USS George Washington Sailors

Shoot! I also meant to ask if anyone knows if the GW will post bd greetings to a sailor who is assigned to a squadron onboard or is it just for ship's company?

Mary (Chris' mom):  I'm not sure.  I sent my son's pics/info on August 3rd (my son's birthday is 9/12) and asked for a confirmation the pics were received.  I received confirmation on 8/15, but the birthday greeting was never posted.   I sent them another message on 9/17.  I was told they never received anything.  I sent them the message log, resent the pictures, and the birthday greeting is still not up. Hope you get a better response! 

Mary(Chris' mom)...flipping through the b'day pics I see post for Royal Maces, Diamondbacks, and Liberty Bells. I think those squadrons.

The GW has not posted any pics of any kind lately. I'm hoping to see some soon.

Hey gals, just reading some comments about some ladies visiting Yokosuka in Japan in December. I recently took a trip there, all throughout March of '13 to see my sailor boyfriend and will be returning this December as well. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask! Thanks

JDMK, Thanks! I see the sailor's pics, but I seldom look at their dept or squadron. I focus on the sacrifice of not only being on the job, but so far from friends and family on their one special day of the year. I suppose I need to look more closely.

I don't post much but I do try to keep up with what everyone post.  I did make a trip to Japan during the ships return from their last deployment.  Here are some pics (I took over 800 shots) of my trip.  I've never posted pics on this site so hopefully I'm doing this right.....

This is a few of the families and sailors from my son's squadron taken as we are leaving port for the Family Cruise day.Leaving port for Family Cruise day.  I'm in the center with the yellow shoes.  My son is the one on the left in his NWUs.

I stayed on base at Atsugi where my son's squadron is.  With the COs permission, I got to take pictures with some of the crew.  Hope someone recognizes their sailor...:-)    Squadron 1   The Shop

cbc mom  oh how lucky your were!  as every mom, I held my breath, it would be my son's squadrand and shop.  LOL  nope!

I sent two birthday care packages to my son last Monday.  I can't wait for him to get them!  We made 8 cake in a jars and sent chocolate icing and cream cheese icing for him to use when he gets them.  We also baked brownies, cookies, muffins and send lots of other food he likes such as beef jerkey, sunflower seeds, potted meat, crackers, boiled peanuts in can and candy.  I put birthday hats, birthday horns, silly string and lots of other fun silly stuff. 

Now we are working on Halloween care package to send off next week and planning the Thanksgiving care package.  I'm going to do pecan pie in a jar for the Thanksgiving box.  So much fun and helps me stay busy and not miss him so much! 

Hope everyone is doing good.

cbc mom I also don't post much but I do try to keep up with everyone's posts as well.   While I was reading your post I found a picture of my son!!! in the shop picture.  Thank you!!! Brought tears to my eyes!! Good to see him!!!  Miss him so so much!!! You were very lucky to make the trip and see your son.  Maybe one day I will be lucky enough to make the trip there.  Thank you for sharing. 

Anna_Tricia -- Glad to hear our sons are in the same squadron and that he made it in the picture.  Send me a PM...who is your son?  Mine is in AD.

cbc mom our sons seem to be in the same squadron.  I'll send you a friend request so I can send you a PM. 

Hey all, I received a email from my son asking for sheets for his rack. I found a reasonably priced website I thought I would share. :)

http://www.navyfleetsheets.com/store.php

Hi all, it's been awhile and some much has been going on.  I finally heard from my son!!  It's been since the beginning of May. 

Can anyone give me an idea of what this comment from him means?  "Hey mom its been awhile I was tad for awhile and I couldn't contact you"  We searched the internet for Navy slang and acronyms and came up with Temporary Additional Duty.  It this is what it means, is it a punishment or just a rotating job and now it's his turn? 

Does anyone know anything about the petty officer exam?  Seth said he took and didn't pass in April.  Back then he said it was given again in September.  Do they get to take it even if they are out at sea?  Is it really difficult to pass?  If they pass how soon do they know?

Hi my Navy Moms,  I know this has been asked and answered a dozen times, but here it comes again.  which 4-digit end to the zip cose do we use while the ship is out? 2801  or  2873

Thanks

2801

I have an APO address for him.

