USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

Good to hear some are hearing from their sailors!!!  

Tracy, glad he got it back. There are still good people in this world.

My son lost his $500 camera the last time they were in port. He thought it had been stolen while he was eating dinner. About a week later everyone on the ship received an email stating a camera had been found and returned to the ship and anyone missing a camera could come and identify it. My son ran down there and gave a description and it was his camera with all his pictures still on it. He was so excited.

Tonya, nice your Sailor can stay out over night. My Sailors division won't allow any overnight stays so he has to return to the ship each night. He would love to get a hotel for a night but still had a good time. Glad your Sailor enjoyed her time in port.

Anita, tell your Sailor there will be no more vanilla wafers until you get a phone call. :)

I heard from my son too.  We messaged on Facebook.  So great to hear from him.  The care packages arrived.  First he only received 3 of 3 yesterday.  That was ok because that one contained the home made cookie bars.  But then this a.m. the other two arrived.  He loved all the stuff, especially the fun stuff. We gave him plenty of items to share, so I hope he is sharing with some of your sailors.

Yes, Dad!  It was such a Awesome feeling to here from my sailor!  I'm delighted to hear you all heard from your sailors too.  They really needed this down time.

My sailor had also just received his 28lb care package which made it even more delightful:-)))))

I heard from my sailor that the Tiger Cruise is officially cancelled due to the unpredictability of their return date.  Too many possible variables.

Idea what to send them:  Headbands, sweatbands, etc.  Just saw a pic where a sailor is working on an engine in intense heat (face covered in sweat and hair is completely soaked!)

Poor guy looked like he was stretching a small white handkerchief to do the job a good old large farmer's handkerchief could easily do.  

Little things like that they need!

...just make sure it is navy blue!

~*~  Remember Golden Rule #2 ~*~

"Nothing is written in stone with the Navy"

They can change their mind one way and back the next.  But I would not go out buying tickets to anything yet!

Can anyone tell me how to send something from amazon to a sailor on the ship?? I have only sent him stuff from the post office direct but I dont want to do that due to having free shipping from amazon.

Also being new to this I mostly Google everything that I see but can someone explain to me what a homeport change means? 

Ahhh ok thank you Andeleyesm!!! But that will not change the home coming date?

Stuntsmom.... Thank you I tried to enter it in and of course what he was wanting they do not ship to the ship and it will take around 17-28 business days to get to me which would put me shipping it at the end of august (maybe) and then he wont get it.

Amazon has been awesome for shipping to the boat for me.  Accept there are some food items they won't ship which has been a bummer.  I have found it to be more of the food that may melt.  I have amazon prime so shipping has been free and he usually receives them quickly.

Seperate note, I bought and shipped the fan that one of the moms on here spoke about in the beginning of deployment.  He loves it and said that it is working great even though it has fallen a few times from the top bunk.  He says if you were to see it you would be surprised it still works all duct taped and all.   Great product and free shipping from amazon prime.

I have a question, Rikki mentioned it the end of August maybe being too late to send a package...Can anyone tell me (if it doesn't violate OSPEC) about when we should stop sending packages this deployment as they are unlikely to make it there in time?  Or, maybe it'd be better just to tell me how long (such as one month, 6 weeks, or whatever) to  stop before they are expected back and I can figure for myself...

ahh ok thank you newnavywife. I have not been to an FRG meeting yet so I am not sure about anything till they send the meeting minutes in email. 

CousinSarah..... I chose not to send in september only for personal preference. I am not sure as to what the cut off time is. I chose not to do that because of "things" lol but that is just me and thinking ahead wayyyyy to much lol

Thanks newnavywife2014!  

(in-case someone is wondering why my question is above the answer, I wanted to change something in it, but couldn't figure out how to edit it, so deleted and re-posted it)

Thanks Rikki-I tend to think ahead too much, too!  

It's official, the planes that did the airstrike in Iraq were from the USS George H. W. Bush

https://www.facebook.com/USNavy/photos/a.249644752822.138119.742813...

This is great...

OSPEC question:  Can I post on Facebook (just to my friends, not publicly) that I'm proud my cousin is serving on the Bush in relation to current events?  

