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

Does anyone know when the Corpsman come home, will they be taking a few days off or do they have to wait a certain amount of time before they are allowed leave?  I have to travel to CA from DC when my son comes home in May, but not sure if he'll be able to get a few days off right away or has to wait.

I'm afraid if I spend the money to go for the homecoming, I won't be able to go out when he gets his leave.  He doesn't want to fly anywhere, just relax and spend time in the southern cal area.  It is killing me thinking I may not be able to go for the homecoming.  Just so far away to go for a few days and not spend it with him.  I assume he would get several weeks after a bit.  I want so much to be there for his homecoming also.

My son came home in November, stayed at Lajuene and came home for the holidays. I can't remember which one, I just remember using the "clean cycle" on my oven and the stove shutting down before I was starting to cook! and my comments to the help desk when they told me it was out of warranty which I won't repeat here because some of you might still think I'm a lady. Long story short, they "offered" me a free service call and the part for free as well to make it work so I could start cooking. Grrr.  I think my son said some left as soon as they could, the ones with young kids in their families and he waited to come home later.

Chief is the beef jerky expert!! she'll give you all info..but I think she makes hers....Do they have an electric skillet? slow cooker? anything like that? send velveeta cheese, rotel tomatoes in a can, and some kind of chips...maybe pringles in a can?

Denise!! so glad that "the hug" is in your future so soon!! and now...we have another experienced mom to help with those new to this stuff....hug that "Hero" of yours for all the moms on this board, please.

Chief!! I'm going to try to copy/paste your post over to the discussions area, it contains a world of important information!! thank you!!!!

Hi,

My son just arrived in Afghanistan. 

Thanks for all of your comments. I am reading them to learn more about what to send him.

Hello, Barbara C! and welcome to the group no one wants to join, but you'll find plenty of moms and a few dads that stick around after their sailors/marines/soldiers/airmen are all home safe and sound to pay it forward by giving you the support you will need. Please post as you feel like it, do not hold back, we are here, you are not alone...we'll share your worries and fears, and your laughter, tears, your meltdowns and joyous reunions. Let us know how we can help you...

Prayers and positive thoughts that each of you hear from that kid today....

HI everyone, my son just took a GSA to Afghanistan....hasn't even left his ship yet, (on deployment right now in 5th fleet) and come in on Feb 27th to San Diego, come home for a bit, back on ship to school then leaves for Afghanistan the week of my birthday in August.  I know it's early, but I thought I'd join now to meet everyone and see what to expect.  I'm a little worried.  He is an "IT".  He's said he wanted to go to help his career and he loved being on the VBSS team on his ship which helped fee the Iranian hostages in the news recently....I'm not sure what to expect!

Welcome! vansmom! I'd just ask you to be non specific about times, dates of arrivals/departures, past or present, and your son's rank and job and name. We do follow OPSEC as well as watch out for those that would troll these support web sites for potential victims using the information found here about us or our kids for illegal purposes.

I had a friend with that same job who deployed a while back, he said he was bored to tears most of the time...and ended up coming home on a medical thing because he over exerted himself in the weight room and got a pneumothorax...now out on a medical discharge! I always think that bored on deployment is a good thing.

Ktssong...those sccks are not just for cold weather, my son was in Iraq from the spring to the fall....they are for anytime they are not walking in actual water/rivers etc....

Happy Valentines to you...and all of you who are getting messages and phone calls, I'm so happy for you!!

Please do not be specific in this group about where and with whom your sailor/soldier/marine serves. I understand it's on facebook, but this is NavyForMoms and we follow OPSEC. As members of this group we have no connection with facebook and we do not want ANYONE to be able to connect a family here at home and a sailor/soldier/marine deployed on foreign soil together...for whatever purposes. Please use Personal message or private email to share those things.

The administrators of this site will come to delete posts with too much information in them. Thanks.

(yes, that's my job, being the bitch...and I take it very seriously. No one is finding out anything about any of you or your kids in this group Loose lips sink ships..)

TexasDocMom...I deleted my comment in case there was something in it that was not following rules....so, back to the socks...even though it said cold weather and are thick, they will use them in hot weather too?  That's awesome. 

