USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)

Hi everyone....sorry I haven't been on in so long..I thought I would let you know that one  my son had an accident while on the USS Kearsarge and was flown to Italy for tests and then he was flown home and taken off the ship for 3 months...He is ok...But, remember his grandfather died while he was on ship....well his grandmother died 2 weeks ago and he wasnt able to come home for that funeral either...from norfolk....it was so sad...he didnt get to come home for either funeral...and his wife also left him while on ship...they got back together and then she left him again 2 months ago...so now he doesn't get to see his son....

I am glad every one is doing good...this group helped me get through this past deployment...I still pray for all of our sailors and our USS Kearsarge Navy Moms and Dads....

Hi there ... can anybody help me with the address of the guys stationed on the Kearsarge...??  I had it but have misplaced it and need to overnight something to my kid......

thanks

I found it on the facebook website... so... got it tks sissi....

Cheryl S...That is coincidental... my son's b-day is Xmas day also...

what is your son's job... I will try and send my kid a message and maybe they can look each other up.... My kid is in IT.... I have only heard murmurs about deployment in Jan or Feb.. he was not sure of anything ...we are hoping he can come home for xmas this year...

Welcome Hawkimom! Diane! This is a great place to be while your son/daughter is aboard the Kearsarge! We have helped each other through this last deployment. I am hoping that they don't get deployed for a while but you never know when they will be needed..

I am starting a Navy Mom Group on facebook would love to see other moms join so we can all help support and assist each other.  Here is the link.https://www.facebook.com/groups/240441929350971/members/

It's a real bummer when you have to buy plane tickets because it's cheaper when you know ahead of time. It really is quite unfair to the parents that live far away to not know longer than two or three weeks till your sailor's leave.
We really could save a lot of money if we knew sooner. 
This is my little rant of the night! 

Hello Ladies my son just graduated C school in Meridian MS and has orders for The USS Kearsarge.  He will be there sometime early Dec.  He did PIR 9/911 so we are still a little new at Navy stuff.  Do they live on the Kearsarge while it is docked or do they live in dorms of sort?  That is all I can think of right now.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.

Ours was awesome since my son came home that day as a surprise.  He kept telling us he did not know when he got to come home after graduation. 

Thank you Cheryl.  I have no idea what division.  Is that on his orders?

He is almost 22 (Jan 7th) has 1 sister who is in College (20) has lived mostly in GA but 5 years in AL and born in CO.  Seems to really like the Navy most of the time.  haha  We live north of Atlanta and have never been to VA.

His job is AZ, Aviation maintenance administrationmen.  We live about 45 min NW from Athens. 

What is a Summit? 

Angelika does you son like his job/Navy?  I heard somthing about them going out very soon.  My son is home till Monday then he will report in VA by Wednesday.  I do not know where he will put all his stuff I guess just keep it in the car till he gets housing.  I kinda feel like he is going back into BC because of all of the unknowns.

Hope you all have an awesome day!  Thanks for being here...

So does the navy find/assign him roommates and an apartment or is it like you or I moving to a new city and we have to find it ourselves?

Thank you Cheryl I sent an email to the ombudsman to get on the list.

Yes but they keep playing telephone tag.

Brent made it VA with no problem this afternoon.  He is all settled in on the ship and has meet most of the people he will be working with.  I said everyone seems really "cool" and he sounds much more relaxed then he did yesterday before he left.  I know I am sad he is gone but happy he is where he is.

@angelika your son Jesse is AWESOME.  Brent texted me this afternoon that Jesse has helped so much today and is going to try to show him the town tomorrow.  My husband said the Brent was really worried about going by himself and not knowing anyone of course Brent did not tell me this bc he know I would cry.    Please know that you raised a good one.  Thank you

@Angelika amen sister!   :)

My son just rec'd his orders and he is joining the Kearsarge!  We are so happy for him and can't wait to hear more about it!  One important question is how much room will he have on board?  He is coming home next Friday on leave and I want him to carry as much of his stuff that he won't need...as opposed to having to UPS it home next month!  He said he is waiting to hear back from his sponsor but he is traveling next Friday.  So I was hoping to get some info from you Mom's!  Thanks!!

