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Comment by scubagirl on March 18, 2016 at 11:57am

Mary Beth there is a way you can find the ombudsman but I forget the link.   I contacted my son's ombudsman first.  She has never contacted me about anything.  Everything is posted on the Family Readiness Facebook page for their boat or on the face book page for the Ombudsman for the boat.  It seems to me most of the ombudsman are wives and they are younger than us moms and are busy being moms and working while their sailor is deployed.  And if you live out of the area like me you can not attend the monthly meetings where most of the info is given out.  Most of the updates and information can only be given in person so it hard to find out things.  I have heard of some ombudsman being really active and others being not so informative. I would send an email and ask about  half way boxes and when they will need to be done.  My son's was due about a month before they deployed.  They were loaded on the boat and kept in a separate area until half way night.  We were told it could be the medium if it fits it ships. Not the flat one but the square one.  I know some only get to half zip lock bags.   My son is on a fast attack.  I could not attend any of the fundraisers the family readiness group has done so I got the address for the family readiness group and mailed a small check to help with things like homecoming, adult half way night, Christmas party for the children, etc.  Just let her know you are wanting to help her any way you can and make sure she has proper contact info for you.  Hope this helps. 

Comment by Shea on March 18, 2016 at 11:34am

MaryBeth if you have the OMB's contact info it couldn't hurt to just touch base and introduce yourself. Some OMB's are really good about communication, others like my sons not so much. Hope this helps.

Comment by MaryBeth on March 18, 2016 at 10:24am

Hi everyone, my son is almost ready to deploy.  I have yet to hear from the OMB.  I believe my son put me on the list~ at least that's what he said. Will the OMB contact me or do I contact first?  How do I get the OMB contact information? I'm clueless here.  I appreciate any information!!

Comment by scubagirl on March 17, 2016 at 10:28pm

Hi all, my son is on the Newport News with Kharmon's son.  They have had their half way night.  The half way boxes had to be sent prior to their leaving.  The ombudsman asked for anyone that could make an extra one for any that they had not received word from a loved one about sending a box.  I made my son's plus 2 more.  We have had two mail drops.  One we only had three days notice and the last one we had a week to get a card size envelope to VA.  Unfortunately our ombudsman has only been putting info about the boat on the facebook page for the boat or the ombudsman page.  I have reached out Kharmon and passed on any information I could and not break any rules.  My son has called twice and sent a couple of emails.  They have been running silent more recently.  His girlfriend did hear from my son last week and I received a letter from the CO about how well the boat is doing and they are all looking forward to coming home and seeing loved ones.  I am glad to see another mom on here from the Newport News.  I have been the only one.  I did meet another mom on the face book page for the boat.  I really appreciate all the help everyone gives to each of us.  I hope I was able to help Kharmon a little.  NMH's to you all and just think One Day Closer.  

Comment by mrsb on March 17, 2016 at 9:30pm

Kharmon, my son just got back from deployment.  The OMB emailed and said there would be a mail drop and to get mail, cards, letters, to her by a certain date. I think we only had about a week so I had everyone email me, printed them out and sent to her.  Not sure when he got it as I haven't even been able to talk to him yet!!  The OMB should let you know a few weeks before a halfway box/bag is needed, that should give you time. I would start collecting things now, that you think he would like, then when you find out if it's a box or a gallon ziploc you can start packing, and re-packing.  I think I re-packed the ziploc about 12 times to make sure it was the right size!!!

Comment by KH1970 on March 17, 2016 at 6:34pm

Thanks mrsb. He's on deployment. 

Comment by mrsb on March 17, 2016 at 4:09pm

KHarmon, is this just an underway or deployment?  If it's an underway they are usually a shorter duration so there wouldn't be halfway boxes or mail drops.  Keep emailing him though, he may not be able to respond but he will get to read them.  Hang in there!

Comment by KH1970 on March 17, 2016 at 3:32pm

Thank you, Mark.

Comment by Mark on March 17, 2016 at 3:06pm

KHarmon - if you go to http://www.navy.mil then click 'Media' in the menu at the top of the page, then 'Photo Gallery', then finally "uss newport news" in the search box on that page, you'll  get a lot of photos.  Some will be photos taken in Newport News, VA of something other than the sub, but there will be a lot of photos of the sub, including a number recently taken during a port visit to Crete (Souda Bay).

Comment by Cath Bubblehead mom on March 17, 2016 at 2:21pm

Hopefully she gave you some information? I just found out that I'm no longer on the list. Not sure if it is a mistake or what happened. I had been on the list, and my son would not take the initiative to remove me (we do have a good relationship). Even his wife is confused, we will have to wait until he returns to straighten it out. 

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