Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

My son made E6 today one of ten out of 453 eligible for ABH1

Hi all - Happy Wednesday!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.  I am thankful for so many things but I am especially thankful for all of my friends here on N4M's.  I hope you are lucky enough to hear from your sailor but if not, know that they are thinking of you <3 

Rod - BZ to your son!!!! Wow, that's awesome ;-) Great job!

Hi all - Happy Monday!

oh creolemommy - that is so scary.  So thankful that your son wasn't hurt....

Creolemommy, I'm so sorry to hear about your son.  I will tell my daughter to be extra careful, especially around the holidays. Everybody looking for a quick payday.

MOMS,

My husband and I invite the sailors over on the weekends to our home to have a place to hang out and be part of a family. We feed them, play board games, watch football or sometimes movies, and just have fun together. We also do special activities like civil war re-enactments or Williamsburg on Veterans Day and when the weather is warm we go mini golfing. Please let your sons and daughters know about us.

Yvonne and John

Here's "Your Hampton Roads Holiday Events Guide" - tons of things going on!  http://hrscene.com/holiday-events-guide/

Great Picture my son sent the other night.  Don't get to see may of our sailors on the Hanger bay especially at night.  Here you go.  Mine is in yellow middle standing.

Good Morning - I'm very frustrated right now with my daughter.  She's done something to get herself placed in the Brig in Cheasepeak (sp?) and I haven't heard from her in a few days.  Anyone have any experience with communication when your sailor is in trouble?  

Literally the Brig?? My SOn got in trouble and they stopped all lines of communication. Does she have a close friend that you can contact ? 

Yes literally the Brig.  When she first went (approximately 10 days ago), she couldn't contact us.  Then I was getting collect calls from her and their system is messed up and wasn't allowing us to actually add money to the right account to receive the calls.  Got that straight and now her calls have stopped again.  Beyond frustrated and a little concerned right now.  Holding on to my faith in God and faith in my daughter, she's a fighter, that's the problem.  A rebel without a real cause LOL.

Just realized I didn't answer your question re: close friends.  Most of her close friends were deployed recently.  The one that I have talked to is out of town for the holidays but when he gets back next week; he's going to check on her.  It's really frustrating.

MoCityMom, is she in the brig? or Jail? The "brig" is usually on the ship. If she is in the brig, she would be on restriction, which means she would not have any form of communication, as they take away all electronics and only allow phone calls home on Sundays, if they are allowed at all. If she is in jail, then she would have a "prisoner" account that you could add money to so that she can make collect calls. Just know...either way...she is ok. She will contact you as soon as she can. Remember...no news is good news. Keeping you in my prayers, as I'm sure this is a very stressful time for you both.

She's in a facility called Navy Consolidated Brig Chesapeake which is a military jail.  Yes I was able to put money on her account but not all of the phones that she has access to are connected correctly to the account.  Thanks for your prayers, I'm not stressed because I am a believer with a great amount of faith; I'm just disappointed in her choices.  But hey, she's an adult . . . immature.  As my grandmother used to say, a hard head makes a soft behind :-)

Well, you have a wonderful attitude about it and your faith will definitely bring you through this one. I understand about hard-headed adults...I raised TWO! :) Sometimes it takes things like this to open their eyes so that they can start to grow as "not-so-hard-headed" adults. I hope you will hear from her soon to settle your concerns.

Thank you TJCsMom.  Your thoughts are appreciated; needed someone out there who really understands (her Dad/my husband is so mad, he's no help LOL).

MoCityMom, so sorry to hear about all this. Perhaps you can get advice by using the contact info here - http://www.jag.navy.mil/legal_services/rlso/rlso_mid_atlantic.htm

Brooke - regarding homecoming, you should already be part of the ship's Family Readiness Group and on the ombudsman team's list (if not, here's how to reach them).  The FRG will be emailing you with all the information you need about getting on base, which pier, where to park, planned activities the night before and so on.  Get foam posterboard (not thin, floppy pasteboard) and decorate a big Welcome Home sign.  If you can, tell your husband to look for the bright yellow or hot pink one or whatever so he knows what to keep an eye out for.  You can also order a sign or banner from buildasign.com but the homemade ones are a lot more fun, also easier to hold.

