Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Lori,

My son reports to the Roosevelt first week in December.  It will be his first ship and we are so excited for him.  I read online that the ship will be finished with refurbishment summer 2013; I assumed it would be going out on deployment then.

Hi, everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know that if your son/daughter isnt able to make it home for Thanksgiving dinner that my husband and I are making a big dinner and would love to have a few of our fellow sailors with us for the Holiday. We cant go home and I just want to make sure everyone gets to celebrate and have a full belly. We live in Norfolk, very close to the base. Just message me if you have any questions or know of anyone that cant go home for Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays, Ladies!

Emmie, that is such a wonderful offer that you are making to the sailors in Norfolk. Thank you for doing this. My son fortunately is home for Thanksgiving but I love your spirit of kindness.

Thank you oregonmom! I'm so happy that your son gets to come home! You must be so excited! 

Emmie,  I'll check with my son.  He won't be able to come back to Texas.  I know he misses home cooking.  I'll let you know.  This is such a wonderful gesture from the heart.  Bless you and your husband!

Emmie that is very kind of you to offer to the men and women who will not be able to make it home.. I'm blessed my son will be able to be at home this thanksgiving  I will be praying for you and your family

Helen, just let me know if he can make it, he can also bring a friend if he knows anyone else that may enjoy coming. Thank you ladies for all the kind words, and warm hearts. :)

Emmie thank you for the generous offer.  I mentioned it to my son this morning and he said he would let me know.  He is in Newport News.  He is very much into his family and family time so this is going to be hard for all of us.  He will make it home after Christmas so we are all looking forward to that.

Hi Nursebubbles, not sure about deployment, I've heard something different.  Its good to connect with other moms that have a kid on the same ship. 

hi i just got the sailor call, and after a school my son will be here as undesignated seaman!

Navy25 Parktowne apts in Norfolk about 20 min drive to the base. My son wife and baby live there. It is across from the Little Creek base. Close to stores and not far from hotels for when we go there. Area seems nice to me

hi Joyce Ill let my son know to check it out im just trying to see if I could get any info here since a few Navy wives and Mom seem to ive in the area this way it can give my son an idea since I have heard some pretty bad areas are close by. Thank you very much... how long has your son been in Norfolk

Hi Sandra AM Mom was wondering how are the apts by gate 4 Merrimack was there any flooding by your sons place and is that a safe area and is it military housing trying to check for my son any input much appreciated it and do they have parking available... I hope all was well with your son... Thank you Maria Navy25

Navy25: Chris has been in Norfolk since May 2011. His wife is also Navy 

after school in gl, my son will be in norfolk va. i forgot the name of the ship he mentioned as it did not sound familiar, how many ships are there in that base? i guess i will know more after i talk to him after PIR on wednesday. am just on here trying to know a little about what his life will be like when he gets here.

I haven't posted on here yet...I've only been eavesdropping :)  My daughter left Norfolk about a month ago and is now in Pascagoula, MS.  Her ship is the USS Arlington (LPD 24) which will be homeported in Norfolk.  The crew is in MS preparing the ship (it gets handed over to the Navy around December 7.  Christening will be in Norfolk around April).

It's been wonderful seeing all your Thanksgiving plans and I'm loving that some of you are able to open up your homes for other Sailors.  You guys rule!  Here's another idea.....keep a turkey on hand in your freezers.  When your kid gets some leave to come home, have Thanksgiving no matter what time of year it is.  We had Thanksgiving in August this year.

Enjoy ladies :)

Hello all!

I am looking forward to getting to know the folks in this group and to gain some much needed knowledge!  My son went to A&C school in Dam Neck.  The USS Enterprise was already under way so he flew out to meet the ship a few weeks into its journey.  The "Big E" is back home in Norfolk and my son is still living on the ship.

He was told that there isn't enough housing available so when the ship is decommissioned on Dec. 1 he may have to move to a barge for housing.  Yikes!

We spend a few days with my son after the homecoming but I don't know diddly about the area, the housng situation etc.  I was hoping he would have a nice, warm, dry place to live after the long deployment but so far no such luck. 

Advice / guidance is welcome.  So are "He's a big boy now mom, let it go", comments.  I just feel bad for him.  He hasn't taken any leave since the ship's return but at least he will be home for Christmas.  Have a great day all!

Good morning Laura, here is a link as to where you and your son can find information and support for those assigned to the Big E.

http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/enterprise/Documents/Enterprise/w... 

Our son is assigned to the Enterprise and is in the same situation.  He a few friends are looking to share a short term lease somewhere since he understands that he will most likely get his new orders sometime around March or so.  This link will take you to the offical Big E. site.  I hope this is some help.  And yes, it is hard to let go but there is support there if he pursue it.  The thing I found with our son is he needs to learn to stay on top of it and to not expect people are going to get back even they say they will and to be aware if you do not follow up you may lose out.  Mom is not there to keep reminding them anymore. 

Have a great day!  Joyce

Emmie, my son is leaving the area with some of his buddies.  They get a long weekend.  Thanks so much for offering your home and hospitality to our sons and daughters.  It is much appreciated.  I do hope someone takes up your offer.  Nothing like a home cooked meal when your far from home.  Thanks again!

