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

LOL....!!!! I'm not sure what he wants those sheets to do. He never used them at home!!!!  Do they at least get them "somewhat" clean through a wash???

It's the water, I assume. It's nasty. That trunk my son sent home smelled like dirty laundry that had been sitting for weeks. The dog loved it...me , not so much. I washed those clothes about 3 times and hung them on the line in the sun each time, before the smell seemed clean to me. 

Ahhhhh....The Water.......I Hear You!! YUK....And I know  'Purex Products" are not a strong detergent at all. Wonder what your dog smelled on it????? Uhhh, never mind, we probably don't want to know!!!  Is it that the Sheets are very compact & that's what they use over there?

Maybe they use them as a room deodorizer or stick them in their boots and shoes. :)

Mine want the lil detergent ball thingys. says they hide them in their dirty laundry hope the person on laundry detail wont see them and hopefully will make their laundry smell better. :)

Well, I sent the "Purex Product Sheets" anyways, (along with some other goodies). That's what he wanted & I'll send him "Anything" he wants,(even though I know that's not a product I would use)! It's like pulling teeth to get him to request anything. I was so excited when he actually 'requested' something. ;))

The only things my son made a special request for...salsa (no Pace), some seasonings, and dart repair stuff. He said the dart boards were in terrible shape whereever they went, so I sent all kinds of dart stuff and a couple of sets of new darts. He told me that "packages come every day, and we just dump them on the floor and take what we want and toss the rest."....I don't know if packages are flowing like that to Afghanistan from churches, etc. I doubt they do that with packages from HOME. 

Texas Doc, I believe they are flowing from churches & other groups over there. Our BSMA rec'd pics & letters of appreciation & gratitude during the holidays of packages we had sent over there. Plus, my M-in-L signed him up at her church to receive care packages over there. Not sure if he ever rec'd anything from them. He didn't want "Me" to give out his name as a recipient, but his "Nanny" made sure he was!! She's "90" and nobody tells her what she can or can't do!!!!  Any time I sent him out a package, it's pretty much a guess on my part. Even if it's just "1" item that puts a smile on his face for that day, it's well worth it! I just tell him to share & give away to the others what he doesn't need or want in my package. I always send a couple of beef jerky packages no matter what with every package! (hah, that's not a guess,that's a for sure item).

PS..... It sure feel "Great" being back on this site listening & reading every ones posts. The Holidays kept us busy with visiting our daughters family in NJ, with our 2 grandchildren!!! In the mean time, our oldest son left for his deployment on his sub.They stopped off at their 1st Port, & we were able to Skype with him during these past couple of days. Having 2 deployed now is pretty scarey, but I know how much everyone is praying for both of them.

Mine wont hardly request anything also. What she did request ( navy shorts) and thats what I sent.... a pair of navy colored shorts.  She wanted Navy uniform shorts for pt. Well, boy did I feel bad.  She just had to get them on her own.  :(    I told her to just throw the shorts I sent her over the fence of the Afgahnies. 

Thank you for your support Jersey!  I think we need a like button on this site. :)

Having one of those "BooHoo'In" days, but at the same time....... still realizing how grateful & thankful I am that someone else is probably having a worse day than me!!

Some days are like that...cry, get it out...wash your face and you'll feel a little better!! xo

I have those too JerseySusan. I just keep remembering what my daughter told me. "Mom, dont start that crying" I felt so honored the last time I hugged her. She said "Mom,I want to thank you for everything because if it wasnt for you, I would not be who I am today."  I am sure you have had more compliments than that JerseyS.  I hope and pray your Seabee is over the hump. 

Thanks TD...did exactly what you suggested.....Having a "MUCH" better day today!!! :)

Yelomoon....Ahhhhh.It's hard for kids to give out those compliments,but when we do get them...we treasure it!!!!!

Susan.... I am Sooo Happy that you had quite a fulfilled Holiday!!! God Bless You & your "Growing" Family!

Susan, Glad to hear you JOY.   And please do not feel sorry for me.  Not needed.

