Corpsmen Moms and Dads

Dan came home this weekend for his brother's birthday, he's been in Florida the past year. First time we've had the whole family together in, I don't know how long! Had a great weekend, but then Dan went back to PAX, John to FL, and we moved their sister back to college. The house feels empty again and the dogs are completely confused.

@ BethFromNJ - Doc's Mom - did you see this photo of USS Boxer on FB from US Pacific Fleet?  Beautiful!   Don't get me started on "manning the rails" - Kleenex time always for me... :)

"Always ready...Sailors saying goodbye to San Diego as they set sail for for another deployment!"

Wow, simply beautiful.

Good day today between this photo and watching the Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony from the White House.

Wow what an amazing photo.  As it turns out, my Doc is on the Harpers Ferry which is part of the Boxer Strike Group.  I got to watch them all chug out of the harbor on Friday on the San Diego Web Cams.  I even got to speak to  him on the ship!  It's going to be a LONG 9 months.

Navy corpsman Jeremiah Sawyer returned from deployment in Bahrain for the birth of his daughter - and ended up delivering her on the living room floor 90 minutes after arriving home!  Video and story: http://www.10news.com/news/navy-corpsman-delivers-baby-daughter-at-...

Of course being a true corpsman, he's good-looking (as are baby and family) and his timing and training are perfect! :)  He returns to Bahrain in 11 days...

Ruth, this deployment is what Chris has worked so hard for and what he wanted...just not his momma or her friends.  That's going to be a homecoming to remember - he has a built-in new cheering section with his new family!  Can't wait to hear about the wedding and pictures of the happy couple - and the "surprise" that awaits him LOL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLORIA!!  Can't believe it's been three years since Karl was on USNS Comfort with Pacific Partnership.  Here's your new-and-improved "birthday card"! LOL

Gloria from Marcy Scott on Vimeo.

Beth, I was just reading Ruth's comment about River City and wanted to let you know that there are many reasons for River City radio silence other than something bad.  I was very anxious during my ex daughter-in-law's deployment.  My son was in FMTB and I was caring for my granddaughter in their home on Camp Pendleton (that's when I got to meet the extraordinary Ruth!!!).  Several months later, I experienced River City while my son was deployed.  Radio silence can be used when they are playing war games and hiding from other ships, when they are transiting a secure area, or just because the command wants to try out River City.  I was a basket case when we didn't hear from my son on a regular basis because his deployment was a complete unknown to us.  At least with ex daughter-in-law, I knew where her ship was going. 

Just looking at post below this one and see Gloria.  I was also privileged to meet Gloria while I was at Camp Pendleton, as well as Maine Sailor Mom.  It was so good to spend time with other mothers of sailors.  Just felt good that they understood my fears.   

Cute Birthday Card. :)

Louielou, we got to know Gloria a few years ago when many here had corpsmen deployed in the sandbox, and late-night marathon chats ruled :)  

Okay, excuse my ignorance but when someone says "River City", I think of where I live which is Portland, Oregon.  Obviously it's a code but I am not sure for what. 

I have been reading posts but not posting of late. I think my last post was about my Corpman scoring so high on his ACLS that he has qualified to become an instructor. Really really proud of him. 

Prayers for all of them.

"River City" is when out bound communication is shut off between deployed forces and home...no outgoing phone calls or internet access.

Please say a prayer for this young man, who died doing what he sought to do:  help others... Former Navy corpsman Richard Shomette, age 22.  Former corpsman killed while shielding women and children from onco...  

Thanks, vettespace. I do not look forward to that but imagine it will be something that I will get to experience in the future.

Marcy, so sad.  Prayers for him and all who knew him.

Reading his story just about broke my heart.  Service is this Sunday, they told me "He was such a sweet person" - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charles-Church-Christian-Life-Center/...

Correction, exact quote is "He was such a sweet young man!"  

Lord have mercy! May God grant his soul mercy and his family peace. Mission accomplished Corpsman. RIP.

Thank you Marcy for posting this.

What a Hero - My God be with his family and friends. 

I felt moved to print Corpsman Shomette's story and put it in my prayer book.  So sad that his early years were so bumpy, then to endure boot camp and Corpsman training.  Hopefully enjoying stability for a short time.  Such sweet eyes.  He will always be remembered.

Marcy-Thanks for posting a picture of the USS Boxer!  My daughter is a greenside corpsman on that ship.

Beth-Our kids probably know each other.

It's going to be a long 9 months!

Cathy, Joshua has not mentioned to me that he has met a 'female' Corpsman, but maybe they have met on the beach LOL.  Is your daughter on the Ferry or the Boxer?

Beth-She is on the Boxer.  She had sent me a picture of what I thought was all the Corpsmen on this deployment, when I went back to find it, it was from the Boxer only. 