I'm finally feeling better and not so sick.  I think the communications have helped my stress level calm down.  It really is theraputic to pick up things to ship them and box them up and ship them out.  I feel like it can brighten his day.  I've learned so much from the moms on here and all the suggestions of what to send have been right on target.  He has been so happy to get the boxes.  I feel like this is why NavyforMoms is so important.  They need our support and we help each other do that and help each other hold it together so we can be strong Navy Moms.  Happy Valentines Day Moms!

Ktssong...do not take anything personally, if it was you, I can't remember now,...I just have to make the Public Service Announcement when we get new folks here, it's critical that those jerks who prey on worried moms and dads do not connect up with any one in our group.

Malamama...your son is maturing leaps and bounds right now, it's now all the training pays off, watching, learning, feeling but doing the job....bless his heart. Just bless his heart. All of them....and all of yours as well.

I understand what you mean. I worry about my son who says he will be perfectly safe over there. Tears are close to the surface and may appear at anytime. Today a veteran noticed my service flag necklace and asked about my son. He told me to wear it with pride. When he left my eyes were full of tears.

When my son caught the plane to go back to Lajuene to leave for Iraq..first of all, his dad just lost it, bless him...so he went to the car and when I turned to my son, with no tears flowing, his eyes were twinkling at me...and he said "I love you, mom. I'm coming home.Got it? I'm coming home" and I said yes. And I got in the van and drove around the corner and broke down....but I remembered those words when I was awake all night long. "I'm coming home.". You remember them, too. You do not know any different. Your kids are well trained, in the best shape of their lives,part of a team that cannot be beat....and they are professionals. That kid that used to whine, cry about not getting his way, pitch a hissy fit when he was a teenager....he's not in Afghanistan, this is a full grown man...this man is a pro doing a pro's job. And those commanders are determined to bring them all home safely

Get busy...paint a bedroom, plan your garden, hit the gym, call a neighbor who needs some help, walk the dog....take care of yourselves....be a strong voice when that phone rings, keep that list by the phone so you have topics to talk about, keep the sports page handy so you can give him the latest scores, make him remember home when he calls. Send letters, not just packages. Letters get there sooner, put photos of the dog in them. "They might say they miss their girlfriends, their moms, their wives...we miss our DOGS!!"...from my son as well. Take care of you. Do not let secondary PTS be part of your life...and keep praying. Much love to you ladies....just remember, as a Marine once told me...an FMF corpsman is the toughest mofo around....and you raised one...you can do this. (and if you're kid isn't a corpmen, just fill in the blank...)

You are not alone..

Once again, you are right on!  I found a picture of my baby boy taken over there ...that MAN is not the little boy who wore footie pjs  and a size 2 He-Man bathrobe.  Nor is he the little boy with 4 older sisters, who wore pink blanket sleepers when at home.  He is obviously on the job getting things done.  As you say, he is a professional! 

[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/hs8js0.jpg[/IMG]

I just want to add that he came home with a lot of maturity...but his sense of humor is still there...and I still can see that naughty little grin he would get when caught raiding the cookie jar.  Problems CAN happen, but deal with them then...there is no sense in going though the feelings and worry ahead of time.

MT....look at you!! look at YOU!! I remember your fear at the beginning and us telling you that you'd be back paying it forward with other new moms some day, and look at you!! Thank you for your words and for that photo!! That strong young man with that endless sand behind him, that sure says it all....

MalaMama ( can we call you MM??), glad to hear your son is excited and focused, that's a great thing to hear in his voice. He may have some down days on his calls, but great that now he's seeing it as learning, and adventure,. that saves their sanity I think...that youth!  and the looking forward they do....

Geez, Inga....you and V and D and A and so many others literally held me together during my son's deployment....and now here you are in this group. Ladies, even tho Inga was not active in this group, over the years she has given tons of good advice and words to share here to me. Her daughter was an instructor at the Corps school in Great Lakes and a wonderful source of info for all of us with corpsmen. And without  more, I'm just going to say that her daughter is a hell of a woman doing a hard job 12 hours a day 7 days a week with no down time.  Prayers, the good thought, positive energy to her and her team...and to all of those serving across this world.

