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

Susan, I know you have to be terrified...gut wrenching fear...two deployed and the one son returning after a tough deployment. Up above in the links area is a link for a "secondary PTSD resource" . Check it out for YOU. We can't change the actions of others, but we can have some sort of control over our responses, or offer some choices to them and other loved ones to help all deal with it and hopefully, move forward in life. Do it for YOU. I'm a firm believer in learning from those with experience in matters that I don't have, and in letting the pros do what they do. Deb has set up a Transition's group, not too many in it, but we can set it to "private" if you need someplace private and secure to talk.... 

Just know that whatever stage your sailor/soldier/marine/air man is in, you are not alone....our support doesn't stop when those kids are boots down USA. We're all still feeling our way with having these young war vets in our lives.

Link to article about Buddy System for PTSD

Helping each other in the tough times. I know it's what my friend Travis, a VN vet, says to every young vet he meets, whereever he meets them...airports, bars, on the street..."call somebody, here's my number, if you don't have anyone else to call, call me. but call somebody and talk...".

Congratulations DDM!

It'll be my turn soon!

Thank you Chief88.  I thought maybe just new ones like me didn't so much like the word deployment.  I know that when they sign up that is what they expect to do but it still doesn't make it easier.  It's just something we know is there and we hope we don't have to do but know we will go through.  Thank you.  I will stay close to you moms.  I feel like huddling in. 

Whooo!!!Hooo!!phone call from the FMF Doc...who is almost boots down USA....life is good!

Welcome, ktssong, to the group no one wants to join...but once you do, it's addicting...and you keep coming back to offer support even when your kid is safe and sound in the USA...

Make a list of topics, keep it by the phone, then you have something to focus on instead of bursting into tears when you hear his voice. Answer every weird number that appears on your phone, keep your phone with you all the time.

If you garden, start digging, mowing and working so hard you can't stay awake...or hit the gym, or paint bedrooms....walk the dog...every day, sometimes twice...and put a litte youtube up of it so your son can see his dog...Go ahead and send for the boxes from the post office, and keep one open  on the dining room table all the time....

and remember that there is always someone home at this group...you are not alone, you will not cry alone, or laugh alone or go out of your freakin' mind alone, because many of us are already there....

next? someone will explain that wonder of the world known as Walmart meltdowns....

It's not forever, it just seems like it...truly, you are not alone.

Happy for you Devil Doc Mom to see happy moments on here too.  Thank you for sharing.  Since I'm new I don't know how long he was gone.  How long was it?  Did you get to talk to him while he was gone?  THey look so happy.  What a great picture to open up and see tonight.  I'm sure you are in cloud nine today.  I know I would be.

There's a discussion under the discussion area on Care Boxes...also always check with the Molly Adopt A Sailor group, both here on N4M and google their web site on the web. I can't believe Molly started that group when we all came to N4M the first few weeks and now..LOOK at it!! Adopting whole combat hosptials!!

I always say Fox Sox...and they'll ship for free to the deployed....there's another good socks company as well, but I think they are even more expensive than Fox. Soft good socks...but also buy lots of cheap white ones that can be thrown away as well.

Here is a picture sent from my son  about a week ago, He is a Seabee. I couldn't help laugh when I seen the little one in the back ground, he didn't quite get the peace sign right!!! Marshall  has been over there for about 4 months . This week was there over the hump party! This is his second tour, pretty good for not even 21 yet! Christmas  goodies should be sent by the 25th of Nov. for the East coast according to our Post Master!! Love all the pictures and the support that this Navy for Moms brings!! God Bless you!!!

Under Armour is what the kids here wear for outdoors, hot or cold....it's great stuff.

Ladies please remember OSPEC about naming names, dates or places, departure dates, arrival dates, count downs...thank you!

docs mom, reading up on that unit...my son would LOVE deploying with those guys...he trusts the Marines so much more than any other branch of the military. He'll be in good hands, they will take good care of him and he of them...He's going to have some great stories for you!

It's all scary to us...but to them it's their jobs, and he'll be fired up to do this one, I bet. We ain't goin nowhere...we'll get you through this.

I am personally very thankful that as of the end of this year, we have one less war zone in our lives.

Wonder if baking soda would help those unable to bathe. At the beach, we used baby powder to stop the itching in body folds...my son said his personal record for no bath was 36 days. ugh. 

I'll be seeing my son tomorrow Cathy, If you don't have an answer that helps by then let me know. He transferred from Lajuene to SA and I know they procedures in place altho my son didn't need them at the time.

Brag....my son closed on his first new home yesterday! funniest comment? "I'm getting window treatments at Lowe's...military discount there..." ( the home association requires window treatments...or he could care less ) finally, last night I heard that he's handed that off to his sweetie...thank goodness!

Jeanette, I've been trying to find news on TV about this, and othere than a small bit on CNN, I've seen nothing. Just makes me furious....so what if these particular warriors are not Seals, they are our children laying their lives on the line just like those Seals we lost in that horrible helicopter tragedy and this should be getting full coverage. I can't imagine the pain of those families, but I do know the fear of waiting to hear if it's my child's name on that list when something horrible like this goes down in war zones.

I'm hoping there will be a flurry of calls home to each of you waiting for them, many times the COs make that order...call home!

Susan, over the  years here on N4M, I've known many women who have had multiple kids in the service, different branches and several women have become close friends. They have many deployments under their belts, with more than one kid in the sand at any one time. It does not get easier for them, I'm sorry to tell you, but they pull strength from deep inside them and keep that voice even and calm for those phone calls, and came here to share their pain. It's all we can do for you, Susan, but we're here to do it.

