USS Essex Navy Moms

Katie said the the weather is getting warmer here and we had to set back our clocks - if that helps you any in where I maybe at. So I had 7 hours instead of the usual 6 hours of watch last night. I had 0000-0600 and tonight I have
1800-0000. So this will be intresting to say the least. Rumor has it we
might be setting the clocks back again tonight. Don't know - I'll find out later.

(Jan. 28, 2010) - Fire Controlman prepare ammunition for loading into the Sea Sparrow Surface Missile System aboard the forward deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/
This is the site I got it from - under IMAGERY

That's my son on the right. I found this picture earlier today and sent it to him.

Welcome Val! What's your daughter's rate? My Katie is a DC. She's been on board since April 2009. Katie was also flown on to her ship just days after she arrived in Sasebo. I get e-mails pretty regularly on her navy.mil account.

Welcome Val. She will be fine but get used to worrying. My son is an FC and has been there for two years and I still worry. (Mariane posted a picture of him below)
Welcome to this site. Oh good, another mom of a girl. I am so exited. Girls give the best news.

Home made apple sauce? Oh, I so want to try that. I make unusual jams that I send to Jonathan. He loves passing them out.

Sounds like you have the same applesauce maker that we have. We started picking apples when Alicia was a baby and have done it every year since then. Of course, with Alicia in college and Katie in the Navy we don't have 6 apple pickers anymore. September is our time around here for that!

Got an e-mail from Katie, she said.......Well today was very fun. I went on my ox cart, raft, and elephant ride. I also went to a silk house where they make it that is. After the elephant village they took us to the world's largest gem store. Guess what. I bought myself a real amethyst white gold ring.

SASEBO, Japan (Oct. 22, 2009) Religious Program Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Putt, from Tombean, Texas, paints the anchor of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during her 2009 ship's restricted availability.

NavyBeanersMom - Isn't that your son? I know it is from a while back, but I don't remember it being posted on the site.

Ingrid - Haven't heard complaints from Katie about her Superiors...Sorry Armando is having issues.

Katie said that the next port is -- This one is really strict, and yet so clean, so this should be fun. -- Didn't mention what her plans were, if any.

I have been away for a week visiting my dad who does not have the internet. One week is too long to be without my computer. LOL.
Jonathan mentioned their current port when he was home. He was exited about it and it is his first visit here.
Jonathan has complained of how some superiors treat you like crap. He also found it difficult when he had to start supervising and had to learn to yell at some sailors. That is so not him. I am sure we have all had to deal with a real jerk and the way we respond can make things better or worse for us. You're right Ingrid, they don't need to act like that, but some do. I have heard the Navy being described as tough but never have I heard it be described as fair. Sometimes we learn and grow up more from our negative than our positive experiences.

Kate called last night using a $10 phone card. I asked if she was calling from S_________ and she said 'You know Mom, I can neither confirm nor deny that.' Katie asked how much snow we had - 9" fresh incheson Monday and it continues to snow just enough each day to slick up the roads - a whole rash of accidents in the area again. Katie sounded fine except for the slight 'cold' she has - figures her body thinks she is in Michigan, not in the 90 degree weather where they are at. We got to talking about family and other stuff and I never did ask her what her plans were while in this port.

Jonathan sent me an email today. He said that he didn't do much at this port but shop and it is a very clean city.
He mentioned that they probably won't be back for awhile. I am not sure if he is talking about the original plan or if they may be staying longer.
I hope Kate is feeling better soon.

I have a concern that I want to pass on to you.

In recent years visa and mastercard are charging an "international service fee" of 1%. Some banks add to this to make it up to 4%. Capital One is the only bank that is absorbing this fee. Navy Federal is passing on the 1%. Also, some banks are charging up to 4% to use your atm or debit card oversees. I do not believe Navy Federal will ever do this and I have advised my son to use them for all his banking.

I am sure that Navy Federal cannot afford to absorb this 1% but taxpayers can. It is unfair to station them in a foreign country and expect them to pay 1% for all their purchases.

I am contacting my representatives in Washington. I will pass on any emails or phones numbers. Please help me fight this.

Kim, Katie isn't being charged any extra fees thru the credit union that she uses from home.

Katie wrote at 3 am our time that they were already underway.

Katie just sent the info on the Gator Cruise - but it didn't give a date?!? Just said this summer. I heard that they were going to have one, but Katie said she didn't think that we would be able to come, so she didn't send any information before. I have a feeling they just rec'd the official information on it quite recently.

Thanks for all the news about our sailors. I am always glad to know that they are safe.
Please update us on the Gator Cruise. I would love to go. I don't know if I can, but I will always dream.
Marianne, what bank do you use and is it for her credit card because the only credit card that I have heard that does not charge a fee for international fees is Capital One.
I just learned that Wachovia is charging 3% for donations to Haiti. That is so wrong.

Tina... ditto

Katie uses Wings Financial which use to be the NWA (Northwest Airlines) Credit Union.

Please send all forms GatorCruise2010@lhd2.navy.mil by May 14th to
ensure an enjoyable event for all! I can forward what I get if I have your e-mail address. The contact person is above.

The dates of the cruise are from 14-16 Jul.

Ingrid, that is so exciting.

Ingrid, Is he sending you over the Dates July 14-16 so you can go on the Gator Cruise?

Thanks for sharing the picture. I love seeing our sailors on the Essex. I always hope that when they post something on the Essex on the 7th fleet news that it will be one of the Navy4Moms sailors from our group.