 Everyone gathers outside the gate that leads to the pier, so when they funnel out through the gate they're pretty easy to spot.  

We arranged that I would call Verizon and reactivate his phone the day before so when the ship arrived we could call each other before he was able to disembark.  It can take some time by the way for your sailor to be released from the ship, like up to an hour or more.  My first homecoming, the ship arrived about an hour before they'd said it would, so get there on the early side!  If you're staying at the Navy Lodge (just off base, nice, convenient, good price), make your reservation as soon as you know the date and let them know you're arriving for a ship homecoming.  There are McDonald's on base so you can grab a coffee for the wait when you get there, too.  Some people bring a tiny folding camp stool to sit while waiting.  This isn't a day for 4" heels by the way!  Lots of walking and waiting and you're there for a long while so be comfortable.

One more thing about signs - if you tape a wire yard-sign holder to the back, you'll be able to hold it up high over everyone's heads like a pro! LOL If you do order from buildasign, do so way in advance or the shipping charges go up a lot.  

Happy New Year, all!! MoCityMom, I hope you've heard from your daughter and that she is doing well!

Thank you TJCsMom - my apologies for not providing an update. Yes I heard from her and she is doing well.  I really appreciate your concern and prayers.  

Hi I just joined. My son just got stationed in Norfolk Virginia.He has been in the Nave for 13 months now. So what do I do  now? 

To Hope4U, do you know whether he is assigned to a ship or to shore?  If a ship, you can reach out to the ombudsman for the ship.  

To Aliecat64 - there's not a whole lot we as parents can do except be there for them when they can talk, send them their favorite treats and pray.  You could plan a trip to visit him, but make sure you discuss his schedule.  

To Hope4u, MoCity Mom, and Aliecat64,

Welcome! I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I have a ministry to sailors. We open our home and invite them to come over on Saturday evenings-we feed them and play board games with them and give them a place to hang out. We also watch football if they are interested in sports and sometimes go mini-golfing when the weather is nice. On Sundays we invite them over after we get home from church to join us for a homecooked meal with homemade bread and dessert. We've been doing this here in Virginia Beach for the last 15 years. My husband is retired Navy; 10 years enlisted and 10 years as a Navy Chaplain. So we have a heart for the military. If you think your sons or daughter would be interested we can pm you our cell number so they can get in touch with us. Or we could initiate the contact. If you go to our page on this site you can know more about us.

Yvonne and John

I'm joining this group as my daughter is home on leave before heading to Norfolk.  I am enjoying my time with her and the see you later will be difficult.  I am wondering what she might be in for once she arrives.  Any words of wisdom or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Hi Navymom65 (Kim), welcome to the group. Naval Station Norfolk is huge! Depending on where she is going (ship or shore duty), she will either be assigned a room in the barracks or a rack on her ship. I'm attaching a map of the base, just to give you an idea of its size and her an idea of how things are laid out there. Hopefully, she has already heard from her sponsor and has made arrangements for transportation from the airport, if she's flying in. If she's driving in, that's great, because a vehicle will definitely come in handy.

Thank you TJCsMom

That does look huge and very confusing.  She has talked to her sponsor and will be flying to VA.  I will be planning a visit when she knows more about what she will be doing and if she will be deployed.   

Navymom65,

You've probably already seen the post on this page, but after your daughter gets settled we would be happy to invite her over to our home to join the other sailors who come over to eat dinner and play board games. 

Welcome to this group!

