USS Bataan LHD-5

Group for family members of Sailors who
are on the USS Bataan (LHD-5)
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  • ckmom

    My son is an AS Aviation Support Equipment Technician.  Said he's not real busy yet, but will be soon.   He played basketball the other day, said it was a little difficult on a rocking ship.lol   I'm glad to hear that he's having fun and likes the Navy so far and his job.  Only been on the ship for 3 weeks, this is his first time out away from port.

    Looks like I better start on the easter box soon.

     

     

     

  • Songbird800

    I bet it would be difficult to play Bbal on a rocking ship!  I'm glad he is liking the Navy so far. LOL!  I am going to have to move up the Easter box too!  

     

  • Songbird800

    Good idea!  Let us know how it turns out.  Might be an good option for treats!  USPS averaged the shipping time for 2 weeks.  I guess on their planet that's true huh?
  • Songbird800

    Nice to meet you Debbie.  Sorry you're son's sick!  That must be miserable.
  • Songbird800

    LOL!  a.mitchell.....could be embarrassing to a few I guess.  My sailor loves that I have people to talk to 'cause no one knows what this feels like until you've been through it.  

     

    Sandra, mine has a computer in his workshop too, so when he has paperwork to do, he can shoot me a quick email or 2 (or 10 like he did tonight!).  LOL at giving up eating!  I know!  I blew 3/4 of my grocery budget today on stuff for his care package.  Looks like it's back to chicken noodle soup and tuna salad sandwiches, eh? 

  • Songbird800

    I think the post office should too!  Isn't it like $10.50 in a flat rate "if it fits, it ships" box?  Not too bad, but could end up costing me hundreds over the course of this deployment if I send everything he wants.  He's a little spoiled.
  • Songbird800

    Nope!  $12.95 per box.
  • ckmom

    Hi Debbie,  Hope your son starts feeling better soon.  Can't imagine being sick on a ship and confined to his rack.  My prayers are with him and anyone else that may be sick also.

    Glad to hear my son isn't the only one that doesn't like their mom being on this sight. lol

    What does your son do?

     

  • Songbird800

    Jenny thanks for the heads up!
  • chandlersmom

    Thanks Jenny
  • ckmom

    thanks jenny so much for the info!!
  • Kathy Dee

    Hi Ladies - I will need lots of help here. My baby girl, just went to Norfolk today, she was one of the ones who did not go with the ship last week but will meet it later on. she is in a holding barracks. WE KNOW NOTHING AT THIS POINT. This is her first deployment so not sure what to expect. We need to get her email, do we write the ombudsman for that? we are all set to SKYPE her and assume that the ship has internet. What is the address for the ship? Also, if we send her a package, are there things that she cannot have. is there a mailing list I can get on that tells me what is going on? I could go on and on but these are my questions for now. THANKS SO MUCH.

    kathy dee

  • siscarrie

    Hi everyone, Got a couple of calls from my son this weekend, it was good to hear his voice. I have already sent two packages, one i sent the week before they left and another Friday, he gave me a list of things he needed,it almost didn't fit in the box. I was reading the post about how everyone else was getting list, I asked people at my church to help me with care packages, hopefully they will help. This could get pretty expensive,but i don't care, it makes me feel better sending him things.

    Hope everyone has a good day.

  • ckmom

    siscarrie,  Glad to hear you got a call.  It was Curtis birthday yesturday Big 19!! What kind of items do they need?  Does the ship have hygene stuff for them. Sorry new to all this.  I asked my son what he needed and never yet let me know.

     

     

  • Kathy Dee

    Thanks so much, this is very helpful. I will contact the ombudsman this week. Have a great day  everyone.

     

    Kathy dee

  • siscarrie

    a.mitchel, i was wondering why my son was asking me to send all his hygene stuff, he is picky about having his brand of stuff too. I didn't ask him why, he asked for them and of course i got it,Lol.

    ckmom, my son has asked me to send him everything, all the hygene stuff, laundry bag, flip flops, shoe polish, chap stick,even air freshener.......

  • Songbird800

    Awwww!  I am so happy for you Juan'sPrincess!  

     

  • ckmom

    I got a call today he didn't have much time to talk, but just to hear his voice was enough for me.   There goes the tears!!
  • Songbird800

    ckmom and Juan's chibi....I got a phone call too!  What a wonderful thing to start my day off!  Like your son, ckmom, he didn't have a lot of time, but the 5 minutes we were able to talk was absolute heaven.  So grateful!
  • siscarrie

    when my son called it showed up unknown

     

  • vpruneda

    Sandra AM Mom - When we got a call, the caller ID said "NAVY" and a number.  It was from the ship, so I hope that helps. Didn't post the number for obvious reasons, but hope this helps.
  • JillG

    LongIslandNavyMom- good to know! i sent my sailor off with snacks and 2 cases of ramen noodles. I may need to send him some more if the lines are too long for him (he can be quite impatient haha). I'm like you too- I lost it the day he called and said it was time to suspend his cell phone. That, to me at least, made it real. :( I'm just praying that this goes by fast!
  • ckmom

    Hi,  does anyone know the web sight for special rate boxes that are free? 

     

    a. mitchell,  I did hear about the Marines being deployed longer than the Navy.  So I hope it's just the Marines only.

