USS Essex Navy Moms

Welcome Susanna! My daughter Katie is a DC. She just got a cell phone for Japan to communicate with friends on and off base. Others have cell phones to call the states (she has been known to borrow them from time to time to call come). We communicate mainly thru e-mails and IM when they are in port.

Its easy to communicate right now since I am visiting her right now with my youngest son Thomas.

Welcome, Susanna. My son is an FC (fire controlman) and has been there since March 2008. He has been home twice. He is supposed to be there until March 2011, but we will see what happens. That is great that he has met his chief.

His phone won't work there. He will learn what the best phone plan is for him when he gets there. Tell him to send you an email IMMEDIATELY when he gets there (you will worry) and go to the USO as soon as possible to phone you.

I haven't heard from my son since just before INSURV. I am guessing that they where given some time off before being deployed. Several moms are over there for the Gator cruise. I am sure we would have heard if they had a problem.

Gator Cruise moms.... I guess you are getting away soon. Have fun and send us lots of pictures.

Tina, LOL

I haven't heard from my son. I wonder if he met them?

Kim - I met your son--he was on his way down the stairs as we were going back to my berthing. He is alive and well - with a smile on his face;)

We are here in Yokohama. Thomas and I return to the USA on Monday.

I can't wait to see all the pictures from the Gator Cruise.

I haven't heard from my son since the end of June. Can someone send me an email and let me know where they are and how long they will be gone?

Ingrid, did you have problems when you got to Japan. I am just testing my theory that everyone only has problems when they go east or west. I always have problems when I go west.

When I went to Europe, I was fine when I got there but had a bad time adjusting when I got home. When I went to Japan, it took me two weeks to adjust to the time change but I was adjusted the next day when I got home.

Ingrid - Thanks for posting the pic.

The camera I used on the Gator Cruise is one Katie generously gave me that she no longer wanted (she bought a smaller one that fits in your pocket), but she couldn't find the cord. I can't download my pictures to the computer so I can share some with the group;(

Monday when we returned home Thomas and I stayed up late and then slept until noon the next day. We were still tired Wednesday as well.

Ingrid - sorry about your flights;( Thomas and I arrived just in time for final boarding and our plane was full, but on time. There was turbulence at the beginning and then a call for 'Is there a doctor in the house?' Thought at first we were going to have to land somewhere unexpected. Our flight was direct to Detroit and we were served 2 meals and a snack meal. Like you, I was fine in Japan, but adjusting here at home. Didi you end up getting to DisneyWorld in Tokyo?

The one before this year's was in August (?) 2008. Not sure when the next one will be - or if they have any idea yet.

Anyone's sailor signed up for the Mt. Fuji hike on the 27th?

I finally heard from Jonathan yesterday.
I had to send him a panic email. "is something wrong". He said "sorry, I have been forgetting to email you back. I got your package a week ago". Grrrrrr! Marianne, I should have told you to kick him in the butt when you passed him on the stairs. LOL. I got no answers to any of my questions, but he is now wearing his ESWS pin on his uniform.

Sharon, great pictures on facebook. I need to find everyone else.

Kim - Glad you heard from Jonathan. Will he send you a pic with him and his ESWS pin?

Picture?????? I would love that, but I waited one month for an email.

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist: The ESWS designation is a prestigious qualification for a Sailor. It represents a thorough knowledge of surface warfare operations, including knowledge of engineering, combat systems, weapons, deck evolutions, supply management, navigation and administration. There are two phases of ESWS qualifications – ship specific and common core (navy wide).
He earned it in the spring and received it recently. His rate changes to FC2(SW).

Great shots Ingrid.

Great Pics Ingrid! Katie just called last night from the top of Mt. Fuji to wish her brother Joe and 'Happy 19th Birthday!' Over 30 sailors from the Essex went up the mountain.

Maine4Me - Katie was borrowing someone else's phone, so I'm sorry I cannot tell you what international plan he has. Katie just has a cell for texting and phones to those on base and around Japan.

My son has phoned from the USO, I will ask him.

Mine are still in my camera. Katie gave me the camera, but couldn't seem to find the connection to the computer. Think I'll have to get one for it myself. I am not on facebook.

Ingrid, how do I find you on facebook?

Sharon - I don't have a laptop or new computer/printer, ours is defiintely more than 5 years old and no card slot. I could take the card in, but unfortunately some of the pics are still in the camera as well. Not sure that my pics would be a lot different than yours anyway.

I heard from my son this morning. Please send me an email if you know where they are headed.

He forgot to send me an email on my birthday. I sent him an email telling him that now he owes me a phone call. He said that he would try to phone me when they hit port. I wonder why they say "it port". It makes it sound like a crash landing.

I meant "hit port"

Welcome Wendy - My daugher Katie is a DCFN (Damage Control Fireman). She called this AM to wish her Dad and I a happy 26th wedding anniversary;)

Safe travel to Micah and Kris. I guess they will just be in time for Fall Patrol. They should be very busy and tired with the time change.