Thanks Cheryl!  Do you know if they can have things like PS2-do they have a liberty area on board?  5 in one stateroom-any idea how big a stateroom is?

Brent has the middle bunk and 2 small lockers thats it.  He sent a picture and it is tiny.  He left a lot of stuff here.  He does have a laptop and a small dvd player.  He said that he could get on a list for housing but if fine for now.  He has meet some really nice people that have made this change so much easier then he thought possible.  (Thank you again Jesse.)  :D

Thanks ladies.  Cheryl, my son is an ET (Electronics Technician).  One other thing, don't they live on the ship-everyone is talking about off base housing?  I'm confused.

Thanks Cheryl!  My husband is complaining that I need to watch the Giants/Cowboys football game w/him so I'll sign off for now.  I plan to check in daily here so hopefully I'll talk to you tomorrow.  It's nice to be part of your group. 

I was on Kearsarge two different times with a break in between for 3 years for shore duty. I made Chief and Senior Chief there so the ship holds a special bond for me. I actually did two full cruises and two half cruises onboard. Enjoy your time there she is the best in the fleet.

What exactly is a sponsor?  When and how are they supposed to contact my son?  What should he do if he hasnt heard from his sponsor and will be traveling to Norfolk soon?  Thanks!

he is an et.

If for some reason the actual sponsor cannot get up with the sailor someone from the department or division will come to the quarter deck to get the person. They will be escorted every where until they are more at ease about getting around the ship. The duty personnel usually make sure the new people are taken very good care of at all times.  

Thanks Rob, also, I sent you a friend request.  Would love to talk privately about my sons with you, if ok w/you.

Does the K have a Facebook page?  Can't seem to locate it.

I am the Ombudsman for the USS Kearsarge. I email out the daily newspaper the Summit when the ship is out to sea. If you are not recieving the Summit; email me at kearsargeombudsman@gmail.com

Include your service members name and upon their approval I will add you to my email list.

Regarding the Facebook pages, the links are

USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Ombudsman's Corner

My son is traveling today to Norfolk for his C school-then he has orders for the Kearsarge after that.  Does anyone know if there is a shuttle to the base or how do they get to the base from the airport??

I know we have to keep hush hush except that our kids are looking at the ocean again. At least communication is easier. Just needed to type that because I haven't been here in a while. But I've been reading.

Thanks MNagy.

Angelika I think they keep passing the same cold around because Brent had it a couple of weeks ago.  I was just glad it was gone before he came home to see his sister.  It would not have been good.  I am really glad Jesse and Brent have become good friends it helps to know that there is someone there he can rely on.  Thanks again

Lightning injures two sailors

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Two sailors on separate ships were injured by lightning while lowering flags on their vessels docked at Naval Station Norfolk Saturday evening.

Lightning injured a U.S. sailor aboard the USS Kearsarge and a French sailor aboard the French ship Mistral, said Navy Public Affairs Officer Terry Davis. She said the vessels, both amphibious assault ships, were docked next to each other at piers 10 and 11 when the lightning struck.

Davis said both sailors suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals as a precaution.

The sailors were conducting evening colors, the ceremonial lowering of the national flag at sunset, when the lightning injured them.

Happy Valentine's Day to all our sailors! 

Just have to say how much I enjoy receiving a copy of the ship's newsletter, The Summit.  If you're not on the list, check with the Ombudsman.

I enjoy it too except it reminds me that our sailors are out at sea again. I hear this may be a bit of a haul this time around.

A mom (Mary) in the Corpsman Moms and Dads group just shared this - funny!

