Anyone with Sailors/Soldiers/Marines in War Zones and Combat Areas

Devil Doc Mom,

     Hang in there.  I have not heard from my son who is on his 2nd deployment to Afgan.  He is a seabee.  I know from his first deployment that he was not on a base much.  If and when I'd hear from him, it was on facebook.  I too stalk it.  I hated the no news is good news line last time and again this time, but I have to take a day with no word as a safe day.  I'm not any saner this deploymnet than the first.  I know they are in hell over there.  Donna

Hope all are safe from the storm as it moves up the coast, and all have heard from loved ones, in the storm and across the world this weekend...

Some of you may remember my posts about Jake the little boy with cancer...7 years old. His time is near, his mother facing her hell of wanting to see this baby out of pain and losing her son way too soon. Her name is Tosha, please include her in your prayers, your positive energy, however you believe. His godfather, a Seabee, is deployed and will miss seeing Jake probably by just days as he returns to the US. Seabee's mom carrying the load of support for his friends right now, she's in double hurt....blessings and love to all in pain today.

I haven't tried it and I know only what's on the link but they said free calls from military abroad...check it out!

Link to free calls gmail....

From one of the moms in Texas Military Moms...

One morning, a grandmother was surprised to find that her 7-year-old grandson had made her coffee! Smiling, she choked down the worst cup of her life. When she finished, she found three little green Army men at the bottom. Puzzled, she asked, "Honey, what are these Army men doing in my coffee?" Her grandson answered, "Like it says on TV, Grandma. 'The best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup!

Ten boxes!! that was a  happy crew, I bet...

Thank you for the thoughts on Jake. His godfather called from deployment, and they got to have a good conversation....he's getting more frail, and it's just a matter of time, so it's good that call came when it did. We worry after our grown sons and daughters, so much fear, and this young mom has passed the fear to acceptance and wanting her boy out of pain...and still hating to let go. So very sad.

Wow..ten boxes!

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I am on other sites and I have not found one that has all the branches like this one.

I don't know any of your military kids yet but I will tell you about mine. I have my sailor who is stationed out of Hawaii and is on the Port Royal on deployment right now, he is now 22. My sailor is in Cryptology too and is an E5 now.  I have my Airman and he is 19 soon to be 20 the first of October, he is in Security Forces. As I told you guys he is Iraq and would like to go to Afghanstan. I told him I put my foot down on that one, LOL. I know I can't stop him but I hope he changes his mind. Anyways, he is stationed Japan as well. As we all do i miss getting to talk to them everyday, well almost everyday. I do, do skype when we can but it is hard to do video when they don't have good WIFI were they are. My airman does go to the USO and calls when he can. He said he kinda likes it over there.

So tell me about this little boy you guys are all talking about? Is he really sick? Sorry new so I am asking a lot of questions.

Wow 10 boxes for him that is great. I am sure he did feel like it was Christmas. I am hoping to a box out to each of mine. My sailor I had sent him one box and a N4M sent one out too for him from my Allmoms site. I need to get one out to the other one for his birthday will be coming up too. Oh boy and then it will be time to get them their Christmas stuff. Wow time flys.

Well again thank you for the warm welcome and I hope you all have a great day.

Jacob passed over last night, about 8 o'clock CST. Our Navy mom is finally letting go, and finding the words to comfort her is just so hard. Having a kid deployed in  a war zone and trying to be the support of this young woman fighting such a horrific battle, not to mention some health issues of her own with no health insurance.....I'm in awe of her. But last night, the tears came, the release that we all know has to happen and that moves us forward to the next day.

After...after she  had to write an email to her deployed son to tell him about losing Jake. Thank God they had the chance to talk...and that Jake's mom got to hear him tell that seabee "I love you, too..."  Thank you all for your support, my friend is very private about her son's service (at his request) and altho we were blessed to meet on N4M back when it first began, our friendship has grown so much, I feel very blessed. Her support when my son was in Iraq help keep me sane, and sometimes, when I post some silly thing, I know there are those that think I'm crazy, but this seabee's mom keeps the jokes and the laughter coming at us in all kinds of situations, and it saves the sanity of many of our moms facing some tough times. I know she does come read here, so for her I will tell you again, thank  you so much for your prayers, good thoughts and love of that little boy and his extended family. He's at rest, no more pain, and the grieving has begun. A little brother and sister have lost a big brother who was their idol and "protector". But Jake told a story of "petting the air", and how his dogs that had gone on to Rainbo Bridge were with him all the time, so we know he's being guided with love and devotion, and like us, he is never alone. Thank you.

TDM- so sorry to hear about Jake, but like you said, he's in a better place now free of pain.

Chief88- my son's unit have gotten their ballistic undergarments. He is with an EOD unit so they were probably among the first.

FRO sent out an email yesterday giving us a cut-off date for mail, must mean we're getting close, can't wait to leave this group!! LOL.