Read this link  about Miss Fire....her owner was injured in Iraq, came home and passed away in late 2011 from his injuries. A friend has kept this good dog but now can no longer do so and his mom lives in a "no dogs" retirement community. Please network and share this dog on your facebook page, particularly if you know folks in Florida where this dog now is living. I'm sure transport can be arranged if necessary. Thank you!

Got it Texas Doc. Posted it on my Timeline. I know a lot of Pet Lovers from all over,so "Hopefully" something good will happen to her! :)

I am beside myself. My Seabee is alive. Doing well, taking classes and rude to me  at every chance she gets.

texasdocmom,  we already have 2 Labs, 3 cats  5 hens,  1 rooster. I wish I could take in more.  But if you live near Dallas,Ft.Worth. I have a neice who animal rescues,

This dog is in Tampa Bay Florida, I'm just networking mainly because this is a Gold Star mom trying to find a home for her dead soldier son's dog...if you know anyone in that area, please share this dog's information with them. Facebook is really good for that. Networking gets dogs like this adopted. 

Yelomoon, I guess you spoke with your daughter?

So, our youngest son posted a pic on FB. He has had an "Overwhelming" response from friends & family back home. As much as everyone is sooooo happy to see him, he definitely looks like he could use a much needed shampoo,haircut & "Good" shower! It take me back a few steps,my heart sank, but I loved ready all the replies back from everyone. Some of them made me laugh. He is very much Loved by many <3

Ooops, sorry with the spelling errors, my husband is not a happy camper with the Green Bay Packers right now!!!! It's disturbing my concentration! He's a True Packer fan & I went for the 49ers in our Football pool!!!! Hah!!

Great post! glad he's connecting on FB...4 years ago, when my son was in Iraq, it was myspace...same thing! He told me when he got home he once went over 3 weeks without a shower. Good thing they all smell like that in the group....

any conversation with my only child is a good one.:) 

@TexasDocMom- How much info. may I post here. Like my ombudsman sent a bit of cheer.  :) :) :)

No arrival or dpparture dates, no count downs....but we know there's some folks headed home sometime soon....post when he gets boots down USA!! 

DsMoma! welcome to the group no one likes to join....but we're here anytime you want to visit, scream, cry or laugh hysterically, it's what we do best...you are not alone on this journey.

DsMoma....It's possible those weird answers might be him giving you a way to figure out what he really means b/c he can't just come directly to the point. I know when we hear from our son, my husband & I are always asking each other, "What did he mean by that'? Sometimes....I think we are just over analyzing & trying to make good of everything because that's what our heart wants to us to do. It sounds like you are taking good care of his son while your son is away. We have an 8 year old grandson also. Even though our circumstances were totally different from yours, I know how it is as we raised our grandson for his first 5 years. We have quite a bond and connection with him. Just being their for your grandson, means the "World" to your son!! Just feel that in your heart & keep sending mail & packages, "especially" homemade cards to him from your grandson. Those homemade cards mean a lot to them over there.Hmmmm...Mail......sometimes our son gets his mail & packages faster than expected.....and sometimes not so fast. My M-in-L sent him a card which came back to her and read,"Not Found" (had everyone in a tizzy), but, I guess it just got lost b/c we heard from him a week after that and all his packages had arrived, but not that "card"!

Foxsox.com ...look for the military socks....my son liked the ones that came up over the shin, they were padded to protect the skin from the boot laces. He said his Marines would use duct tape there, but socks are better! If you send sheets, try to send old soft ones, or wash the new ones several times to get the stiffness out of them.

DsMoma....If you are able to sew, you can make him a pillowcase with your grandson help.  They guys love stuff that their children have made. 

When my son was in the sandobox we did one with the kids hand prints on it.  I traced the handprints then embordiered over what I traced, then I put there name under each hand print.   

Just checking in.  My son's been boots down in US since Sept. and they are training for next deployment.  He was home for Christmas and it was the best holiday for a long time in our family.  All of us together.  He was talking to me about all the chapstick we sent over when he was there.  I wondered if I sent way too much and he said no.  He said have you ever seen chapstick turn to liquid mom.  He said he would open a stick up to use it and it would be like water.  It was so hot.  So  they use it constantly.  He liked the Chapstick made by Chapstick in their new Apple flavor.  I would send all kinds.