Haven't heard much from Katie lately either. Sent some cookies this week and she wanted a set of DVDs ordered for her. Got a great deal thru eBay, so they are on their way over. The seller was happy to send them to an APO/FPO. Heard there's 2 leave (?) times for Jan/Dec, but she hasn't said which she is requesting.

Sharon - Katie is planning on coming home in December. She hasn't told me yet if she will be coming home the 2 wks over her bday/Christmas or after Christmas and be here for New Year's/January. The 2nd set of leave dates is 24 hrs longer.

Sharon - Is Steven coming home in December?

Jonathan has come home over New Years the last 2 years and the airfare has been more (very expensive). He said that his girlfriend might be coming home this year. I was hoping to hear that wedding bells are in the air and they are waiting for his deployment to be over in the spring. Not that I would not love to see them.

At Christmas last year Katie got her ticket for less than $1,100. That was from Fukuoka to Detroit. The same tickets in July were double!

Susanna you're right about the address -
- Rate Last Name First name
DIV
USS ESSEX LHD 2
FPO AP Zip
ship USPS Priority Flat Rate APO/FPO is what I do

I don't think how long he has been on the Essex has anything to do with whether his chit is approved. Katie arrived the end of April 09 and was able to come home last Christmas. Katie has plenty of days,

Sharon - Hopefully it will all work out for him to come home in December/January, especially if he really wants to. Katie's chief helped her work it ouit so she could spend those few days after the cruise with us until we flew out on Monday. Katie just had to check in on Monday to let him know she was 'alive and well' and then reported on Tuesday AM.

Katie buys DVDs and stores them in one of those zippered holders. Her brothers bought her one that holds 48. Just today I rec'd a box full of empty DVD cases. Also rec'd a box with some of her souveniers from Mt Fuji hike, etc. and clothes she wants here at home. This usually happens closer to a deployment;) Katie also downloads her CDs to her computer and sends those back home as well.

I don't personally have a kindle, but know a few that have that or similar type of electronic book.

We have been looking into the Kindle or the Nook for Jonathan's birthday. He is always reading. His overalls fit a book in the pocket and the Kindle/Nook looks the same size. I don't know if the new uniform is the same. He collects his books and they are all here. It seems like the perfect solution because he re-reads stuff.

Do you mean Flash drive? No, it is not big enough. You need 4-5 GB for a movie and about 45 GB for Blue Ray. You can buy 16GB and larger flash drives but they would cost more than the movie. You can burn them on CD's or buy an external drive. Keep in mind that it is illegal. My husband thinks it is too risky to send copies overseas to them. He might be right.

There are free movies that you can download and I am sure we have all made a copy of the odd movie for personel use. I just was reminding everyone to be careful. I just feel uncomfortable "mailing" a copy to my son in the navy, oversees, unless I am positive that it is a legal copy. I won't even send a VHS copy of a t.v. show to him in the mail.

Katie called this AM - wanted to say 'Hi' to everyone at home. Her next call was to her big sister in the Upper Peninsula. Knew she wouldn't be able to talk to everyone for quite a while. Katie wanted to see Joe's quilt. Also sent her a picture of his recent trip in the UP.

Typhoon Kompasu Slams Okinawa on Path to South Korea - I know this had an effect on our sailors.

Woke up this morning at 7 AM to a PC from Katie. We talked for about 45 min. Very windy there-you could hear it. She said that it won't be long and we should be reading about the latest activities of the 7th fleet in the Navy News. No time this past week to check her email because of how busy it has been, plus she is getting a new 'chief'. The one leaving was really wonderful, I met him this summer. I guess she will be working 6 hrs on/off.

Sharon - I'm sure that's what she is referring to -- I know there's a name for the exercise, but can't remember what it will be called.

Each sailor has to do 90 days of 'cranking'. Katie did hers last fall and did the officers' laundray. Basically it is either kitchen or laundry duty, at least for the most part. When we were there on the Tiger Cruise the one's in the kitchen with the red tshirts on were 'cranking'.

Jonathan told me that they may have to crank again if it is needed. They have to be E5 to get out of it.

Heard from Katie this AM. She is still working 6 hrs on/off, but says that the hours 'off' also include eating and showering, so sometimes she is getting only 4 hrs of sleep.

Good luck to Hans and his special training.

Katie has the 2nd leave period - no flight yet.

I started a discussion on the Japan site to see if anyone has found any deals. I am not getting much on military rates. Jonathan is the 2nd period also. The first one seems cheaper. Marianne call Delta. They have a military rate to Detroit.

Jonathan said his dates aren't confirmed. We are all looking for flights but I am afraid to book anything until he is sure of the dates.

NNS100912-01. Essex ARG Begins Exercise Valiant Shield 2010
-- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=55918

Kim - Too bad Katie can't get a great deal thru Delta since Dave works for them. I had to buy my tickets when Thomas and I visited Katie in July. No way would I have gotten there and back if I flew standby. I did pay less that the going rate, but...

Where will Jonathan fly into when he flies home in December? You know from your experience that will make a difference too. When I flew I went over via Seoul and then returned via Narita, but then the Tiger Cruise played a part in that, otherwise I would have flown via Seoul both ways.