Chris and Hannah and baby chloe made it up to NY last night. The usual trip of 7 hours took 12. Thank goodness the baby was good for them. Well got to babysit last night and boy did I love it. It will be a wonderful Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I am missing my sailor son today but we will talk on the phone.  Enjoy your day all! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  My sailor son has duty and watch today so I'll be watching football at the Navy Lodge.   So glad to be close by, had great fun yesterday and have fun plans for the weeken.     karting.jpg

My son asked my MIL to come to Norfolk for Thanksgiving (she is staying with her other son/grandchildren in Virginia Beach) so he would have a home cooked Thanksgiving meal.  So she is there all week and he has been over spending time around work schedule.  Yesterday, he finds out/realizes he has watch tonight when they have dinner planned that she is cooking.  So there she is and rest of family there enjoying the feast while he is not able to come.  He says "part of my job, mom....I don't mind.  though Gram better have some leftovers!"  Can't wait to see him in 3.5 weeks when we go there to celebrate Christmas with him.  He already has me lined up to cook for him and the suite-mates one evening.  And most exciting thing is he made E-4 this week after 2 months on the job and 7 mos in the Navy!  I know for sure God found the right place when he directed this young man to serve in the World's Greatest Navy!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and I pray for all of our sailors and you their families every day. 

my seaman will be here soon and was looking up the base tonight online and mentioned that there was no sporting arenas in driving distance as he is a sports fanatic and wants to arrange to see games in his free time. football, basketball, wrestling! so we are wondering what do the sailors here during liberty

 If he likes hockey, there are the Norfolk Admirals.  For baseball, the Norfolk Tides are the Triple-A farm team for the Baltimore Orioles and they have a cool stadium right on the Elizabeth River - from Portsmouth you can take the ferry to the game!  

thanks marcy, i will tell him that, but i know he is really into football, basketball and wrestling.

My son just arrived Tues at the Norfolk base.  He will be living on his ship and is under the impression that there is no cell phone or internet on the ship unless you go out on deck.  He is still learning but is this true or is there a place on the ships that they can go besides out on the deck for connection? Thanks for any information?

Kev's mom, This is the case for my son who is also in Norfolk.

Hi Kev's mom, my son said that there are locations on the ship that they get reception but for the most part he goes on deck. There are computers on board the ships that they can use, not sure if they use while docked but I have received emails from him while at sea.

My son also lives on board his ship and yes he has to go outside to get a good signal.  Depending on the ship he is on, there might be someplace he can access a computer and get to the internet.  I know my son goes to another bldg sometimes to use the computer

Thanks for all you info...I was really surprised about no service on the ship while at port.  One of my stress relievers was going to be that I could just pick up the phone and call him now in the evenings, but if he is on his ship, I guess not.  Welcome to the Military..Huh!  Thanks again for your input.  I think my son is just feeling so disconnected right now and not starting out very happy with his first assignment.  He did great Thru RTC and A school and now is having problems.  Did this happen to any of your all's Sailors?

Hello Kev's Mom.  My son lives on the USS Enterprise and he has to go to the hangar bay or flight deck to get a signal.  The signal elsewhere on the ship is blocked by all of the steel on the ship.  The Big E has a computer room (thankfully) and I was able to keep in contact with him during the 8 month deployment (returned 11/4/12) via email.

I am heading to Norfolk this weekend for a few days for something exciting!!!  Can't wait to see my son!

@Kev'sMomKim....My son also enjoyed A school and then got his first assignment to Norfolk.  He's been there about a year and a half and not happy with his division.  He's already done cranking (working in the mess for 3 months and 18 hour days).  He got a fungus infection on his hands from doing so many dishes.  He's a CTT but is doing six months in Engineering.  He's actually enjoying being in Engineering.  His ship will be deployed next year, so we'll see what happens then.  My son does live on his ship but will stay at his friends apartments on the weekends.  He also hangs out at a coffee house to use his laptop.  Good luck to your son!!

Hi! Son lives on ship No signal at all. better signal from out on the ocean!
Goes to coffee place or friends for signal and to get off ship for awhile.

Kev'sMom, there is a great place on base called the Wind and Sea Recreation Center in Building C-9 on Bacon Ave in Devary Hall, with wi-fi internet.  Wind & Surf Internet Cafe is upstairs; downstairs is Bellissimo Espresso Cafe with wi-fi, TVs and Starbucks coffee.  The center has pool, pingpong, movies, Xbox, monthly events.  Here's the link; scroll down to Liberty & Recreation Centers.  Does your son have a car?  I feel it's a "must" for living in Norfolk - just for getting around the base and to the NEX, for starters!  :)

 Hope he gets settled in  soon; once they start making friends, it all seems to fall into place.  it's a great area with lots to do (again, a car is truly needed).

How fun is this?! "William Shatner will beam down for USS Enterprise inactivation cer...

Hi oregonmom,

I'm an Oregon mom too. My son is stationed very close to Norfolk. He is at Little Creek Amphibious base. Where are you in Oregon? I'm near Portland.

@Kev's mom...My son did A school in Pensacola and loved it  made some good friends.....first duty assign.  Norfolk ....he is still adjusting to it...He loves his job and his work but does not like the area...we drove his car down to him and that has been his salvation....he has couple guys he hangs out with when they are not at sea...my son lives in barracks....we went to visit in August and if he doesn't get his leave request we will go back to see him around Holidays.  Hope things get better for your sailor...allie

so u need a car in norfolk, va! i will tell my son to think about that!, he will be on uss san jacinto, is there a group for that ship?

@dannysmom.....my son is not on a ship  he lives in the Barracks  and his job is 3 miles from his barracks so he was walking very very early in morning cause he started at six in morning....that was main reason we drove his car down to him  ...but he is able to go get groceries now and go to mall and movies etc...first month he spent $400 in cab fare...when he wanted to get off base ....it's an old buick but it runs gets him where he needs to be.  Not sure if there is a group but you can search groups and see  most likely.  good luck your  son....if you live on ship your job is there and meals are there my son has to walk to hangar for his job and  go to galley for meals or he cooks his own.  take care