"HOW TO SIMULATE LIFE IN THE NAVY"

1. Buy a dumpster, paint it gray and live in it for six months straight.

2. Run all of the piping and wires inside your house on the outside of the walls.

3. Pump 10 inches of nasty, crappy water into your basement, then pump it out, clean up, and paint the basement "deck gray."

4. Every couple of weeks, dress up in your best clothes and go the scummiest part of town, find the most run down, trashy bar you can, pay $10 per beer until you're hammered, then walk home in the freezing cold.

5. Perform a weekly disassembly and inspection of your lawnmower.

6. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays turn your water temperature up to 200 degrees, then on Tuesday and Thursday turn it down to 10 degrees. On Saturdays, and Sundays declare to your entire family that they used too much water during the week, so all showering is secured.

7. Raise your bed to within six inches of the ceiling.

8. Have your next door neighbor come over each day at 5 am, blow a whistle so loud that Helen Keller could hear it and shout "Reveille, Reveille, all hands heave out and trice up."

9. Have your mother-in-law write down everything she's going to do the following day, then have her make you stand in the backyard at 6 am and read it to you.

10. Cook all of your food blindfolded, groping for any spice and seasoning you can get your hands on.

11. Eat the raunchiest Mexican food you can find for three days straight, then lock yourself out of the bathroom for 12 hours, and hang a sign on the door that reads "Secured-contact OA division at X-3053."

12. Submit a request form to your father-in-law, asking if it's OK for you to leave your house before 3 pm.

13. Invite 200 of your not-so-closest friends to come over, then board up all the windows and doors to your house for six months. After the six months is up, take down the boards, wave at your friends and family through the front window of your home...you can't leave until the next day, you have duty.

14. Shower with above-mentioned friends.

15. Make your family qualify to operate all the appliances in your home (i.e., dishwasher operator, blender technician, etc).

16. Walk around your car for four hours checking the tire pressure every 15 minutes.

17. Sit in your car and let it run for four hours before going anywhere. This is to ensure your engine is properly "lighted off."

18. Empty all the garbage bins in your house, and sweep your driveway three times a day, whether they need it or not. (Now sweepers, start your brooms, clean sweep down fore and aft, empty all trashcans over the fantail).

19. Repaint your entire house once a month.

Oh Marcy that was a riot! But oh so true after talking tomy daughter and sn-in-law.. Navy & Marine!

It's always a good time to review OPSEC (Operational Security) Rules. 

Ship homecomings have been postponed, ship Facebook pages taken down - these are just examples of inconveniences; the security issues for our sailors are vastly greater.  

An example of how indiscretions have immediate impact:  USS Bataan (LHD-5) had its Facebook page taken down and 700 families lost that means of contact with their sailors and Marines last summer  due to posts that violated OPSEC:  USS Bataan's Facebook page shut down

✓ Donʼt discuss future destinations or ports of call.

✓ Donʼt discuss future operations, exercises or missions.

✓ Donʼt discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises.

✓ Donʼt discuss security procedures, movements, or arms.

✓ Donʼt discuss readiness issues and numbers.

✓ Donʼt discuss specific training equipment.

✓ Donʼt speculate about future operations.

✓ Donʼt spread rumors about past, current or future operations or movements.

✓ Donʼt discuss deployment or homecoming dates (including Tiger or Family Day Cruises)

✓ DO assume the enemy is always trying to collect information.

✓ Keep in mind there is no guarantee of security for information transmittal, or that a chat room or forum described as “military” has its membership restricted to militarypersonnel and their families.

✓ Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email, phone, chatrooms and message boards.

Wanted to let the Kearsarge Mom's know we have two new Ombudsman

Lucia and Crystal.

Sorry guys. I tried to be careful here. I was just so irritated how Americans can be so...I don't even know how to call it.
I really just wanted to vent and to bring out this negativity.
Sorry again if I broke any rules.

Comment deleted!

No problem!!! I know how you feel, sometimes we all just want to scream over this stuff.  Hopefully that particular rumor fades away real soon.  Funny because I recently heard something completely opposite :)