GraphicT81...Good girl!  It could have been something innocent, but it sure sounds like a chance for trouble.  It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Patrice...OMG!  You haven't even had a chance to recover, but what can you do?  He is an adult and this is the life he has chosen.  My heart goes out to you as you get ready to do it all over again.  At least this time you know the drill, but I bet it doesn't get better for you.  Just remember that someone is always here any time you want to vent.  Big "mom hugs" to you!

GraphicT81, notify your son's command, the Family Readiness Officer, or whoever is listed on the web site as the contact here in the USA.  They need to be aware, and they need to warn and caution other families in that unit.

Patrice, I do remember seeing that photo of my son's face that day, and the joy it brought. I'm so sorry that you are entering this new phase of hell yet one more time, but like MT said, it's what they chose to do, and all we can do is smile through those tears and get out the package stuff yet one more time. Remember to breathe, and that we're the moms of very special young people, and not every one gets to have a kid like ours...and on this board, you are never alone.

No deaths in Iraq in August....I'll take it. I hope September follows with the same.

Link to article

Yes TexasDocMom, lets keep it that way.

 I have seen my son on facebook but haven't heard his voice in a long time, that is my Airman, my sailor, I have no theard from in about 6 weeks or so. I at least know my Airman is ok.

Graphict81, we are all here for you. That is why I love these sites on here. You can come and vent and talk about what others do no understand. Yes, we are moms of some great men/women of your wonderful military. They are extra special. Good luck to your son and I wish him well. God will keep him safe and sound.

Just a reminder, since we have new people coming in all the time! This is not the group to share a whole lot of information that you receive from your son or daughter over seas, We talk in generalities here, no specifics. Please take a moment to look at the link above on Facebook Support For OPSEC, and understand that we follow those rules. We try to make sure there is no clear connection between who posts here and their child whereever they are serving. Yet again I am hearing about phone calls to military parents concerning their child and deployment from unknown sources. If you get one of those calls, please contact your FRO or your child's command. Do not give out any informatin, do not even confirm your child is deployed and certainly not with whom or where.

No details on arrivals/departures/time lines of any unit should be posted here, past or present. No information about specifics of where your child is doing his job, none.

"loose lips sink ships"...in a technical world, that changes how, but it doesn't change the motto...anyone looking to try to make a military family a victim of crime or fraud would come to a group like this first to find victims. We won't give them any!!

Chief, it does seem like that was a chatty FRO, but hopefully he was just trying to offer DDM some comfort.

All of this said, if you have something on your mind, and not comfortable talking about it here for OPSEC reasons, there are experienced moms here who will accept your personal message and might be able to offer you some thoughts. Still, remember....the things your corpsman/marine/soldier/seabee shares with his mom and dad are not necessarily thoughts or experiences that should be shared with others. Honor his/her privacy.

okay, off the OPSEC lecture box...hope  you're weekend is good, and in Texas...we're looking at a COOL front!! only in the 90's tomorrow and one guy says in the 50's at night! I wonder if my windows still open.

You're right, chief, I don't trust anything! so generally, a PM would be a good place to exchange email addresses...or send links concerning the topic, etc.

One of the first Navy moms I met online when my son enlisted is a greeter in another state...she tells great stories. She's on a private Navy mom's board, she is very concerned about OPSEC on this board, as well as facebook. But man! I love thinking of my son being greeted and sent off by those folks...he did go through Maine on his deployment.

DDM....Baby Doc! they'll change that I'm sure! I have to say that I thought all those same things about my son and his military career about 5 years ago. He was so enthusiastic, and he loved his job. Now he's gone blueside, he's somewhat disillusioned...and falling in love after avoiding any entanglements after he enlisted (as he witnessed so many young military guys go through what happened to your son) has made him think in terms of moving on with his life. I'm sure he'll leave the Navy when his enlistment is up. He's already in college at night and will finish his degree...he's working on a bright future! I hope that for all of your kids, getting past these deployments and moving on with their lives.

To all:  I plan to stay on this group for quite a while longer after my son leaves the Navy, but I am looking for a co-admin to suggest to the N4M administrators. Anyone interested, please message me. This will be a long term commitment, we need someone who knows to check this board with every post, who has time to respond, and who understands OPSEC and how important it is to follow it. AND who doesn't mind being a pain in the butt when it comes to enforcing it.  It doesn't matter if your child isn't currently deployed, in fact...that kind of helps to keep an even keel on the board...altho I have to say, as an admin, you are very aware and very touched by every single thing you read and discuss here.

Well, I won't be far from this group, I just want someone ready to take over the reins, if necessary.

Quite frankly, I think this young woman who my son is involved with has her eyes wide open. The difference is that she met my son as he served, not in high school or before he enlisted...she knew what the deal was. She gave me a book for Christmas last year...Forty One stories of Mothers with Deployed Children....and told me she had read some of them, and they tore at her heart. I looked her in the eyes and told her it was very, very  hard...she didn't flinch. I actually told my son he needed to give her a voice in his decision, because my mother, his grandmother, was a military wife for 25 years, and loved most of it...at least the times my dad was home! she loved the travel, the people they met...all of it. So, there are women who can do this, and they are in this young generation as well. They just need to have choice in the matter. And be mature enough to realize it will be hard.