(Rank Last name,first)
USS George Washington
CVN-73
(DIVISION #) Box 14
FPO AP 96650-2801

Morning everyone,

Hey sam I also get my letters returned so I gave up writing and mailing a letter and just but one in a box and ship it with some other goodies. It is frustrating that a pkg can get there in a couple weeks or less but a letter goes around the world and gets shot back to sender.

Haven't heard from my son for awhile. The last email was ' I am on the ship'.
So I guess I wait and maybe send him a 'Thinking of you Pkg'

willsmom....No problem.

sam.... it will still be 9568.

This is my son's final cruise on the mighty GW. I've heard feedback  from some new moms that their questions don't always get answered on N4Ms So, I'm trying to be helpful.

Badma, thank you. I think I'm about to give up on trying to send letters outside of a box! Guess that means the kid will just have to get more packages...

Yes, I heard about the stomach issues too. Grandpa passed away, we had the funeral monday. It just made my son end up feeling super homesick to hear the news. I feel bad that he is now feeling homesick. I hope he cheers up. Sending out care package tomorrow, I think that will help. 

I'm not sure that they go "all out" celebrating Halloween, but last year several of the departments decorated their doorways and had a competition for the best looking doors. As far as folks dressing up themselves, "trick-or-treating, and things like that I don't believe they take it that far. It may also depend if they are underway or in port at the time.

I've been receiving emails from my daughter and am so happy to hear from her. Makes up for those quiet times. I send her care packages filled with home made cookies and bread. She said they are amazed at how fresh the cookies and bread are. So, I must be doing something right! Now, back to getting the next box ready - candy corn, belly flops and more cookies and bread! Whoo hoo!

CoCoBeansMom,

How are you packing your cookies and breads that you are sending?

Talk to my Sailor 3 hours ago said he would be maning the rails. So excited.

momof2sailors: I pack the cookies in disposable containers that I buy from the Dollar General. I always put in a top layer of bread slices (wheat or white). The yeast in the bread is active and keeps the cookies soft. I also put a slice of bread in my cookie jar for the same reason.  I simply put the bread loaves in gallon size Ziploc bags. Sometimes I wrap them in cling wrap and then put them in the bag. I am sure to press out excess air. That's it.

Yes it is helpful to have rank & division as the packages will be sorted and delivered to the sailor this way. If not they are usually held in mail room until sailor comes to retrieve them. 

Oh my son has been so quiet this last year, he is quiet by nature, but this distance just makes it harder.  After the last cruise his LCPO moved on, he had done real well and got along with him real well the first year.  This new LCPO seems to be butting heads.  I hear so little from him, I can not gauge how he is doing.  I know he is a grown man, but mess with a mom's son and she becomes a she bear!!!    Just sayin',  I know all work situations are not the same, just is so much easier to know how they are doing when you can hear their voice.  He just fb msg me that he was back in Atsugi to repair a jet they left behind.  :(  Not sure how he feels about that.  Just had to pour out to someone. 

Pray for our sailors. There is inclement weather from Typhoon Danas coming.

Imnadelady,

I don't know what squadron your son is in. But my son says he can not wait to come back stateside. He said their command has changed recently and not for better. But I also read that anyone with PCS orders dated for 2/1/14 and after are put on hold because of this shut down. I am not a happy mom right now.

momof2sailors....

I read something about the possible delay in PCS....GAH!!!   Your sailor is done when? Mine is supposed to be done in April. I will just CRY if he can't get home right away. I am so done with our politicians and their games.

My son finally contacted me by email last week! (he's been there since February) So I sent an email asking about his friends, tell me about them, etc. So he sends me a picture! Didn't answer my questions, but still a very cool picture. Does anybody recognize your sailor? Mine is the one with the camo shirt.

Received Email from son...he is going to be having his wisdom teeth taken out. :(

Ouch and on ship too. I hope it goes well. Hope there is lots of ice packs. 

Yes bsb you are lucky to get a pic of son and group. I just get a "yup, yup, No, Yup, Gotta go " to any of my questions I email him. But I guess its something which is of course better than nothing. : )