Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

doing good Jes. did you drive across the country and how did you and baby(ies) do? glad you found an apartment!

talked to my sailor tonight and he said it's been raining for 2 days and he's freezing.
yes, to the red shirt-I even have a red apron that I use on Fridays.

no I sure can't! it was 100 degrees in Tucson today. hard to imagine it cold.

hello ladies i will be making my wat from tn to va to see my sailor can someone give me an idea what the weather is like there now. thanks

have you considered the Navy Lodges? I stayed at the one at the Oceana base and it was really nice.

teresa mattox we want be going to va, kyle has been in fl the last 2 weeks working and this weekend he is doing an air show in fl, so we r going to fl it is a lot shorter distance but i will tell kyle u said hello. tell rick we said hello and be careful going back to va. va has the 3 of the best guys ever

I live near NAB Little Creek and Military Highway is about kkk10 minutes from Little Creek. Hampton Inn is brand new, as is the La Quinta. The Double Tree is right in the Military Circle shopping center. Lots of restaurants and shopping. Closer to the base by about 5 minutes is the Quality Inn (also new) and the Best Western.

The weather hre is really nice right now. In the 70's and sunny. It's one of my favorite seasons here.

The Navy Lodge on Little Creek is also new and not badly priced. I think it's about 75.00 a night.

John

Sorry I can't help sosume. When my son was transferred, he stayed in a hotel until he found an apartment. then he had to wait for the movers to do their thing since he went from base housing.

Sosume: NAS Norfolk has a directory online. If you know where your son works you might find his address.

Sosume: I just talked to my sailor if you get me his name he said he could look it up for you. Mine has access to the info. E-mail me kdv1701@yahoo.com and we will see what we can do but don't e-mail any info because of security purposes I'll give you my phone.

Please check out the Heads at Ease page for the revealing of our mystery project.

congrats Dianne!

Did they send all the ships out to sea?

The ships are not leaving, The port has been closed by the Coast Guard. They would have left 48 hours ago if they were going to leave.

Welcome to the site Chanda!!!!!

Christie, that's for invaluable info! I can see my son needing groceries delivered under those same circumstances. Thanks!!

76 tomorrow here in Tucson. We'll be dining on the patio! Now that the nice weather is back, I can brag!! Notice how I travel a lot during the summer?? lol Thanksgiving Blessings to All of You and Yours!!

Happy Thanksgiving. Melissa, the patio sounds great, but I have a bad sore throat, so think it is chicken soup for me. haha.
I cooked my turkey on Monday as we are supposed to go to my neighbor's house. I'll see how I feel in a couple of hours.
winavymom$ where are in WI? I am from Milwaukee, but have lived in Tucson longer.

Ladies...
One of our moms, Stacy R, has recieved news that her sailor was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning in Norfolk....He was serving on the NY there were 2 others involved, I believe they were injured, don't know any details please keep these families in your prayers.

It is long-term parking and it is located by the NEX in Norfolk

Lorei, my son took he cell phone the last time he was deployed. He was able to use it when they were on dry land. I'm not exactly sure what plan he has or what he did for overseas usage.

Oooo, my son says it's snowing heavily. He just sent me pics and the cars are covered with snow in the parking lot. They live in Newport News.

My son drove from Woodbridge, VA (about 20 miles south of DC) to Portsmouth tonight and didn't have any problems, fortunately. He said 95 was cleared pretty well. Portsmouth had only received a dusting and it didn't stick. Let's hope that's the end of the snow for a while!

Tina, that is so wonderful that you will get to go for the deployment. We drove to San Diego when our son deployed and it was so worth it. Bring him some of his favrotire snacks that he take with him.
Please join Heads at Ease and we'll see about a pillowcase for him and his cube.

Shannon, how awesome to spend that time with your son and family! I bet it was lots of fun! I will send a mom your way to see if her sailor can join you.

My son is now having Christmas dinner with Shannon and her family and friends, thanks to her generous offer. Shannon, you're an amazing and wonderful woman, thank you so much! Merry Christmas from Scottsdale, everyone!