So today I slept late (never start a jig saw puzzle at 11 pm)....and saying my mornig prayers, I got to the "please watch over and protect all our military serving around this world and be with those who love and miss them today ...." part  instead I said "please watch over and protect all our moms serving around this world"  somehow, I think that's more accurate....

Do something for yourself today....

Let him talk...just wish it wasn't in a chat, but on the phone...

and MM, you are not "a bug"!!

I'm a little down today.  I had gotten an email telling us to send packages to a different address than we were given and so I did.  I sent his guitar.  Then today when I went to send another package the post office told me that the address was a ship.  So I came home and emailed the place that sent me the address and they said send to the first one.  Which I will but I'm really worried that guitar.  The one thing he asked for...may not get to him.  It put my emotions on a crying spree.  Most changes I've taken pretty well and just go with the flow but when it caused me to make a huge mistake with something he wanted I'm just kinda down tonight.  I don't even want to tell him he might not get it.  Of course we both knew it was a risk we were willing to take but sad because up until now he had gotten everything I sent right away.  I wish I had been slow to follow.  So my original address they gave us was an APO address and then they told us to send it to this FPO address.  Does FPO mean a ship?  I can't quit worrying about this. 

My son's deployment addresses have always been a FPO. It stands for Fleet Post Office but it means the navy people on bases all around the world as well as those on ships. My son just sent me the FPO address also.

Inga...I know your daughter is very busy, but she isn't dealing with just war injuries.  Remember...these guys are showing up on her doorstep with everything from a sore throat to athletes foot.  Plus, being a bit older and experienced, she probably has many administrative duties.  Her busyness doesn't mean heavy action. Hellish weather???  My son said it was 10 degrees hotter than hell.  When he got there (beginning of April) they had no coolers, refrigerators, or anything, and he said that the bottled water kept in the shade could actually brew tea.  Luckily, he found an army group with an extra cooler they weren't using, and he did some wheeling and dealing.

MM...My son was not a talker (I had to read between the lines) so I can't tell you how to deal with it...except to let him talk.  When the newness wears off, you may need your list, so keep it updated and handy.  I am STILL finding out things about what it was like...I hadn't a clue when he was actually there.  (I also didn't have a clue about where he was and what he was doing.  I THOUGHT I knew, but they were moved around all the time.)

ktssong...You did your best...try not to worry.  MOST of them get their mail sooner or later...you just hear the horror stories.  My son got everything (usually within a week) except for one care package sent after he had left.  He said that will be shared by the group that replaced him, so no harm was done.  The only thing about the address is that it might take a bit longer to reach him.  Then again, he may have been moved to some other place and it will be better.  (APO means Army or Air force post office...there is probably one in his area that is faster or more convenient for him.) 

TDM...I would like to reinforce all you say about OPSEC.  My son is a bit of a rebel and has no use for "silly" rules, but whenever I mention my vagueness on this site or your reminders, he is 100% behind them.  He also has a problem with the stuff that gets posted on Facebook...According to him, TOO MUCH stuff is being shared.  So...Please keep reminding us to be general...it is easy to get caught up in what we are saying and we forget.

hello, I am also having trouble with this first deployment for my daughter, last night she tried to skype me but I couldn't figure out to even sign in let alone skype.  I come from a very small community made up of mostly elderly people and I am 10 miles away from a town so having some one help me is almost impossible.  She was trying to help me through facebook but I just couldn't get the hang of it.  I feel like my whole world has been turned upside down since this whole journey has started.  I know she is doing what she wanted and I will support her anyway that I can but it doesn't take the worry away any.  I am confuse on what I can send and what I can't in these packages any help would be appreciated.  Have a Great Weekend.

Cancer the Crab...Woohoo!  I thrilled he home but please keep checking in...we need voices of experience! 

Mama Bear...Do you have some instant message service such as Yahoo or one of the others?  If you do, a Mom who uses Skype could talk you through all the steps, no matter where she is located.  My son did not use the Internet when he was over there, but I have heard from others that it can be even worse than the phone service.  Hang in there...someone will help you, I'm sure.

