Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

 Two U.S. Marines were killed and two severely injured in the crash of a hybrid aircraft in Morocco on Wednesday, officials said.

The Marines were taking part in joint U.S.-Moroccan military excercises located in the south of the country based in Agadir, said U.S. Embassy spokesman Rodney Ford in Rabat, who gave the toll.

Capt. Kevin Schultz, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon in Washington, confirmed that the aircraft involved was an MV-22 Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter and flies like an airplane. The aircraft was participating in a U.S.-Moroccan military exercise known as "African Lion."

The Osprey was flying from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, a defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter is in the early stages of investigation.

The annual exercise which began in 2008 runs from April 7 to 18 and involves 1,000 U.S. Marines and 200 soldiers, sailors and airmen. They were working with some 900 Moroccan soldiers.

According to the U.S. Marine website, the exercise involved "everything from combined arms fire and maneuver ranges, aerial refueling and deliveries of supplies, to command post and non-lethal weapons training."

The main unit involved in the exercise is the 14th Marines, a reserve artillery regiment based in Fort Worth, Texas, but also includes members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The goal of the exercise is to train the two countries' forces to work together.

Further information about the crash was being withheld until the next of kin of the killed and injured Marines were notified, said Rodney Ford, spokesman of the U.S. Embassy in Rabat.

The MV-22, a joint venture of Boeing Co. and Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter, is designed to carry 24 combat troops and fly twice as fast as the Vietnam War-era assault helicopters it was to replace.

The Osprey program was nearly scrapped after a history of mechanical failures and two test crashes that killed 23 Marines in 2000. But development continued, and the aircraft have been deployed to Iraq.

While the General Accounting Office questioned the Osprey's performance in a report last year, the Marine Corps has called it effective.

An Air Force version of the aircraft crashed in Afghanistan in April 2010, killing three service members and one civilian contractor.

Prayers for all!

GoldnG8r - FYI you need the division as well and note that even though they are port you will still need to fill out a "Customs Form" with every care package.  Next time you go to the Post office grab a few and prewrite them along with labels.  I always use the LARGE - if it fits it ships box and there is a -$2 military discount for the FPO addresses.  Mark contents snacks, magazines and I put $0 VALUE. Although it is port and my son is now deployed overseas it'll take at least 3 weeks or more to get to them.  Good Luck.

GoldnG8r - Yes,  LOL....that was my argument with the postal clerk too! and I took my package to another PO thinking he was having a bad day and busting my chops - made no sense to me - but at least I found someone willing to explain to me that they would have no idea with that address if the ship is in port or deployed. So - I've since gotten into the habit of prefilling out the form and always grabbing extra boxes, labels and forms.l  and just wait until you mail it.... it took 4 weeks from MA to VA for my son to get his box.  So plan ahead - the mail dlvy is horrible to our sailors even in port.

Ha Ha, Marine NavyMom !!   I like the 1st on the best !!~

Welcome to the group gonavymom!!  

Sandra Am Mom- I am so glad I am not the only one. I cry everytime and wondered if it would change the longer he is in. Guess not lol!

oh my goodness i dont think it will ever end...my sons been in a year just saw him at fleet week im still cryin,,,

Sandra Am Mom and I have been in this together with our sons.  It is hard believe that it will be 2 yrs June 15th when he left for BC.   Could not have made it without all the support this Navy4Moms puts out.  You are all great!!  THANKS!!

Sandra thanks for all you have done for me.  Someday I hope I get to meet you.

Us Moms have every right to cry for our kids, after all we raised them to be what they are today.   Very Proud of our Military!!!

And yes we are going to miss them everytime they leave, just natural to have some tears.  Lets just keep hanging together and we will make it through this roller coaster ride.

Thanks! very much appreciated. I would more prefer Virginia Beach, but of course I want to make sure he is close enough to the base to not have to leave super early in the morning. We are not married, and not ever planning on getting married, so he wont have the BAH of most other couples, but price is not an issue to me because of already having financial stability. I am looking more for townhomes or apartments because I'm not sure if I will stay there after he deploys, but I have looked into rental homes as well, just hard when you don't want a full 12 month lease, just in case I don't stay. I think I've looked into WIllow Lakes, and actually heard about that complex on multiple occasions... must mean something. I agree with the more room though, I will be bringing my two kitties, and planning on getting a puppy as soon as I graduate from college next month, which are also where a lot of my restrictions have come from as well, plus I want to be able to have a guest room in the place if anyone wants to stay or visit with us. I'll keep my eyes open for you, just in case.. I still have a couple months till I plan on moving. (maybe more if my mom gets her way, ha, she doesn't like the idea of me moving that far away when I have already been away for my 3 years of college.. haha mothers.)

ha! of course! thanks! safety is huge to me as well!

CMY - I think his whites would probably offset your dress beautifully and no one would even think twice about it - most bridal gowns aren't super-pure white anyway these days.  Plus I would think the dress whites are more comfortable in summer?  Or put him in his blues and crank up that a/c  :)  

I am so happy to have found this site. I will be visiting my son soon, when he's deployed and it's always great to hear from other people going through the same circumstances. Especially when you don't know what to expect. Good luck to everyone out there!!!