  • JillG

    ckmom- i ordered a package of about 25 large flat rate boxes. they are $2 cheaper when you send them to an APO or FPO. I forgot the customs forms though. i hope this link works it should bring you right to the place where you order it.  https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?view...
  • ckmom

    Sandra and JillG  Thanks got my boxes ordered.   Don't live close to a post office, this helps a lot.
  • ckmom

    Yes i know I'm with you   {{{{{hugs}}}}}
  • Sailor's Mom

    FYI : All info on deployment length is just "scuttle butt".... I am a Navy Mom, and also the daughter of an Air Force Colonel who served in WW ll thru Viet Nam.... So until you see your loved ones face or hear directly from his or her lips do not believe any thing.... I don't write on here often, but know from long past experiences, things can change from second to second, for your Sailor or Marine.... So all take a deep breath and "BREATHE"... This will be over before you know it.... I know I sound like a Mom, but I am.... Don't count days left count days past..... Stay safe all of you... I cannot post on here often for security reasons... You all understand?
  • JillG

    So has anyone heard from their sailor today? I got a very short email this morning. But anything is ok with me! :)
  • JillG

    its 1am saturday morning there right now...i don't know where you are (im assuming VA) so i dont know exactly what the difference it
  • JillG

    *is
  • JillG

    I normally get emails around 5am (central time) so im guessing i will probably get phone calls at about midnight my time if he calls when around the time he emails (i have yet to get a phone call since we cut his cell phone off). but im with you. i'll take it when i can! :)
  • JillG

    Now i'm wishing we wouldnt have suspended his cell phone! maybe i will email him and ask him if he wants me to turn it back on...i'm glad you got to talk to him. i'm really impressed you didn't cry! i try not to but its not working very well. i passed a girl scout troop selling cookies for the troops in old navy and i broke down in the middle of the mall. i have a feeling i am in for a lot of random crying spurs for the next however many months!

  • JillG

    I'm sending mine too! its a box full of the "grass" with little things hidden inside. He doesn't like sweets very much except for Reese's Cups and those will melt so its not a very "Easter-y" care package but he should enjoy it.
  • JillG

    the comment has been deleted.

  • dms

    Friends and family can create a free Rocketlife 20-page (60 photo), cargo-pocket size personal photo book and the USO ships it to any APO, FPO or MPO address, all for free!
    http://www.uso.org/uso_rocketlife_photo_books.aspx
    or go directly to http://uso.rocketlifeproduction.com
  • dms

    thought this would be nice to do for your sailor
  • dms

    those postal boxes that will hold any weight, well up to 70lbs for a flat rate are great     i spent 34.00 on shipping one lg box.   should of used 2 of the flat rate
  • ckmom

    Ladies,  Thanks for the info. helps a lot! 

    Ihad someone ask about putting a yellow ribbon around a tree for our sailors deployment.   Is that something I need to do?  Again I'm new to all this.

  • dms

    me too  my sailor has been in for over  3 yrs    did not expect to be babysitting the world again
  • siscarrie

    Good Morning Ladies, looks like everyone is spending their time getting those care packages together, Me too, it does help sending them things. I've been doing ok, someone is wanting to buy my sons car, its the car he had at home, he had it in high school.My son has been wanting to sale it but i've been holding on to it,I don't know why but it makes me sad lettting it go. I'm waiting on him to message me and tell me if he wants me to sale it.

    Have a good day!

  • dms

    did your sailor leave you with a POA ? that is very important
  • JillG

    ckmom- We have a yellow ribbon around our tree, but the ombudsman warned me that it could be dangerous for a single woman to put one out since people would know she was alone. I don't live alone so that's not a problem for me. Our house actually looks like a navy recruitment office! My sister went a little Navy Crazy while i was in Norfolk before they left. I came home to flags, banners, car decals, everything under the sun!
  • ckmom

    Just got home from an auction and had a email from Curtis.  Said today is like having a vacation day, just sitting around in the shop doing nothing.  He said not much is happening on the ship, so nothing to talk about. His commanders are telling him he needs to do officer schooling.  So going to apply for that.   I don't know what that involves.
  • JillG

    I heard from my sailor today! He definitely didnt get a vacation day though. Up at 4:30 am and probably still working. :( but I'm happy that I got to hear his voice!!
  • ckmom

    Sandra do you have the international plan.  I have ATT also I was wondering how expensive is that?
  • siscarrie

    I got a call from my son today, its was great hearing his voice, we talked about 10 minutes and he said there was a line of people wanting to use the phones, he wanted to make sure others got to make their calls too, he has always been so considerate to others, hes a wonderful son!!
  • ckmom

    siscarrie,  When you use the ship phone I guess you need a calling card.  My son didn't want one.  How do I get him one?
  • siscarrie

    Ckmom he can buy one thats what my son did, but i did order him some, i ordered them the week before he left, on friday i think, he still hasn't received them.Heres the site, get the ones that are ship to shore, https://thor.aafes.com/scs/product.apsx

    I hope he receives them, its a little scarey ordering things online, hoping they send what you ordered.

  • siscarrie

    The cards have$20 on them, i don't know how long they will last once they get to where their going, but US its 10 cents a minute, hope this helps.

  • ckmom

    Thanks Kelli and siscarrie, I will tell him to buy one on the ship.