I don't know the Iphone question, when my son deployed to Iraq, no functioning cell phones were allowed...now with the smart phones, I have no idea.

On getting nervous...breathe. He's here in the USA and he's fine....you will have plenty of  opportunity to let fear take over, don't do it now...read back over the posts, the experiences of some of the other moms....and come back often, we'll be here!

I am so nervous now that all these protests are going on.  This is so scary and I am sick with worry about my son.  He is mostly with the ANA.  Our leaders need to just get them out now.

I wish I could offer some words of brillant wisdom or comfort for you, DJones, right now...I can't. This is horrific, and I'm betting our leaders are right there with us with both of your thoughts...beyond nervous and wanting to get them out right now.

Please remember to take care of you, so when your son calls he hears the voice of the mom he knows, not the one that these kids create when they enlist and deploy....exercise, write, scream, cry, whatever it takes to calm you. I say this to all of you right now...if you are not sleeping, please call your doctor and ask for help. Don't be the heroine tor our heros...get some rest.

DJ, you are not alone, especially these days with all the uproar.

DJ...The only "comfort" I can offer is to tell you that every other mother is just as scared.  It doesn't matter where you think your kid is or what job he or she is doing.  The whole country is volatile!  Just keep in mind that they are trained for this and they know how to keep their heads down.  Cyber-hugs and prayers for all of you and your kids.

The crash was in Yuma on a training mission, not in Afghanistan. I haven't found a lot about it but I'm sure it will be on the evening news.

I'm thankful the President made a public apology for the burning of the Korans, it was the right thing to do. I've read "NATO" troops and I've read "Army", so I'm not sure which nation's troops are actually responsible, but whatever can be said diplomatically to quench the revenge seekers needs to be done immediately.

Yuma Marine Tragedy

So terrible, prayers for the families. My son was assigned here from Lajuene after he was transferred out of the 2/2. Where they train is very isolated.

It worry's me so much...one of the attacks was outside the camp of my son's roomate who is part of his unit.  My son says he is ok, but very very upset about all of this.  

Hello all.  I haven't been on here too much lately, but I have been making my way back through some of the postings.  We need one of those display boards like at the airports (security level orange) or in our forests up here in Northern CA (fire danger level red today).  We could have stress readings, level _____.

One thing that has been helping me deal with missing our son is the way I am writing now.  I start a letter before bed, and just write about my day.  Any little thing, even something as boring as missing my cut-off on the highway and having to turn around, phone call from a neighbor, new recipe ("can't wait to make it for you now"), and I add more the second and third night.  Its almost therapeutic.  Then, in the morning I read the whole thing through (which sometimes doesn't take long at all...) and begin my second letter by following up on something I said in the previous one.  I seal the earlier one, and leave the new one on my bedside table for that night's update.  When I take my daily hike, I go past the post office, and walk inside and hand it to one of the clerks.  If I have to wait in line.... so be it.  It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to know that I put it into the hands of a postal employee.  Then I try really hard NOT to think about how long it will be before my son reads it!!!

Something else I did not too long ago that was a big hit ~ I bought two soccer balls and a football, deflated them, and put them in a flat rate box.  I bought a hand pump and an extra set of needles (nothing worse than a ball and a pump but no needle), and mailed them off.  Very much fun for the off-duty guys!

Just checking in this week.  My shingles have calmed down but some depression set in and since I had a physical this past week and everything else was fine, he gave me a little pill to help when I need it.  So I took it immediately and I am greatly improved.  I also have stepped down from some extra curricular activities that were high responsiblity and kept the exercise class in my weekly routine.  I'm determined to stay healthy through this.  I did have a miracle today.  I said a prayer that it would be great to hear my son's voice and within two hours I had a call that said "Mom..."  I was so happy to hear him.  I ran to a quiet place at our office and spent 10 minutes that had me walking with my head in the clouds rest of day.  After the call ended I had hoped it was as wonderful for him to hear me too.  I thought, did I say the right things, did I waste ten minutes...oh well, I said what was in my heart and it was alot of I love you and so glad to hear your voice.