Wait wait, I've missed a chapter Sandra!  What wedding when???

I wanted to take a moment and thank all of you wonderful Navy Mom/folks here in the Norfolk group!!!  This group has been so wonderful and supportive these past two years while my Son was stationed in Norfolk.  He in now home for his 30 days leave before he leaves for his next duty station.  He reports no later than June 6th to Naples, Italy for 2 years.  This is a great group the way everyone offers support and encouragement to each other.  I have been so proud to be a part of this group.  I know we are called Navy Moms but I also know that there are Dads, wives and girlfriends that follow on this site for support.  I love how everyone offers help no matter what the relationship is.  We understand we all have the same goal...to be here for each other and to support our Sailor!  Just as in my boot camp group, I became close to some Mom's and loved it when I found out our Son's knew each other and were friends and so that has also happened here on this site.  It's amazing how our Sailors are making friends for a lifetime and so are we!!  From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful for all of you being there for me.  Especially during tough times like hurricanes and other such things.  Keep sharing and caring and who knows, some of us may end up on the same group again as our Sailors move from one duty station to the next.  Happy Sailings to all and again Many Thanks!!   ~Cathy~

My Hubby is in "A school " now and will be stationed in Norfolk, aboard the USS Dwight D Eisenhower. Anyone else have family on board?

How do I get the address for the ship my son is on?  I need to send him his luggage that our ignorant airport refused to check yesterday when we flew him out.  I can't reach my child, because most likely his cell phone charger is in the suitcase that they refused.  I'm stressing trying to figure out a way to get him all of his stuff.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Jess is right.  If you need to, use this link to locate your ombudsman and/or FRG. Good luck!  Just wondering...why wouldn't they check his luggage?  At least now cell phone chargers are universal, hopefully he can borrow one.

They refused the luggage because we arrived 1 hour before the plane left instead of 1 1/2 hours.  I had been told 45 minutes was plenty of time for our tiny 1 gate airport, but the guy at the counter was a royal jerk.  The guy at the next counter offered to check it in, but our guy was his supervisor and would not allow him.  He told us that there was not enough layover time at DFW to transfer the luggage.  When I called American Airlines (American Eagle), they told me that the guy put us as a late arrival check in, which she said meant we barely made the plane. She said there was plenty of layover time, that the issue was us being late to check in.  It is so frustrating.  So lesson learned, always arrive 1 1/2 - 2 hours before the plane leaves no matter what the size of the airport.  He did get his phone charged and has called me just 10 minutes ago, but he doesn't have an address yet because he's not checked into the Truman yet.  Thank you for your help.  We definitely learned a life lesson.

Hey everyone - I am moving from NC to Norfolk soon to be with my husband. He is an E-4 and on the Bush. We want to RENT a HOUSE in Norfolk? Any areas we should be looking at/avoid? Average price range? I am a teacher and won't move til schools out. I think by the time we officially move, it will be too late to try to find a job for the upcoming school year. Do most wives work a full time job? What do yall suggest? Thanks!

*When I say moving to the Norfolk area, I mean Norfolk. We would love Chesapeake (because we've heard it is very safe), but that would be 1.5 hour commute for him everyday. :\

ANY suggestions welcome! THANK YOU!!!

NavySoccerMom. The same thing happened to us when we flu Frontier Airlines. We were on our way to our son's PIR. We nearly didn't get there. The head of Frontier Airlines, who just happened to be a retired Navy Submariner, got us tickets with another airline.

This was American Airlines, and they didn't have any problem sending him, just his luggage, which I guess is better than them not sending him, that would have been awful.  He's had one heck of a roller coaster ride since he got there, but it was smoothing out when we got off the phone last night. Someone gave him their home address off base for me to ship his stuff to so he can get it quicker.  That was a major relief, but it's going to cost between $200-$300.  But, like I said, it's a life lesson learned.  If he ever flies out of this airport again, we will go early and check his luggage in, and then go eat or something, because this airport is awful.  I'm really not sure we will ever use it again, it was just more convenient than driving 2 hours to DFW.  And yes gonavymom and I go way back, and she was a wonderful help to me yesterday.  She's wonderfu.  We love her and her family.

I was reading about marriages (few pages back) -my son just got married, "nobody knew " I'm guessing before he was deployed . I just found out,family didn't even know till I told them . I hope they had a nice day & place (if in the chaple,or court) wish I could have been there, couples in love ,deployment, gone from each other for months, I just have to understand & just support them on their new life.

sandra, if it's for your sailor they are going to need to go to portsmouth naval.  the naval base is good, my daughter had all her ob/gyn and delivery thru the navy.  she has a pediatrician in nc tho since that's where she lives

connie's right.  she is now his dependent and gets quite a few good benefits.  medical, prescription, dental

Does anyone else have a problem with things getting stolen?  My son lives in the military apartments.  He had his lap stolen awhile ago and now after being gone for a few weeks he comes home to his bedroom door frame smashed in and his safe stolen.  The apartment door was fine and his roommate doesn't know anything about it. I don't understand how the roommate does not know anything. Just very upsetting.