(obviously not adding anything to what the Navy has released, other than my cousin is there which info the Navy has actually released in a caption to a photo anyways and anyone can probably figure out he's there based on my FB likes...)

CousinSarah,

Sure, there is nothing that violates OPSEC by telling people you have family or friends on the Bush. If that were the case we'd all be in trouble in this group. :)

Thanks Dad of Sailor.  I had before, but got thinking I wasn't sure...still new to this whole "have family in active service" thing and want to do it right!

Nvywife1008 in order to get the frg to send you anything your sailor will have to send them an email from his ship email stating who you are and your email. That is the only way to do it. 

Heard from my son last night after a couple days of not hearing from him. He said they have had email shut off for a few days due to the events over there. Wanted to let you guys know in case you're wondering why you have not heard from your Sailor. 

"Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let the aeroplanes circle, moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'. Put crepe bows 'round the white necks of the public doves, Let traffic policemen wear black, cotton gloves. He was my North, my South, my East, and West. My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good."

My heart is broke, my mind can't wrap around the news. He can't be gone. Oh how many make us laugh the hardest are the ones in the most personal pain. May God and his angels take care of you now, Robin. I'm just heart broken 

Sorry, forgot to post this when it came in last week.

Avenger Newsletter July 2014

From the ships facebook page in case some have not seen it...

To our families and friends:

As you have seen on the news, Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8) strike fighters have struck ISIL targets near Erbil to help defend the city where U.S.
personnel are assisting the Iraqi government. We have also conducted strikes to defend Yazidi civilians being indiscriminately attacked by ISIL near Sinjar, Iraq.

The professional and dedicated team that makes up Carrier Strike Group 2 (CSG 2) includes USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), CVW 8, CSG 2 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON 22) staff, USS Philippine Sea, USS Truxtun, USS Roosevelt, USS Arleigh Burke and USS O'Kane and we stand ready to support humanitarian assistance operations that are helping those in need. Your Sailors continue to perform in an exemplary manner and we remain ready to perform any mission when called.

This team is making a difference.

We have worked many months prior to deploying and since departing home to maintain the high level of readiness that allows us to carry out our current tasking. The thorough training we received has fully prepared the team to flex to support the mission assigned as we have demonstrated all deployment.

Thank you for all your support from back home, since it is your dedication to us that keeps us focused and determined to carry out our
duty.

We are where it matters, when it matters once again.

Thank you Dad of Sailor for always keeping us up to date.

I also read the book and was highly disappointed. The book is called "Life Aboard the USS GHWB", however, the author spent his entire time living in a stateroom by himself (lied about a medical condition to get his own room), complaining about the food and eating with the Captain and Admiral. He definitely didn't experience "life aboard" a Navy Aircraft Carrier as the majority of our Sailors experience each day. He whined about everything and spent way too much time talking about himself instead of life aboard the ship. I consider it time and money wasted but may be of interest to some who are not familiar with life at sea.

I found the parts about his obsession with a married female Sailor particularly odd. Almost like a stalker.

Franny, maybe it is my Navy experience that caused me to not like the book. I just didn't feel it portrayed a very good picture of "life at sea" for the average Sailor. Sitting on the flight deck with the Captain and smoking cigars at night after dinner isn't something Sailors get to do. Eating slop in the mess decks, which the author avoided at all costs, is what our Sailors deal with.

If you were going to write a book about life at sea why wouldn't you sleep in a nasty 250 man berthing, eat every meal on the mess decks and get out and about instead of sitting in your one person stateroom all alone?

Just didn't seem like the book lived up to the title for me.

Sounds like the author was on the USS Cowpens instead of the USS GHWB

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/08/08/navy-deployed-skipper...

(Life aboard The Bush)

One of those things...unless you've lived it, you really don't know what it is like.  I'm sure my retired Navy friend could swap stories with Dad and they would have some same experiences and some different ones.

I just wonder if the deliveries are still on schedule or if the recent activities have delayed them a bit.

Thanks, Dreamer.... I sent off 2 boxes and then a large envelope a week later...been a total of about two weeks ago (for the boxes).  One time boxes got there in 2 weeks - other time took a good solid month.  Just never know :-)