 I cannot imagine the stress level, and I hope you work hard to keep yourself healthy. See your doctor, get that blood pressure checked and try to rest and eat healthy foods, do the things you need to do to keep yourself on even keel as much as possible. Do not be reluctant to ask for aides for sleeping or stress. I had them, never used them, but I only had ONE kid there at one time!!

 I think I would glue my phone to my hand, but that's just me.

I'm so sorry to hear the pain in your words, and just remember, you are not alone. We'll be right here with you and Inga and all of those fighting this battle.

My Doc is home! Everyone keeps asking me if he'll have to go back and all I can say is I don't know.

chief! cry...don't hold back, get it out.....it's how you will sleep tonight. You've been the good mom for so many months, doing the things that you're supposed to do...and you know what? crying is one of them....just wait until you see his face, even if it's on the computer screen when another mom takes the photo of him at homecoming. It won't matter if you've heard his voice, know he's safe in the USA, when you see that face and his smile, it will start a crying jag like never has been seen before. I will never forget it, that morning at 6am when I opened an email from a mom who had snapped a photo of my son....I cried, and cried, and cried...even when he called that day, I couldn't stop crying. Even when he kept saying "I'm okay, mom, I'm okay, really....I'm okay..." all I could do was sob. I kept saying I was sorry to keep crying and he said "you're my mom, you love me."....it's okay to cry, chief, I'm doing right now with you because I know your fears and dreams and how they all come together in just a very short time.

You are not alone.

Hi.  I am new to not only the group, but to this website.  This is my son's first deployment to Afghanistan and unfortunately I am not handling it very well.  He is on his way to a very volatile area at a combat outpost.  He is an FMF Corpsman and will be with only a handful of Marines.  So scary.  Just wanted to chat with some others who may be having the same feelings.

Okay, I should drink coffee before sitting at the computer...DJones, just wrote you a note over in Corpsman Moms inviting you to come here....I'm so glad you found us!!

Yes, it seems they don't send our Marines and Corpsmen to the easy spots...and you can bet those Army moms think the same thing! A war zone is a war zone...and fear is fear....

While we sit here biting our nails, those guys are doing their jobs, always busy, time is moving faster for them than for us...and all that training is paying off....

Welcome to the group no one wants to join, DJones, someone is always home. You are not alone. 

Thank you TexasDocMom and docsmom.  Nice to know someone else knows the feelings I have.  I guess being a former Corpsman and having a husband who's been in Iraq at the peak of fighting and coming home with major issues, i worry more than normal.  I just want him home safe and without injury as I am sure all of you do.  Wow....3rd deployment?  It's been 2 for my son and I have more gray hairs then ever before.  Sure is stressful.  I know those Marines will take good care of him.  Unfortunately they also deployed him still having pneumonia.  I worry he'll become sick again in the middle of nowhere.  He was home on pre deployment leave and spent all of it in the ER and doctors office.  It was viral pneumonia and meningitis.  He was so ill.  He got home and within 3 weeks was gone.  Thank you both for the support.  I certainly do need it for this deployment.

lynda n...well my son's been gone 3 weeks and already I've sent 4 boxes.  Unfortunately where he is at the moment he cannot get his mail and said probably won't for a month.  that's really a shame as those guys count on it for morale support.  Where he is going next he may get it once a week he said.  He's not sure.  At the moment he has cold water once a day to shower and forgot his towel and is using his sweat pants to dry off.  I told him I would send a towel, but won't do him good for weeks.  I thought of home baked goods, but have to wait until he is at his final destination.  Thank you for the support.  Much needed.

Thank you Susan.  Knowing I am not alone is a comfort.  Bless your heart.  I know the holidays can get lonely and a bit depressing when you know where they are and what they are doing.  I think I've sent a box a week so far and enough to give to all the Marines.  I am writing some companies also and asking for donations.  I know the USO is so good at the holidays for sending out items.  My son told me not to send anything that resembles Christmas as they do not want to offend the Afghans they are with.  He was told that by his commander.  Sounds ridiculous.  I wanted to send him a stocking and a 12 inch decorated tree plus goodies to all the Marines, but he said absolutely not.  I can't imagine them not having anything that resembles the holidays.

Seven brothers at war  Read this to feel pretty darn lucky that we live in this day and age, and do not have 7 kids serving in the military...of two separate countries fighting one another! Their poor mom and dad....

Hey, I have a dumb question.  My son is a corpsman recently deployed to that sandy place you-know-where.  The address he gave us has "FPO ______" but on the Marine corps website (the unit he's with) it has "FPO AP _____."  I put the AP on it because that seemed more official (being on the web site) and also confirmed this with the family resource person.  I think (from my Army brat childhood) that FPO is fleet post office.  Anyone know what the AP is?  Why it needs to be there?  My son hasn't gotten his first letter or package from us, so I'm hoping that's just because these things take time....  any ideas?

No dumb questions from worried moms....and an Afhgan mom will be on to answer it. My son was in Iraq. But I do know that depending where they are (and most Marine units are deep in) mail and packages take a lot of time.

I would be like you, going with the website and the FRO....don't worry, he'll get them!!

FPO means "Fleet Post Office" and is used by U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard (U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force use the APO, or "Army Post Office", addresses).  There are three quasi-state codes associated with APO/FPO addresses:

• AE (Armed Forces in Europe, Canada, Middle East, and Africa) are allocated ZIP codes 09XXX
• AP (Armed Forces in Asia Pacific) are allocated ZIP codes 96XXX
• AA (Armed Forces in the Americas, except Canada) are allocated ZIP codes 34XXX