So he is home and having some sleep issues.  I can't complain.  It could be worse so I'm just praying everything will improve before they leave again.  Also I did send him sox from the foxsox.com and he loved them so that is a good recommendation. I really liked that they do cruise books to buy after deployment so you can keep for them to look back on.  I'm going to try to put together a scrapbook just of all the photos from facebook I found of him and those he took.  I want him to never forget, because I know I won't, our journey through this deployment.  I plan to include a page with Navyformoms on it.  This group was my survival kit.  And I reread the other day a note he wrote me telling me how much the encouragement helped him that I wrote him in Facebook messages.  I was able to do positive notes to him because of the positive encouragement here.  For all new moms....this is the place to hang out. Best support ever.

Hi Ladies, I haven't been on in a while. I dropped my lap top and had a major hard drive crash! But I'm back up and running now with a new one! ;) Pretty soon, not just yet, I will share some pics & let you know when the youngest gets home, still a little ways off, but getting closer. We don't hear to much from him, but when we do, it makes all of our days. Our oldest under the sea right now. Waiting until he pulls into Port. I cant wait until our son tells us what he liked the most from his packages & of course what he didn't like!! 

Hey, JS! glad to hear homecoming is coming up...and it's ever so slowly, isn't it? "under the sea"...that gives me claustrophobia just thinking about it.

One-Stop Resource page for military members to turn to for advice and direction to all pet-related needs.  They also are looking for fosters for pets whose owners are being deployed. 

Dogs on Deployment

Our son actually got very attached to a Military Dog over there. But something happened to that dog. Not sure what, he said he got sick and had to go back. But I know he really misses that dog. That will be one of the pics I will show someday.

sorry to hear what went on in kandhar(?) my spelling not so good. I work with a lady and her son could of been one of them. I pray to God not. :(

Yelomoon, are you referencing what happened  3 days ago or something new today?

How close is Kandahar to Helms Province (spelling?).  My Corpsman is stationed with a Marine Team training the police in Afghistan and living with the police.  Thank God I had an e-mail from him this morning.  Now I know what he meant by saying they'd been busy this week.  Prayers flowing for all. 

JerseySusan, I was talking about one of the articles I read listed above.

Tamme, I think it is a plane ride from Helmand to Kandahar. Mine was flown in a C-130. Other than that, I have no idea. Glad you got an email though.

Remember, if anything...ANYTHING has happened to your deployed kid...you will know pretty close to immediately. You will be notified, the military will be working with you or the spouse to get you as much info as possible as soon as possible. No news is good news. Do not start building up fears over current events that you cannot change....and you do not know where your kid is...you might think you know, but really, if he/she is with the Marines out of the wire someplace, we don't know squat. My son when he got home made me realize I didn't have a clue as to where he really was in Iraq. 

I know how easy it is to build that fear, but you have to keep on a level keel as much as possible. If you find yourself getting really stressed, talk to your doctor about something to help you sleep or whatever he thinks might help you. You have to take care of you, so when that phone rings, that kid hears his mom being mom on the other end. 

Did you guys hear about the woman who was in that Firestorm caused by super Storm Sandy...she was on the phone with her son who was in Afghanistan and he talked her to safety. Told her to get wet blankets, wrap them around herself and get out of that house....and she did. Geez, I love our kids!!

Yelomoon and TexasDocMom, thanks for the reply.  It is so hard to figure out the map of Afghanistan.  My seasoned Moms always tell me not to read news articles but I just can't help myself.  What a wonderful story about the soldier helping his Mom during the storm.   Prayers for a peaceful weekend for everyone. 

Tamme, 

A lil something my hubby made, We were watching an ole episode of MASH one evening and it brought tears to both our eyes.

It was an ole grand finale of the show and they made a special comment of the ole post they had in the ground and it gave directions to areas, states,countries they

felt special too. Well, in honor of our personal family and seabee, my husband made one and it was my job to mapquest all destinations. It really looks good even if it made a scrap wood.

Yelomoon, that is a great idea!  I do remember that post on MASH too. 

Thank you Susan, That is very kind of you!