I hear ya on the g-friend thing. I asked both of mine not to have girlfriend when they left for bootcamp and neither of them did. They still dont because it does take a special women to fill those shoes. I had friend that her son had girlfriend when he left for airforce bootcamp and they stuck out until he got stationed in Monatana. Well I should say he stuck it out. They dated in high school and then when she went out to see him one time he asked her to marry him. She accepted but he didn't know at that time she was cheating on him. He was devasted none the less. So when my one left for the Navy I asked him not to have a girlfriend he didn't need the drama and neither did I. Then when the other one left for the Airforce he didn't have one either. i was so happy for them. They both say they don't have time now either.

I talked, well sort of, to both of them today. One by email and one by skype. Well we tried to do skpe and it kept breaking up. He was doing laundry and was at the USO. I don't know if any of you can help me but were mine is in Iraq he said they won't have communication soon and he can only send letters and I won't be able to send him anything. This made me want to cry because his birthday is coming up and I want to send him stuff. I know the date so I will just have to get him some stuff before then. How long does it take for them to receive things? Sorry new at this thing.

Lots of learning goin on over there...be proud moms...and chief! get some sleep, girl!

Texas is on fire, all around, and lots withing 30 miles or so of my hometown of Austin...prayers from practiced moms and friends, please. People are losing their homes as we speak...thank you!

ruthella, I thought it was nice to hear about it too. I got it in an email.

DDM, great picture. Love it!!

Denise, truly an American story, thank you so much for sharing it, I met a woman here on N4M who married a Russian immigrant who is now serving in the US Army. My son talks very fondly of immigrants who lay their lives on the line for the USA without the benefit of citizenship.

I got a close up view of the fires in the Bastrop area today before dark...so bleak and strange...areas all black and moon like ...interspersed with untouched areas ....just how the fire went. On the way back after dark, you could still see tree trunks burning, and it was so, so smoky. I'm very proud of our communities responding to such tragedy, whole "stores" of donations, all sorted and available under tents in parking lots...even with "personal shoppers" also known as people who know where everything it...I hope they end soon, the tension of living surrounded by fire is  hard, I cannot imagine the pain of those who have lost everything. So much livestock and pets are being found, if they didn't get out. Denise, if I don't remember please remind me to post a photo for your son...

DDM, there was plenty of green that has been burning across Texas....it's the winds that make the difference. We have almost 20 people unaccounted for in just the Bastrop Fire. Please be safe...and prepared in case that evac notice comes knocking on  your door.

We're watching things closely here, and we have our emergency bags packed, and my big ol box of family history!

Your son is doing the job he trained to do, and you will hear all about it when he comes home!!

One more, this site is not working with me, I hope it's not huge. This is Bastrop "Lost Pines" nearby where my son went to Scout camp every year.

Marcy, we've had drought for months and months, so very dry...the first "cool"front blew in with extra winds from the Tropical Storm in Louisana (but not a drop of rain!) and low, low humidity. A spark from anything can start a blaze....even I heard of sun bouncing off glass and igniting dry grass. Lawnmowers, people too stupid to know NOT to grill outdoors in a Burn ban, smokers disposing of cigerettes improperly....they literally were popping up all over. 30 homes lost west of Austin, over 1450 lost in the Bastrop area, plus a good percentage of a beautiful state park, but they did save the old treasured buildings out there. Very sad, very hard on so many people.

Yes, the 9/11 families tore my heart. When they went into the Memorial for the first time to see the name of their loved one etched in bronze, and touched it, and kept touching it, standing there with their hands on it through the rest of the ceremonies, I cried. No graves at which to mourn for so many of these familie, this the first "closeness" they had felt since that day....

Ok I didn't know if someone being stupid had started it or not. You hear of that way too often. Such devastation and loss. I will pray for all who have lost their homes and animals and for you too that it does not affect your home. I can't imagine what you all are going thru down there and wish I could send some of this rain we are having to you. We actually were getting too much of it. Will try and blow it your way.

Wow DevilDocMom, that would be scary. I don't like storms like that at all. I hide under the covers with stuff like that. I remember we were camping one year and had a big storm. We were in the woods around a lot of huge trees and man i don't know if we have ever had a storm like that again. Hope all your storms are by you now.

I hear the Forestry Service is doing miracles out in Bastrop. So many tall pines, coming down, because a big storm like  that would cause a real mess on any homes going back up, weak trees, some not burnt on top but roots burning. Today on our local news was a man who had part of melted engine block! looked like lava...down his driveway. But the food in the fridge was still green and ready for the dinner he was fixing when he was evacuated.

Our legislature cut our Volunteer Fire Dept's funding by 75% this year, and our state is primarily Volunteer...and since Dec 2010 we've been in the biggest wildfire season in history. So very sad. The state finally got the paperwork to the federal government on Monday for FEMA to kick in funds, altho they have been here for days before that on the ground. I can't imagine working for FEMA, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires...geez.