Cindy D, in my opinion and gut would tell me is to find another room-mate. My son will be looking for an apt with a few of his buds once they get back from deployment.  I think he is getting tired of living on a ship. I'll surely tell him about the military apartments.  Good Luck.

He is leaving soon for depolyment so he will be out soon anyway. Just makes me sick.  He had all of his important papers in there along with some cash.  My youngest son is flying down there on his 18th birthday and he was going to use the cash to go skydiving with him. Upsetting.

Connie, thanks, but I would not feel right about accepting any money.  I just want this stuff to stop.  The sad thing is everyone believes the roommate had nothing to do with it!  Even the police! If he had nothing to do with it then how did someone get into the apartment and only break into my son's room?

Cindy, it could be that the locks weren't changed when your son and roommate moved in, and the former tenant used his key.  When locks aren't changed, anyone may still have a key and come "visiting" with ill intentions - former tenants, their old girlfriends/boyfriends, relatives, someone in the complex who was given a key to walk the dog or water plants, etc.

 Even if he's leaving soon, they should get management to change the lock right away.

Congratulation to the newlyweds!!

My son reported to his ship yesterday for the first time. He is on the USS Gonzalez DDG 66.  I wonder if he will be able to email me from his ship if it deploys?  

His apt. does not have a key, you swipe your military ID to get in. I hope the person is caught!

I told you all about my grandson being shipped last Sept from San Diego to Norfolk. He drove straight through.. He and his wife had contacted a real estate agent about housing etc and when they got to Norfolk they only had one day to house hunt because they had to evacuate because of the Hurricane or storm that was hitting there... so they looked at several houses and found one they really liked, signed all the papers, rented it and came back here to Georgia until the storm passed etc.  The next week or so they had to be back there for the furniture etc was being delivered from San Diego etc. So that was about the middle or last of Sept. after they got moved in realized it was not in a desirable neighborhood and his wife told me she was scared to go out on walks etc. My grandson was immediately sent out on the boat for 3 weeks and she was stuck there in the house, scared to death.  Well thanksgiving he had the long weekend pass and they loaded up everything and left came home for thanksgiving, returned on Sunday and got there to find their home had been broken into and everything valuable was gone.. left them nothing of value.. all the furniture, computers, tv, play games etc. just almost everything... so they went to my grand-daughters who is also stationed there and stayed a few days to talk and get out of the lease and rent another place.  When I found out the name of the apartment they were trying to get I contacted a friend that his son is something on the board or something with the city of Virginia Beach and the new apartment was in Virginia Beach instead of Portsmouth or maybe Norfolk... but he said that the ones they were looking at had a low crime rate... said there was another one that was also a good complex but they got approved and moved in right after the first of December... they do like this complex and feel safe... My grandson has been on the ship now for 40 days or longer and she has stayed by herself and feels safe... Someone probably saw them loading the car to come home and went in as soon as they left.  The house was on one of the main streets... they went in through a window on the side of the house and lots of houses all around and no one claimed to see anything...  He is about 20 minutes to his base and does not have to go through any tunnels or over bridges to get to base... and is right off where two of the main highways cross etc...  It is sad that people will just go in and steal from any of our servicemen... sad times...

actually, theft is a problem on the ships.  make sure your sailors keep their lockers and racks locked and DO NOT leave anything out that is valuable even if they only have to go to the head.  there was a guy on my daughters ship who had his cell phone stole.  he had it on the charger and figured it would be okay under his pillow while he slept, think again.  for some reason it is more prevalent in the male bearthing than the female berthing.  my daughter and her shipmates say it's because they are more apt to lock their stuff up. 

and there really isn't a rhyme or reason to what they'll take.  one girl in my daughter's berthing had her towel hanging up to dry after her shower, went to get something to eat, came back and her towel was gone.  who wants a wet towel?  it's really sad that you can't be on a ship and have to worry about your shipmates taking your stuff.

SANDRA@  Yes quite sad not seeing my (only) son married, but they both made this choice, he's almost 30,I was hoping,but not this way. I messaged them both- telling them Congrts, & her welcome. He is still deployed for a while- has to get use to Navy life.

my son let us now yesterday he made petty officer...now a DC3 so proud of him...at fleet week great place to celebrate

Wow, I havent been on here for awhile since my son's back injury, Im pretty upset and stressed out over the whole incident. I want to congratulate you Connie soon to be Grandma how sweet is your son away will he be in Norfolk for when the baby is born I hope so.

Im with everyone on here how disgusting all the stealing that goes on in the Navy its a shame that these are the same people our sons and daughters have to Trust in Time of War to have your Back - IS A SHAME. I hope everyone affected were able to get some resolutions. Enjoy Memorial Day Everyone