Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

 My mother died on January 25th. My mom was a very important part of my life and my children's. The Navy allowed my son to come home for her funeral. Of course we had to go through the proper channels. ie notify the American Red Cross.

Who knows what the future holds for our Sailors. A lot of the talk of downsizing our Navy is upsetting to us all. However, remember that the needs of the Navy change from year to year.  Maybe next year things will be better.

Theresa...My son is an MA and stationed on base not on a ship.  Do you know if they have an FRG for those Sailors not stationed on a ship.  He will be leaving for Naples, Italy in a couple of months and I would love to be able to be a part of something like that in Naples.  Where would he need to list me for this?

Jess...He will be still be on shore duty in Naples. 

Can anyone tell me the best place to get ongoing information about the HSC22 det on the Iwo Jima?

Jess this was told to me & his father when we went to the Nex in Great Lakes- for a sailor his family would be a wife/ husband and any children. Parents and siblings don't count as family according to the Navy. We are on some sort of list that when something happens or he deploys we know. But I would never forget that I didn't count in my son's life- Also was told the Navy owns him now & he is a man (17).. Rude-you bet. I wanted to bash this person's face in, but my husband & I walked out.

In the Nex it was said Family- even dependent -at 17 he was still my dependent till 18 (outside world ) . I know  from the time I was born the Navy owned my Dad ,till he elevated to Ambassador to the Canandian Gov .,We held duel citz. I 'm the only one not owned by any country- lol. Like my freedom . I can understand the parents if they were told like I was ( they used the wrong words to them ) & them like me did get irate, after all I did give birth to him as many Mothers would feel.

Thanks to everyone who prayed  My son is feeling better today  still in pain i guess it will take time  

Ok ladies have not been around for awhile. Need some info. My sons gf will be moving off base shortly. They are planning on getting married. Can anyone tell me of a safe place not to far from the base. Looking for a one bedroom. Yes there is a baby on the way. Life is full of surprises. We have not met her yet but hopefully soon. Just want them to find a nice safe place to live. Would like suggestions

HELLO IM NEW! MY SON JUST ARRIVED IN NORFOLK LAST WEEK. HIS SHIP WAS ON DEPLOYMENT, HE JUST GOTNEWS TO PACK HIS BAGS HIS SHIP IS PICKING HIM UP! HE SONT REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON! NEEDLESS TO SAY I DONT EAITHER! WILL THEY SHIP OUT OR WILL HE LIVE ON THE SHIP IN NORFOLK?

Welcome DeeDee.  FRG is Family Readiness Group.  Your son's FRG likely has a Facebook page.  ps no need to shout, we can hear you just fine!  lol

thanks for all your replies! i wasnt shouting just writing fast as i was at work! lol my sons ship will be on a 4 day deployment next week, then his ship will be discommissioned (sp)? he is still trying to find a place for him and his new wife, but as we have been hearing norfolk is not the place to live! i have been trying to help them find a place close to the base and so he wont have to deal with traffic to much. any ideas would be greatly appriected!

Like any city, there are good and bad areas but I think the area overall is great, lots to see and do.  The Ghent area near the university and the base is a good area.  Lots of folks prefer Virginia Beach.  My son lives in Olde Towne Portsmouth & is very happy there.  

Lightning injures two sailors at Naval Station Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Two sailors on separate ships were injured by lightning while lowering flags on their vessels docked at Naval Station Norfolk Saturday evening.

Lightning injured a U.S. sailor aboard the USS Kearsarge and a French sailor aboard the French ship Mistral, said Navy Public Affairs Officer Terry Davis. She said the vessels, both amphibious assault ships, were docked next to each other at piers 10 and 11 when the lightning struck.

Davis said both sailors suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals as a precaution.

The sailors were conducting evening colors, the ceremonial lowering of the national flag at sunset, when the lightning injured them.

Deedee473 - my son and wife just moved to Norfolk last month and found a 2br place at Walkers Chase on Tidewater.  It is about 5 - 10 minutes from base.  Helped him move and it is a nice place; convenient to shopping, airport.  I noticed quite a few military living there.  Hope this helps.