So are all our troops in danger right now over the Quran burnings?  I know how important that is to their religious beliefs so I'm very concerned for all.  I haven't listened to the news because I haven't been awake too late.  Trying to rest.  I need to get up to speed and Have any of your sons mentioned anything about it?  I feel like I don't say anything because don't want him to fear and I feel like he doesn't mention it because he doesn't want me to fear.  It's like we both know but have resolved to keep it on the care for each other level and tell stories about our day. 

ktssong...thank you for sharing your phone call with us! so good to have some positive news on here this morning when I saw the notification!  I think you did just perfect on that phone call...your son sounds like mine, he wanted to hear your voice and those words of love. My son would say "we'll talk about it when I get home"....and he did. He didn't want to say much over the phone, and he did not want to say anything to me to make me worry more (like that could happen).

Also glad to hear the shingles are improving. I hope you don't have any on going pain from this episode. I had some pain in the gall bladder area, which flared up occasionally for a few months. Sounds like you are doing the things you need to do for you to keep healthy and thinking as positive as possible. Thank you for sharing how it's working for you.

Eurekamom, that ball package was a stroke of genius! I'm sharing that one!! Maybe we should stick that up in the care packages discussion. I found writing a great release, still do...as you can all tell from my babbling on here....and your son gets the benefit! They say letters get there faster than packages, too.

DJ, keep us updated on how your son is doing, we are all so worried about the upheaval from that burning...extra prayers and positive energy headed towards our folks in Afghanistan. I'm thankful that our President is doing the right diplomatic things that will hopefully make the Afghan government work harder to stop the demonstrations and actions toward the foreign troops there.

I agree an apology was needed, but it really is time to come home.  I am sick to death with worry as the protesting is escalating and my son travelled to another base and now has to drive back on one of the most dangerous roads there.  I think this really should be a wake up call to pull out.  I hate having our troops so much at risk right now.  It is not worth it.  Karzai should have publicly apologized for the killing of two Americans.  Where is it?  I'm sorry, but I don't think I have ever been this angry or worried.  

Futtlebutt group

Inga and a couple of other moms and I have another group here on N4M. I will warn you that you might not agree with our politics, but if we want to discuss this uprising in A, it might be better done there, so we can post news articles and  express opinions. I've posted one thing about this there, I don't want to flood this group with articles, because I do know sometimes it helped me to avoid the news in tough days.

All are welcome. Just remember that there are women right in this group that do not agree with one another politically but come here with the same goal of supporting one another and remain apolitical here.

Oh, hell, yeah! that's just down the road!! How cool is that?

docsmom, do you mean Georgetown, MD or Texas.  I am assuming Texas, but just wanted to know as I live 5 miles from Georgetown, MD.

Susan!!!!!!! whowhoooo!! congrats, Mom....half the worry is better than double the worry...at least for today! hope you hear from your Marine soon.....

Susan I'm very happy for you too that your son is back.  I can't imagine having two over there.  I already feel like with one, that I may as well be there because all my thoughts and dreams seem to be there.  I am glad to hear that for you.  Congratulations.

Well, I checked in because I think here is the one place everyone can understand how exhausting deployment is.  I really went into this being very optimistic and had a great plan to be a strong support system to my son.  Key word "strong".   Since he left one month ago this week I have had shingles for three weeks and now I've caught strep throat.  I really feel positive in my mind but my body is not getting the message.  I still send boxes to him and feel like a good support system but I wouldn't necessarily call me "strong" compared to what I expected of myself.  Please tell me that this is common and that strength comes with time.  That's what I'm telling me. 

I'm still checking in here every couple days and reading comments.  I'd say this is probably the best therapy for a mom that I could ask for.  Also prayer and exercising.  But my body has made it impossible to exercise and impossible for me to be around people due to being contagious.  I feel bad for the people I work with.  They've been subjected to everything I have before we know I had it.  They are being really good about it except for Friday at work when the strep and cough started they said....get out of here.  I have to laugh about the fact that my plan to be around people to stay positive has blown up and I'm isolated alot.  Oh well that's why I wanted to get on here and say "it's me again"...glad you are all here.  Hope everyone else is healthy.  PS...Pray I keep finding the humor in this.

ktssong, last year with shingles, I went from shingles to the worst cold (and the first I had had in years!) I think this falls into the "if you are emotionally happy, you will be physically well" catagory. And everytime I started to exercise again, the shingles pain would resurface....finally getting better and the saticia kicked in. But I'm determined to get healthy all over and drop this 15 lbs that have happened since the shingles episode.

