USS Essex Navy Moms

ValK - I just read about the family cruise day on here a couple of days ago. He's leaving for San Diego on Tuesday. Don't know what happens after that. I would love to visit this summer, but again, don't know what he's going  to be up to so we'll just have to wait and see. How long has your sailor been undes? Does he like it?

So, happy to have found this group. Mine son just got to the Essex earlier this month. I tried looking for other moms on FB. But so far have not found anyone.

Hi y'all.  I'm new to this group.  My daughter just received her orders yesterday and will be stationed on the USS Essex.  She will graduate A School in the next few days as an EM (electricians mate). I am happy to find this group! 

I try to check in at least once a day here at N4M.  I'll check out the FB page.  Thank you for the welcome!

Anyone have ideas on what and how to send a birthday gift to my sailor man?

Panda - he lives on the ship.

Too quiet.

I'm with you sundown!

Our sailor surprised us with a visit home at the end of the year.  I'm hoping his transfer is soon & closer to home.  e've been able to help fly him home about twice a year. 

Care packages - our son always says not too much because there is no space to store anything on board - they have about a drawer size space.  In fact, he mailed most of his civilian clothes & shoes home.

I've asked several moms and I am trying to figure out all the options about phones and deployment.. Should we get an "interntional plan" on his existing phone or should he get a "pay as you go" phone...If he takes his phone, what should he turn off so we don't get all kinds of charges?  If he uses the ship's phones, do they have access to it often?  Should he take his computer on the ship?  I have so many questions about how we will communicate while he is gone and how we should pay...

Thanks for the tips about phones on ships!

Our sailors had an exciting week with lots of action.  More excitement to come.

This is a quite group!

Yes, our sailor was able to come home for a few days in late April.  His leaving was a little tough but that's what big sunglasses are for.  Exciting opportunity & Amazing Journey.  We were texting Monday to the last minute.  BTW - I was told care packages are ok to mail BUT it takes about a month to get to them.

Responding to questions re phone, my son's last deployment I had his phone shut off once they reached international waters and he was able to give me the ok.  Phone companies have a military plan that allows you to suspend the phone for the length of deployment w/o charges.  He used WI-FI when available as well as a phone card he took with him. 

Question.  does anyone know what happened today re MV-22 incident referenced on the Essex fb account?  Are our boys ok?

Hi USS Essex moms,

I am the founder of Heads at Ease pillowcase project and we are currently adopting this ship.  

We are mailing to this ship which is carrying the 15th MEU.  We need over 2700.

If any of you sew and would like to help, please let me know on the HAE group.  don't sew?  We can always use donations of fabric, $ for fabric or shipping.  Thanks!

wave 1  6-11 thru 6-15    778   DONE

Hi Vickie,

I will send you a friend request so I can message you that information and thank you!  I am attaching a couple of photos that are on their way!

Good day Sue,

I received 25 boxes of pillow cases today!  They are absolutely beautiful!  An 
instant hit among the first group of Sailors I handed them out to.  Thank you 
to all who have contributed! I will encourage Sailors to make contact to 
express their thanks as well via email address provided in many of the pillow 
cases.  Tomorrow I will send you a list of who we received boxes from.

Thanks again, and have a wonderful day!

Very Respectfully,
Chaplain K
USS ESSEX (LHD2)

Thank you to Vickie for donating some fabric to HAE for pillowcases for the Essex!  Your donation is very appreciated!

Wave 2 has been mailed.

that's cute.  I've used Christmas/winter type fabrics in the summer for years and say "think cool thoughts".  

Today is the 7th anniversary since I started HAE when my son was deployed on the Lincoln.

I posted some thank you notes tonight from the crew of the Essex.  To see them, go to the HAE group, look at the threads for the Essex.  That's where I will post photos and notes.

Enjoy!

sorry, that is my "shorthand" for Heads at Ease.  We make and mail handmade pillowcases to deployed military.  My son is a Navy veteran and the 4th of July marked my 7th anniversary of beginning HAE.

Come to the group and check us out.  We are currently mailing to the Essex and would love some help from the Essex families!  I have found that having the ship's families involved makes our time with the ship more personal.  

HAE is NOT a 501c3, but a grassroots group of committed Americans who want to bring some comfort from home to our loved ones who are deployed.  We are funded totally by donations of fabric, $ for fabric or shipping.  It all adds up and we can use the help.

We mail in "waves" and yes, the pun is intended-I am a Navy mom afterall - until we are finished.

wave 3 was completed on the 14.  I got this email this morning after I wrote the chaplain to let him know that it was done:

Thank you Sue!

We just received wave #2 last week in the mail and are beginning distribution 
today - mainly in Marine Berthing spaces, 1 per Marine!
So far, so good.  Very much appreciated!  Have a Blessed week,

Very Respectfully,
Chaplain Kelvington,
USS ESSEX (LHD2)

Wave 4 begins on 7-25.  I'd like to finish the ship in 4 waves but it's summer and my crew is slowing down.  Are there any sewers in this group?  We would love your help!

the ship is finished!

http://www.gvnews.com/news/soft-touch-deployed-troops-gets-pillowca...

Has anyone heard from their sailor that he or she is hungry. I'm hearing comments about half servings & losing weight.  Time to send another care package.

thanks Vickie.  We are doing the Rushmore next, then the Anchorage as they all are carrying the 15th MEU.  We can still use some help with sewing, fabric and shipping $.

Thank you!

Hello - I’m new to this site so I need your help please - 

my sailor has only been on the ship for a couple of months 

and I can’t stop worrying about how he’s really handling this 

transition to ship life ... I have so many questions that I’d 

really like to address but need to learn how to maneuver 

around the site.  I’m so happy to have gotten to this point of

finding a group for the USS Essex 

If I want to visit my sailor who is assigned to the USS Essex where should I book a hotel?