Boy this weather is getting nuts, I remember it  didn't snow in Virginia, or very rare, now they are getting bad stroms . My ex bought a house in North Carolina & he has had more snow then New York. I hope those saliors are OK after that. My son bought a house in Virginia Beach near the base,5 minutes away . I guess he likes that area.

Hey everyone. I'm new to the group. My husband is finishing up C school in Pensacola (will have been there a year when he leaves in April) for IT. He received his orders a couple of weeks ago for Norfolk (which is great because we live in NC) and is assigned to the GHWB. He moves there sometime in April and I will follow in June (I'm a teacher and need to finish out the year). He will stay with a buddy until I get there so he doesn't have to stay on the ship. Any advice on my move? Where to live/job possibilities? What do yall know about the GHWB? All I know is that it is the newest carrier and just got back from a deployment in December. If you know anyone on this ship, please message me. ANY advice would be so helpful! Thank you! :)

annamichael,

right now they are doing some work ups.  depending on when he gets there in april he'll have 2 works ups to go on.  they go into into the shipyard in july until next year so during that time the ship will be out of service.  don't know what they sailors will be doing during that time.  my daughter gets out in may, she's assigned to the ship.  they just won the Battle E award for 2011 which is a great honor.

can't help you with housing.  my daughter lives in NC about 1 hour from the base.

there's a Bush mom site on here, http://www.navyformoms.com/group/ussgeorgehwbush and we're a GREAT bunch of women, not just mom but also wives and girlfriends.  there's also a Bush facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/USSGeorgeHWBush

carol

Annamichael,

My husband is on the GHWB. I just moved to Norfolk in January so i'm adjusting to the area myself. There are some good areas and some bad areas. We live in downtown Norfolk which is great and everything is so close by. Feel free to message me if you have any questions about apartments in Norfolk. We absolutely love the apartment complex we are in. Some sailors choose to live in Virginia Beach, Hampton, etc. but you have to be careful because of the tunnel traffic. I'm a nurse so I'm in the process of looking for a job now. I'm having some luck and have my first interview on Thursday. I'm not sure how it is for teachers, however. Good luck!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Happy Valentines to all : & my son / his girlfriend ; my daughter & her husband and ESP;my GRANDSON TYLER,,,,my little valentines ,Hugs love Grandma   xxxooo

Say a prayer for the USS. ABE LINCOLN  that is going through the Strite of Hosmus(sp?) right now  &  being shadowed by Iran as intimation .Hope all is safe. Fair Winds - Following Seas.

M/N Mom, saw the USS Sterett & the Lincoln but it didn't say the othe ship . Then it showed the boats (small) about 3 , Planes and drones being used by Iran just to be spiteful and a pain to our ships . What are they trying to prove? I saw all we are doing to gear up for anything that arises . Do they really think they stand a chance?

My daughter and her fiance (now husband) are both stationed in Norfolk.  They are preparing for deployment very soon.  On Valentines Day they eloped to the courthouse.  It cost a total of $80.00.  Sometime later they want to have a small wedding on the beach.  Just an idea....

Katiesmom - I just sent a msg to a friend who's been living in Norfolk for sometime now with any suggestions and recommendations he and his bride can give. Will let you know as soon as I hear from them.  Hang in there. I do know there is a Hampton Inn right near the base - lots of hotels have ballrooms and such for rentals - you may want your fingers to do the walking while you wait. and SC is NOT that long of a ride to VA - we live in MA and it took us 9 hrs to drive. It is well worth making a trip to check EVERYTHING out when you get it all lined up.  Good Luck - I'll be in touch

lorraineld,

is your daughter and her husband on the same ship

No, they are on different ships but in the same strike group.

thats good.  my daughter just came back off deployment in dec and they discovered while out that 2 of the people were married and they flew her off and now they are in different strike groups, going out at different times.