Yvonne and John

Tell your sailor that there is a very nice USO at the Norfolk airport.  If things get muddled, or if she has problems locating her sponsor, tell her to go there.  they will step in to help.  They have all of the proper telephone numbers to help military in transit.

Hi-my son arrived in Newport News on Mon. and is staying on his ship. They are still building it, he said it is amazing, and I am happy to be a new member of this group. I have a question-can I mention the name of his ship on this forum?

Nancy,

Welcome to the group. Sounds like your son is enjoying being here(as short as it has been) and that's good. 

We, my husband and I, would like you to know that we invite sailors over to our home on the weekends to eat, play board games, watch movies,football(if they're interested) and hang out together. It gives them a place to go .  We get together on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. If you think your son would be interested in joining us I can pm you our cell number.

Here's hoping his time here will be a positive experience for him. 

You can go to our page on this site to find out more about us.

Yvonne and John

Thanks John and Yvonne-I'll let my son know.

Great Nancy!

Let me know if you want our cell number.

Yvonne and John

morning ladies!!! My son flying home today!!! from PC then off to NF he is APACK will be working on helicopters he had a hard time in PC hopefully he will enjoy NF and make some new friends. He is a small town Tx boy and always ready to help out he joyed the Navy to see the world  as well as did not know what he what to do after HS. My brother has been a BIG help retired Navy and this Page as well!!!

Can someone tell me how I can contact my son? He is a CS and got to Norfolk on 1/14, assigned to IKE. That is all I know.   Calls to his cell have been going straight to voicemail since 1/25 and I get no response to texts/emails. I have no mailing address for him either. My Dad was just placed in hospice. I know I can call the Red Cross, but was hoping there was a less drastic way to get in touch with him. Thanks!

dwaynesmom- The ombudsman for his ship would probably be the easiest and best way to get in touch or get a message through. There is probably a page for the Ike. It's possible that they are out on a training exercise and not in port. That would explain his phone being off. The ombudsman would still be able to get in touch with them. 

I just looked and there is a group USS Eisenhower - IKE Family. I would start there. Good Luck!

texasmom79, my son is an SPACT in Norfolk.  He is also from a small Texas town.  Feel free to message me with any questions you might have.

dwaynesmom - I found this page with information on the Ike's ombudsman: http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/cvn69/Pages/Ombudsman.aspx   Good luck reaching you son!

You may want to go through the Red Cross or his chaplain. The Navy really watched over and helped my sailor when my dad passed away. I was glad someone was with him, my sailor, to make sure he was ok and not alone. His command didn't let him be alone for many hours, maybe a day. Something to consider.

Thank you all so very much for the suggestions! I contacted the ombudsman, who contacted his command and my sailor called me!! They've been unable to use their cell phones. I'm now on the ombudsman AND the FRG email tree and I joined the IKE Family NavyforMoms group. This group is awesome and you guys ROCK!!

creolemommy,

One of the sailors who comes over to our house on the weekends is up in Newport News. I'll ask him tonight and get back to you

Is your son married?

I'm asking because my husband and I invite sailors over to our house on the weekends. We feed them and play board games on Saturday evenings and on Sunday we have a regular Sunday dinner with homemade bread and dessert. If you think he might be interested, we can pm you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

My son just got to Norfolk on Sat. He has been going to chowhall to eat. but he thought as well as I he didn't have to pay but got charged today. Did hego to wrong mess hall or does he need to talk to someone

Just found about he has no money in bank...kids in the morning I going to put money in his bank

Texasmom79,

My son was stationed at Norfolk for almost 2 1/2 years and as far as I know there was so to speak a chow hall it was more like a small restaurant that cooked breakfast and lunch and if I remember correctly my son says it was like $5.00 for breakfast and that was just one plate. He had to eat out everyday and believe me it showed in his bank account. I know all to well about having to put money in the bank account, but its a shame that they have to go out to eat instead of being provided food at no charge. On the sub my son didn't have to pay, but he was on shore duty the whole time except for a few weeks.