I got this from Trouble on Fire (Terry) this morning. I do have her address if you would like to send her a card:
I am home. They only did a biopsy on my lumph nodes in my chest,
because they said the cancer has spread. They are saying it is
possibly a small cell cancer, and the type of cancer it is, is rare.
This has nothing to do with the breast cancer I had in 2002. So they
stopped all surgery until we find out exactly what type of cancer it
is, to do the correct treatment. I should get results back tomorrow.
I'm doing ok, just throat really sore still from them going through the
trach for biopsy, and putting me on a ventilator. Derrick went back
to VA yesterday, but he will be driving back home tomorrow and will be
able to stay until January 8th. I still get tired really easy, but am
trying to stay busy, so I don't go crazy.

I go back to my surgeon in a couple of weeks. So we shall see what
happens now, please just continue to pray that God heals this cancer
as well, I'm not ready to go anywhere, but I know that decision is not
mine to make.

Terry.... You're in our prayers.........God Bless

got this from Terry alittle bit ago:
Dear Sue,

I got great news, the pathology report came back negative on the lumph
nodes, the cancer has NOT spread. So now he is going to schedule me
for surgery on January 11th in the afternoon to remove the upper lobe
of my right lung. Possibly my whole lung. Now we just have to pray
for Dr. Matthew Campbell's steady hand and that the tumor comes off the
bronchi tube when he does surgery so he won't have to take the whole
lung. GOD IS
GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T

Julie, if your son goes to the DFW USO (terminal B, Gate 15) before they close at 10:30 pm, they can make a reservation for him at a local hotel for $27. Their phone # is 972-574-8182.

Just heard on the news that the Eisenhower which just deployed, did a sea rescue of a ship in distress. They used a helo to rescue someone in the ocean. My son's buddy just left on it.

GO Navy-that's our boys and girls at work!

Shannon, I bet that was exciting and I like the breakfast idea. thanks for the link on the rescue.
Julie, glad to hear that Justin is okay.

Don't forget to make reservations for Navy Lodge as far in advance as possible. And Norfolk late at night isn't the place to be wandering around. The waterfront by Nauticus (museum with USS Wisconsin) is a pretty area, and for only a dollar you can take a cute little passenger ferry for the 5-minute ride across to downtown Portsmouth, very charming & restaurants within a block or two.

oops - not downtown Portsmouth - I meant "Olde Towne"!

what base will he be at?

In Portsmouth, The Myrtles at Olde Towne is great & safe. It's right at the guardgate into Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. My son's there & I know a lot about it so contact me if you want to know more, pics etc. (also he gets a bonus if he refers someone!) Looking at apartments on Craigslist can help get an idea about areas and prices too.

I would imagine there is lots of looting and unrest in Haiti. The vest and gun is for their own protection.
Will keep our sailors in prayer. This will be very unpleasant duty for our brave men and women.

Good morning Sonia, I'll be keeping him in my positive thoughts.

Polli K - nice to see another Oregonian in this big sea of moms. My son has been in Norfolk now for a little over 5 months. He is still getting use to the atmosphere and people. I would agree, they are not as outgoing as "westerners" and they drive like crazy! My niece and I were able to visit in mid-November and had early thanksgiving with him. It was a time to cherish! He just found out that he will be going on the next "relief" ship to Haiti. So proud!

Cindy 22 - Duty drivers are navy personnel and they do not get paid like the cabs....it is part of their job when on duty.

here is an interesting link you all might like. cut and paste if the link won't work.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/navy_vinson_haiti_011310w/

1stPenny aka Gail, get a large or military flat rate box, tape it up and start to fill it with things that your son would like. When my son was deployed, I mailed one everyother week. I would shop sales and buy anything that I knew he liked.
2 x's I mailed a "road trip" box. I got things from the route we traveled and asked family for something from each stop. I even got one of those giant pickles in TX. That's a fun thing to do-boxes I mean.
then, please come and join Heads at Ease. That is the pillowcase project for deployed military. We can always use the help-sewing, buying fabric, $ for shipping. Check us out. Maryellen is currently heading up the thread called the 467th and 1908th. Check that one out.

Sonia, my son & dil live in Chesapeake. The apartment complex is beautiful. Not too expensive either. It's called Holly Point. It may be a little out of the way, base wise, but close to shopping & restaurants, etc.