I took this photo last Friday afternoon. It is an exit on the famed California Hwy 101. This exit is in the San Fernando Valley. My associate and I actually had a blast for awhile just watching people pull up and not knowing what to do for a moment or two. Notice the white 'directional' signs.

Bobbo - Thanks for making me laugh.  I work frequently in that area and have actually heard of the signs but never seen them.  Funny.

That is funny. I can see how it can be confusing, lol ;)

Thoughts and prayers for the victims of the Washington Navy Yard shootings in DC, still an active scene:  Police say four killed, eight injured at Washington Navy Yard, shoo...

Praying for our men and women in DC. 

This NavyMom just completed hiking 2,189.9 miles,,,the whole Appalachian Trail from GA-ME. I have one really proud son!

Congratulations MEsailormom!!!!!  That's a Great Accomplishment!

Thinking of all the Moms and Dads out there today that are missing their Cubs.  I got to hug mine a lot this weekend and am feeling very, very blessed.  Now that he is stationed closer, it is so wonderful to see him and his family when I want.  He is enjoying being an Instructor and being back in his blues. Hugs to you all!!!!

MEsailormom, despite all you went through, you did it.  What an inspiration you are to a couch potato like me.  Glad to say I have met this sailor mom!

I got the "I'm a Doc" call on Wednesday!  His whole group passed FinEx - congratulations to these fine men and their families.  Crazy Proud FMTB Corpsman Mom  :)  Now the hard part - waiting for the next orders.  I so hope he can come home for a bit. 

He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home! He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home! He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home! He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home! He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  He's Home!  My newly graduated FMTB-West Corpsman Surprised us last night!  Traffic on the road stopped to wave and honk horns.  He left home in January with nothing but the shirt on his back. He carried into the house 100lbs+  of uniforms and laundry in 3 ginormous sea-bags and a backpack.  That better not all be socks!   (How the heck did he store all that in the barracks racks?)  And yes he made his bed this morning!  :)

Welcome Home!  Welcome Home!  Welcome Home!  :)  

Have a wonderful weekend with your corpsman!!  (and how did he even carry three seabags?? lol)

When my son graduated from boot camp ten years ago, I was so impressed by how strong the guys were carrying their sea bags, back packs, and garment bags as they were clearing out from the barracks.  Then, I saw the females and I was REALLY impressed how some of those tiny young women could carry all that and stand up straight while doing it. 

MORE on BONUS.  As with everything military, there are already changes to bonus administration.  This is the latest at Navy Times:

http://www.navytimes.com/article/20131001/CAREERS/310010012/Update-...

Happy Birthday United States Navy!  

Brief history at http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm

Ignore any spam/emails from "Cindy Starkenberg" - it's been reported and this 'person' is being removed by N4M's admins.  

Unfortunately this happens every once in a while on N4M :(  If you ever see a problem, use the "Report an issue" link at the bottom of the page.

How cool!  HM2 Danielle Albert on shooting a scene with Tom Hanks in the movie "Captain Phillips" about the 2009 Somali pirate hijacking of the Maersk Alabama.  

Link to news video:  HM2 Danielle Albert / "Captain Phillips" 

Navy Times print story:  http://www.navytimes.com/article/20131011/NEWS/310110011/Sailors-sh...

I am new to this site.  I am the Dad of a Corpsman who is presently at Camp Pendleton training. 

Welcome, Army John!     My disclosure is Army John is my husband, and we have a corpsman son presently training at Camp Pendleton!  

Welcome new members!  

Jaime, you must be so proud!  What a great assignment.

Karen, here are some links related to FMTB-West and Camp Pendleton:

-  http://www.tecom.marines.mil/fmtbw/Students/FMST.aspx

-  http://navyformoms.com/group/camppendletoncorspmen

and if headed for FMF - http://navyformoms.com/group/fmf-corpsman-moms

Hi, my son is a Corpsman @ the Clinic in Pensacola..His 21st b'day is coming up and Im wondering what anyone else has done for their sailor, for their b'day. Gifts, cake.....any ideas would be great.  Thank You

Brownies are a great thing to send - they travel well, are easy to share and everyone in the Navy loves chocolate!  How about adding them to a 'theme' box he can share, like 

- Monday Night Football - popcorn, mixed nuts, SI magazine, chips and salsa, gatorade mix, deflated football and an air pump.  (My corpsman loves a certain kind of Doritos (black bean and garlic) he can't get where he is, so I put them in a Tupperware-type container and send them. Crazy but he loves it lol)

- Birthday Morning box - protein meal replacement bars, hot chocolate packets,  protein shake mix, instant oatmeal packets, oatmeal cookies, dehydrated fruit or fruit roll-ups, peanut butter and jelly, coffee, teas, creamers and sugar packets, biscotti for dunking.

1proudmom, is your son in a clinic at the Navy hospital or one of the clinics on NAS Pensacola.  

I just sent you a friend request.  I live in Pensacola and would love to get your son a cake and deliver it to him at work.