can't talk much about the jet or their activities since their work is "classified". With deployment coming up, he has been out and around in training...Beginning Sep he was at Fallen with his entire Airwing (about 2200) practicing together. At that time he got to attend the Tail Hook convention and sent home lots of "stuff" (posters, drink cozies, etc. My favorites: a pad and pen set suitable for my purse given by USAA and a beer can opener that looks like a dogtag and has a picture of the growler on one side and Next Gen Jammer Northrop grumman on the other side. He and some friends also rented a condo in the mountains another weekend. Then came one of the hardest times in his life, he said, harder than doing night landings in terrible weather, was seeing his first child/daughter born on Oct 14, then having to leave her 3 days later for a one-month "warm up" cruise. That cruise was the one that assisted the Cruise Ship that had a fire aboard it. He didn't even know it was happening until I emailed him that we saw it on TV. So, he had no flights that day. Instead, they had a contest as one of their afternoon activities...who could drink a whole glass of Tobasco sauce the fastest. He lost, but won a very upset stomach. We went out to Whidbey the first week of Dec to see our new granddaughter. During that time, his squadron was having their Christmas party. We would babysit while he and his wife attended. My crazy son, instead bought tickets for us to attend and the commander introduced us to the whole squadron as the only parents attending! I was also miffed that I didn't have much arms-around-my-grandbaby with all the other women attending and wanting to do the same thing! Chris and family came to home to GA late Dec. That was a wonderful time...all three children together in almost 3 years! Had to run to the photographer for a family portrait including our two grandchildren. They're back home now and in final workups for his first deployment at the end of the month. I asked him when it was, he told me the date and then said he would be in seclusion for the two days prior to leaving. I asked if this was Navy related seclusion, he said, "Nah, it's dedicated family time with wife and baby and NO calls from family or friends will be taken." Like so many before us, we're excited, yet scared for him in these very turbulent times. These last few weeks he's been shopping for things for the trip: new clothes, sheets for his "rack" (they provide sheets, but not the best quality). Shortly he'll get us the APO mailing address to send packages/mail. Since I asked for it, he said he would be send me a list of things to send him. That's about it. Hope you're all doing well. I've been busy writing a kids book which I hope will be published sometime later this year.

Comment by Growlermom711 on January 21, 2011 at 10:09am

my son is a Growler instructor at NAS Whidbey.I believe he is teaching tactics right now.do not feel bad about not hearing much- they are so busy, and alot of things they just can't talk about.

Comment by Diane2557 on December 7, 2010 at 10:40pm

Hi DJ! Just got back home tonight. Flew to Atlanta with daughter-in-law and granddaughter Emma. Emma slept 4 of the 4.5 hours and smiled or fed the other .5 hrs. They continued on to Norfolk to join my son who's there for LSO training. Something Win will do once he's in his unit. So, when did Win become DS? Or is that his call name? So happy that he'll have a couple of weeks home with you. We'll have a week-and-a-half with the kids home Dec 29-Jan 7. Jan 2. will be Emma's Christening. So looking forward to seeing them again.

While you love all your children, it's something special with your kids in the military. There's a certain amount of fear that touches you because of what they do and the risks they take. They're also can't come home spontaneously, they're always busy with various assignments, practices, classes, etc. with the Navy saying when they come and go. No, it doesn't seem to go away, but it also makes the time together extra, extra special (Just like my past week up at NAS Whidbey Island).

All ... happy days as we head into the Christmas holidays. I love Christmas time!

Comment by Diane2557 on December 4, 2010 at 2:10am

I'm here in Whidbey Island, WA visiting my son, daughter-in-law and new 7 week old baby granddaughter! Attended the VAQ 139 squandron Christmas party. Chris is not flying right now (just finished warm-ups) but I hear those prowlers and growlers flying daily. Perhaps one of them is Win, DJ! Tomorrow it's putting up Christmas lights, visiting Santa with the grandbaby, and then some SEC college football on TV in the afternoonl Go Auburn! War Eagles!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• Next ›
• Page