Marcia: my son and future daughter-in-law are currently looking. Most recent place they checked out is Park Towne Apartments in Norfolk They have a website. the place seems nice and the price is in the range they want to spend. So far I think this is the one they are going with.

Looking for any website or any moms for sailors on USS San Jacinto...

i know taxslayer (that's what i use online) does active duty free, did my daughter's and her boyfriend's both federal and state for $0.00

Lorraineld, Is your SIL on the E?  I met a friend of my sons yesterday who got married on the 14th.  Nice young man.

Yes he is!  She is on a destroyer.  We are happy to have him in the family.  He was calling me "Mom" a few months after they met.

That must be the same one. Is he an ET? My son is storing some stuff in a friends house and he helped us move.  Its a small world thanks to N4M's  isnt it?  We will have to stay in contact during the deployment.  Nice young man.

lorraineld, There is a very  nice group of Moms in the USS Enterprise group on here.  They would welcome you too

ShortBecky, Yes I think we should stay in touch.  My daughter is on the Porter.  Where are you from?  I am from Ky.  I am going over on Mar 7 to spend the last couple of days with them before they deploy.

Lorraine, I am from Southern Illinois, Not too far from Ky.  Have a good time it is nice out there.

MOMOFBP: my son is detached From the Enterprise but thats still his ship. He goes out on deployments when they need him. He works at a hanger as a AIMD (fixing engines of planes & helecopters). Sometimes they fly them to & from the ship,last deployment he came home with the ship. It depends what he is training for that he is detached., but whatever ship is out there in San Diego that will be his ship.

No Problem: it is very confusing,  but he will get  a ship as well & what he's training for on that ship. His work might be miles away form the ship-but he still has to answer to it and its needs.. Good Luck  San Diego is beautiful.Margee'

got to visit on 11feb short but great to see my sailor

Saw my son over Washington's birthday weekend!  His bachelor housing is nice!  Soon getting married & moving hopefully to Suffolk.  He is actually in Newport News working on his sub being built!  I miss him already!

Irene12, please make sure you are in a good area for my grandson was transferred there and they arrived the week a horrible storm hit and they had one day to find a house before mandatory evacuations were in place... so they leased a house there in Norfolk, that was the first of Sept. they left the city and returned a week later when their things arrived from San Diego and got moved in and on Thanksgiving packed the car and came home for thanksgiving and returned to find all their valuables and nice pieces of electronics, furniture all stolen from their home.  Someone must have watched them packing up to leave out coming home etc.  The place they discovered after getting moved in was in a very undesirable neighborhood etc.  But had to purchase everything they needed again.  Was able to get out of the lease and moved into a gated apartment complex in Virginia Beach.  You really check close around where you are moving in Norfolk... it is my understanding that there is lots of crime areas there... of course there is in every city, you just have to check and make sure you are not moving into that area.  But stationed in Norfolk, you really need a vehicle to get you around the area, base etc.  

Anyone's Sailor on the USS Gonzalez?

Hi Theresa, I havent been on here for awhile its been very stressful for me with my son being injured there in Virginia.I wanted to know since you live in that area close to Norfolk if there is someone taxi individual (like in Great Lakes we have Sarge who is dependable trustworthy ) if you or any of the other ladies here might know.Im hoping to go see my son and would need a taxi from Norfolk airport to Navy Lodge, Im not familiar with the area and I hear horrible stories of the area and if any information or ideas I be grateful .Thank you,Navy25

Hi Theresa, It would be for me the taxi information

Hugs to all moms who have Sailors leaving today with the Enterprise strike group.  My son is leaving today on the Enterprise for his first deployment.  Below is a picture of my son taken yesterday, Saturday, March 10, 2012 (on the one year anniversary of his leaving for bootcamp).

Godspeed, fairwinds and following seas to all of the Sailors and Marines.

Gina

Prayers are out for those that have love ones on the Enterprise and all others that are deployed right now and they stay safe and return soon.

I know how everyone feels, my son was one that was on the long 10 1/2 month deployment, remember they love to get mail and hear from home!!

Barb