LynneRay, when he emailed you from the ship, the ship number should be in the email. it was like that when my son was on the Lincoln. Like the Vinson is cvn70.

i thought I would list the other ships that are going to Haiti.
EN ROUTE/
PREPPING TO DEPLOY:
§ USS Carl Vinson
§ USS Underwood
§ USS Bataan
§ USS Normandy
§ USS Higgins
§ USS Fort McHenry
§ 22nd MEU
§ USNS Comfort

IN HAITI:
§ USS Higgins
§ SOUTHCOM assessment /C2 team
§ AF Special Ops personnel begin air traffic control ops

check out this link

here's the link-sorry I can't get them to take lately.

www.tinyurl.com/y85phn7

and it's not just military ones, I couldn't get a fabric one on either.

Thanks Sue. WAVY-TV's website has video of ships leaving Norfolk for Haiti, and blogging from the USS Bataan - scroll halfway down the page. http://www.wavy.com/generic/news/Haiti-Relief-Efforts---WAVY.com

thanks for posting that Suzann!

Would you be willing to write these letters? Susan said that 22 ships will be going to Haiti and we are trying to get letters in the hand of each sailor. You can go to the MAS room for the address or contact me.
Thanks and please pass the word! Sue
CALLING ALL MOMS! Here is a chance to let ‘our’ sailors know how much we love and support them! If there is one thing every Navy mom learns during boot camp it is to write a great letter! And you Molly moms practice it each and every month sending love to our deployed!

Will you please write a letter or thank you card to a Sailor aboard the USS Carl Vinson which is conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations? Our goal is to send over 5,000 thank you cards to Chaplain ‘Fish’ by February 10th! He will distribute the cards and letters we send to the crew on the Vinson and the other Navy ships (the USS Bataan, USS Nassau and USS Comfort headed to provide support to Haiti!

Contact your local schools, scout groups and churches! Collect as many thank you notes and cards and send them along! The best (and most cost effective) way to send them might be a flat rate box offered by the Post Office! Let these sailors know that you are proud of them and say thank you for all they are doing!

For the address of Chaplain ‘Fish’ please contact me with how many cards you have gathered and I will be happy to provide the address! Thank you so much!

When the USS Carl Vinson pulled out of Norfolk January 12th on the way to their new homeport of San Diego they were singing ‘California Dreaming’. That night a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti and their destination changed. The Vinson was one of the first ships able to respond. We have all watched the news and seen the pictures. But can you imagine what it is to be at sea for the first time and called to duty in such an important mission? To feel the 95+ degree heat, experience the cry for help and pain, see the devastation up close?

Many of our sailors are boots on the ground and many more are providing support for them. Those sights and sounds will stay with them forever. The United States Navy has prepared them to do their jobs, and let's face it; we know they are the best of the best.

These sailors are pumping over 3,500 gallons of water a day to deliver to quake victims, launching well over 600 flights of aid and rescue from their deck, providing security and caring for many injured. They have given of themselves… working long hours, catching sleep when they can. Here is our chance to let them know how much we appreciate all they are doing

Hi ladies, first off, I didn't write that. another mom named Susan did and she is the coordinator for the letter writing effort on Molly's adopt a sailor page. I just copied her post, as she asked us to post it on our other groups. so I did.

Yes, Jenny is right, it is 22 ships and I should've used her newest post that said that. she hadn't gotten much response and thought as Navy moms we could all write letters of encouragement.

My son isn't deployed and I will do all that I can to get cards and letters sent to our sailors and marines. I can only imagine how difficult it is for the recently returned to have to go out again.

Just in case you are thinking that I am concerned about only 1 group, check out the Heads at Ease page.

Hello All!
Thought I might give some clarification... When I first blogged the Vinson was the first ship that had arrived... surely because they were already under way when the earthquake hit. There are so many ships with so many stories and hardships due to the quick turn arounds.
It has never been the intention to only send cards to the Vinson. It simply is that our contact is one of the Chaplains on the Vinson. He is moving between ships offering support to the injured and sailors. He is working with the other Chaplains to share the support.
I hope that explains the confusion... I have been updating the blog as more ships arrive in the area.... with 22 ships on site not the list of names is not as important as getting the love there! You should note that we have shipped over 1,000 cards so far! Lots more needed and I invite everyone to write! Thanks for considering~