We are here for you! and yes deployment will wear and wear on you....and the  beauty is that your son is not here to see your health but he can hear your voice and you can be the support you want to be. Keep the humor in your soul, and it will help...and yep, we're right here! are you on facebook? it's a great way to interact with people when you can't get out and about!

Maria, welcome to the group no one wants to join...we're here whenever you need us....only Doc for 32..wow!

Drop by anytime! you are not alone...someone else will be by shortly, I'm sure! we manage to stay on top of this group pretty well....take care of you!

Found a series of these on youtube...

Cleaning out the office, found my son's "singles Deployment guide..." when your son/daughter is deploying they all get one of these, and it answers a bunch of questions...now mine is 3 years old, so I'll keep it but the info may not be up to date. When your child starts talking deployment, ask to see this guide.

WH tribute to Iraq Veterans

“To all who fought in Iraq, we thank you for your service,” he said. “You’ve earned our nation’s everlasting gratitude. We are indebted to you for your willingness to fight [and] your willingness to sacrifice for your country.

“We are [also] indebted to your families and your loved ones for the sacrifices that they made so that their loved ones could help defend this nation,” Panetta said.

“As your commander in chief, I could not be more proud of you,” Obama said. “As an American, as a husband and father of two daughters, I could not be more grateful for your example [of] the kind of country we can be, [and] for what we can achieve when we stick together.”

Obama paid tribute to “courageous” troops who served despite the likelihood of being sent into harm’s way and to fallen service members and their families.

“You taught us about sacrifice -- a love of country so deep, so profound, you’re willing to give your life for it,” he said. “Tonight, we pay solemn tribute to all who did.”

Obama recalled five service members who were the first casualties of the Iraq War, and the last U.S. casualty there, who was killed Nov. 14.

“Separated by nearly nine years, they are bound for all time among the nearly 4,500 American patriots who gave all that they had to give,” the president said. “To their families, including the Gold Star families here tonight, know that we will never forget their sacrifice, and that your loved ones live on in the soul of our nation, now and forever.”

Article on the 1/6...

what is the sand box and how do you keep strong and stop the constant fear in your mind, my daughter fail to tell let alone to show any guide to me before she deployed on her 1st deployment.  also I read somewhere on this site that there is a list of what you can and can not send in your care packages to your loved one.  But now I can't find it, Do any of you know the answers to my questions?

what is the sand box and how do you keep strong and stop the constant fear in your mind, my daughter fail to tell let alone to show any guide to me before she deployed on her 1st deployment.  also I read somewhere on this site that there is a list of what you can and can not send in your care packages to your loved one.  But now I can't find it, Do any of you know the answers to my questions?

Mama bear, the "sand box " is Afghanistan. It used to mean Iraq, but now with this one active war zone, it's Afghanistan. If you look above this posting box, you'll see a list of discussions where one of the discussions is about packages. Above the Discussions section is a list of links to various subjects, including some groups at the bottom that send a lot of packages and will have some ideas for you.

Some of those deploying just do not give us the information we need, do they? they think they are protecting us, but we are moms and we want to know!

I know it's frightening, please come here often, so you can remember that you are not alone.

MalaMama...WOW!  When did that crazy kid become a wise man???  LOL  I'm so glad you are hearing from him and learning how to relax.  You are right...the worry doesn't go away but it is nice to be able to put it on the back burner for a while.  Actually, my worse time after the first "plunging heart" and "rocks in the stomach" episode when he left, was when my son was getting ready to come home.  The shorter the time got, the more I got worked up that something BAD was going to happen.  Of course, it didn't, but I was a basket case by the time I came on here and told everyone how "crazy" I was.  Since then, I've heard others say the same thing...so it may not happen to you, but if it does, don't be surprised.