Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

B-Ready: So happy to see this update and read that your son is home and doing so well! I have thought of you both so often and continued to pray. Be well my friend. 

Fun and challenging event coming up!  The annual Grunt Run is happening in Chesapeake on Saturday October 11.  I've attended this and it's awesome, with some running in teams, some wearing costumes, everyone had a blast!  Music and food afterwards and you're done by noon, enough time to get to the beach and wash off the mud :)  Share with your sailor so they can register!

B-Ready - So glad to hear your son is doing well. I have thought about your family often. I hope and pray his future is a great one!

Hi, my name is Amy, my son is stationed at Norfolk. Its been four long years he has been gone now. We are very close, and he does not get out til April. I will be flying in to see him in Dec. Where is a good place to stay?

Navy Lodge - handy, nice, safe,mini-Nex off the lobby, fridge and microwave in rooms (full kitchen in larger suites) and can't beat the rates, with continental breakfast included.  Just be sure to reserve as far in advance as you can.  Navy Lodge Norfolk information

Good news following the helicopter crash today in the Gulf of Aden while carrying personnel to USS Mesa Verde - 17 Marines, eight sailors, and all 25 recovered with only minor injuries among them.  Thanks to the Navy and Marines for the vital "helo dunk" training they provide to Marine Expeditionary Units prior to deployment.  Bravo Zulu to them all! 

Yes and it looked like a destroyer that it was landing on. Good outcome to a near tragedy. 

CO-TwinSalorsMom, the Mesa Verde is an amphibious transport dock that transports Marines to and from land by air or landing craft, and can carry up to 800 Marines in addition to her regular crew.  My son has had the "helo egress" training (aka "helo dunk") designed to prevent what happened in a similar event in '99 in which 7 died, 11 survived.  This is video of the '99 helo crash, terrifying. 

How long does it take for a Sailor to get a room? My daughter has been there for a few months and is still sleeping on a ship and everything she owns is in her car. She is #1461 on the waiting list for a room & why does it take weeks for her to get her mail? I sent her a package 3 weeks ago and she still has not received it.

Soccermom2 - that is a bummer that your daughter is that far down the line to get a room.  My son went out there last January, about the middle of the month.  He was in a shipyard sleeping on a barge for a bit, but must have hit it lucky. 

I am pretty sure he had a room on base by March.  I know other guys in his division were waiting longer then he did.  So I honestly think he just got lucky.  We waited until he got a room on base before we mailed him extra clothes and that.  I wish her luck in getting a room sooner! 

My son is on the Porter , its hard to find others who have sailors aboard that ship 

I was fortunate, and not only got to see my son for a few days, we went on the family day excursion with the Roosevelt a couple weeks ago. That was so incredible. If your ship does this you have to go. 

Navy Mom Deanna. I just heard about the Fleet Fest for Oct. 18th too! I would love to go but yes, have to wait til I hear back from my Sailor to see if this will be a good time for us to go.

Have you been getting emails from your Sailor? My daughter arrived to Norfolk in May.

Melinda - how about you? any word from your Sailor?

Kathy - yes I agree! N4Ms has been the best source of support for me since the beginning! I think I can say the same for all of us!

Thanks!

Yes, this is the age of texting! John and I have found that when we want to find out who is coming over to our house on the weekends, we have to text them and they respond. Phone calls? Very seldom do they answer and in a lot of cases they haven't set up a voice mail. For those of you that don't know who we are, my husband is a retired Navy Chaplain and we have been in Norfolk/Virginia Beach for 14 years, inviting sailors(and Marines and Soldiers) to come over to our house on the weekends to have a place to hang out, play board games and of course we feed them! :)

I am very lucky to met John and Yvonne Wagner here in the group.  They adopted my son and they were picking him up  from the base every Saturday and Sunday.  Yesterday they celebrated my son's birthday which is 9/11 and Yvonne prepared filipino foods for him.  I really appreciate them reaching out for my son.  Thank you John and Yvonne.  I will definitely see you in January once my daughter arrives VA for her A school.

May our good LORD rain blessings on you John and Yvonne! Thank you for being there for our sailors.  :)

Does anyone have a sailor in Norfolk who is from Michigan or a nearby state? We live in Michigan and my son wants to come home in October for about 10 days. He has his own vehicle and we are trying to see if anyone would be interested in carpooling home with him!  

John and Yvonne, you both are the most fantastic people! I love that my son has a safe place to go off base! Thank you for taking care of my son! We are so blessed to have met you!

@ Juliw I agree with you.  Joh and Yvonne were so wonderful couple.  They were adopting my son too.  Im very lucky to met them here.

Thank you juliw, Malen and Navymom2!  We love inviting your sons (and daughters) into our home. First time they're a guest; second time they're part of the family! :)

Yvonne and John

Navymom2, please let your son know about us. We would love to invite him over to the house on the weekends. If you like I can pm our cell number to you..

Yvonne

Yes that would be great Ms. Yvonne.  Thank you.

Navymom2,

I will private message you our cell #. I sent you a friend request, and when you respond I will be able to do that. :)

Have a blessed day!

Yvonne

Remind your sailors!  TIme is running out to purchase tickets to the Hampton Roads Navy Birthday Ball to be held Saturday, 4 October. Ticket sales end 29 Sepember.  It's an awesome event not to be missed.  To purchase tickets and for more information:  www. hamptonroadsnavyball.com  

Marcy - is this an event for all Sailors?

Leach73 - Yes!  Active, Reserves, veterans, and civilians go.  It's a fun evening with ceremonies, dinner, cake cutting, and dancing to a band, and your sailor will really feel honored and special.  The Waterside Marriott is a beautiful venue and she will LOVE it.  She doesn't need a date, just a friend or friends to go with. I hope you'll encourage her to go, I she'll be glad not to have missed it!  

Hi Marcy!

Thanks for the reply. I love the picture of you and your son! Beautiful mom and son moment! I forwarded the info to my daughter and I encouraged her to go. She didn't know about it so I told her to start making plans with some of her buddies so that they can get put some make-up on and do their hair so that they can enjoy an evening of fun. Hopefully she goes! gosh, I wish I could go! lol!

Welcome to the group jgarza. Did your daughter just arrive to Norfolk? My daughter is in Norfolk too aboard the USS Porter.

My son is headed to Norfolk today.  He reports to his ship Sunday morning.  This is his first duty assignment.  He's excited to be heading to the fleet.  He assigned to the USS Harry S. Truman. 

jgarza and AJ's -Mom,

my husband and I invite the sailors over to our house on the weekends to play board games, go mini golfing, bowling and of course we feed them home cooked meals. We would love to invite your daughter and your son over too. We evan have a sailor from the Truman coming. If you think they would be interested I can pm you our cell phone # so they can get in touch with us. If you go to our page at this sight it will tell you more about us.

Yvonne  

Hi - new to this group and I have a question. I have seen a lot in the threads regarding the long waiting list for barracks or base housing. Does this apply to Sailors who are coming to Norfolk on a Shore Duty assignment or only to those with a Sea Duty? Do Shore Duty assignments have to be a certain rank to receive the BAH? Thanks :)

Hi @CC0727. My son is on shore duty in Norfolk and got housing right away.

Welcome CC0727! HawaiiKat is right. Sailors on shore duty get housing right away. My son is an AD in Norfolk. How about your sailor? 

Thanks for the info! My Sailor had heard through the grapevine previously that you had to be E4 to get BAH there. Are the barracks the only housing options for single sailors? Anyone know how the barracks living is there? PS...Glad to be part of your group :)