Ingrid, great looking guy. Kim please post.
My husband thinks it is too expensive for us to go to the gator cruise. I was thinking that maybe I could go by myself. My dad wants to go and he has enough airline points for both of us but he is 85 and I don't know if he will be able to be on the ship. Does anyone know? Another option is to share accomodations, is anyone interested in sharing a room?

Kim - re: age/health question - Did you look over the medical form that needs to accompany the application?

Marianne,
I haven't looked at the form. I was thinking that my dad won't be able to get around on the ship. Jonathan told me that they use ladder type stairs. I am guessing that he won't be able to get around. I will check out the medial forms.
Are you thinking of going? I am just thinking here. Maybe, I could justify the cost if a group of us moms are going???????

Welcome aboard mom2lance.

My son arrived in Japan about this time in 2008. He is an FC. Apparently, his deployment (3 years) started when he met his ship (April). His commitment is 6 years leaving 1 yr + 5 months of his commitment after his deployment. We'll see what happens.

Your question about computers: I am a consultant for DOD but I actually work on computer systems for the Navy. I went to Japan last year for business and stayed at Yokota air force base (don't ask how the accounting systems are managed). Anyway, I used Skype the whole time I was there. It's free computer to computer, $3.00 a month to phone any phone in the U.S./Canada or $10.00 a month for the world. If you can get your son to use it, you will be able to see him (webcam) and talk to him for free. It is really cool. But, I can tell you that if I was not at the lodge where I had internet, I would have had to walk to various locations to use my computer.

This is a great group. My son is terrible at communicating and he is not computer savy. My husband and I are. As far as I can tell from grilling him for information in Sasebo: they use the ships computers when they are deployed. In port they can use their own computers on base. But they have to walk to WiFi locations. There are discussions about computers, cell phones and Skype on the Japan site. You need to join that site because we have more discussion there and we are just "too funny". We all love Katie here. She is our biggest source of information. LOL. Ingrid, sends us the best pictures and Tina ...... where have you been.

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/

The above site reports on the 7th Fleet and has articles and pics that are added throughout each month.

Tina, I missed you. Thanks Marianne. Is anyone thinking of going to the Tiger Cruise? I really want to go, but I don't know if I can justify the cost!

I'm considering the Gator Cruise, but also don't know if it would work out with cost, etc.

Mom2Lance - my daughter Katie has been on the Essex since April 2009 and is a DC.

Anyone have a daughter names Rachel on the Essex?

Great pic Kim - thanks for sharing!

What a great picture.

Good luck to Hans. Don't worry if you do not hear until June. They took that long last time.

Every child is different mom2lance. There are phones (for fee) and computers for them to use on ship. My son emails me more when he is deployed. He has his own computer when they are on base but he never uses it. He lives off base and phones me from the uso once in a while.

mom2lance - While deployed Katie and I communicate thru her navy.mil acct. She checks her 'home' e-mail account when she is in port. I know that it took several days to hear from her when she first arrived in Sasebo. She too flew to the ship.

I heard from Katie too via e-mail. I told her that some other sailor mentioned no more goodies. Katie was thinking that for her they are going to be doing a lot of inspections,etc. and no personal items in the shop. I just wanted to confirm whether she really didn't want anymore baking for her and her friends. If so, when I could start baking again. I'll have to let her sister know too since she bakes sometimes when she is bored and for a change of pace from classes and work.

Go figure, just today our Bible study of 10 chose from the list of cookies/candies we had rec'd from the 'shop' while they were on deployment. Now I need to know if we have to wait for that as well.

Katie mentioned that as well - some big inspection(s) coming up. Earlier in the month Katie had asked for hand sanitizer because a lot of the sailors in her shop were getting sick. I sent a 32 oz bottle. Not sure how long it lasted.

Hope Pake is feeling better soon.

Only e-mails from Katie, but she plans on calling Easter Sunday;)

Welcome Sharon,
My son is an FC (fire controlman). He arrived March 6, 2008, but he didn't meet the ship until April. Apparently, that is when his deployment started. He mostly emails. When he phones he goes to the USO.

My son wasn't taken to the ship. He had to wait over three weeks for it. They kept him busy and he went on every tour that they offered.

Welcome BHappy (Sharon) - my daughter Katie is a DC and she arrived April 2008. Katie called last night from some friends' place and used skype to talk to us. Other times she has used phone cards...hasn't tried the free phones at the USO. Katie has her own computer and uses it when in port. She downloaded a lot of her CDs to her computer and also uses it to watch DVDs and download pics to her computer as well. The ship is getting ready for a big inspection this summer, so it will be in port until ??? Katie plans on going to Nimitz park after Easter services, I guess there's a picnic and other activities going on.

Katie just joined 10/8/08 and finished up Damange Control (you were right!) the end of March 09, so YES! this is her first ship. Kate enlised for 5 years and will be on the Essex until around April 2012. I'm not sure where she goes to hook up to the internet-library or??....she's told me, but I can't remember.

Did you hear that they are offering a 'Gator Cruise' in July? Katie really wants someone to come.

I am not sure what tours Jonathan took. There is a welcome tour of Sasebo and he went on a tour of Nagasaki (2nd Abomb).

My son doesn't use Skype because he doesn't feel like carrying it across base to use the internet. LOL

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/Sasebo/index.htm is the base website. Under 'MWR' you will see the bus shuttle schedule