Happy Mothers Day to all you mom's, hope your day is special.
Received this email from my son this morning about the swim...
Hey dad,
Well I can officially say I have jumped off a carrier and swam in the open ocean!!! It was soooo much fun!!! The jump was a lot further feeling when you were doing it lol. It was a 25ft jump and literally it felt like I was in the air forever lol. But once I hit the water it was so nice and relaxing. The water was 85 degrees and super calm. We just got to swim from aircraft elevator 3 (right behind the island) to the back of the ship. The guy after me didn't plug his nose and it started to pour out blood as soon as he came up after his jump lol. Everyone was freaking out that he was going to attract sharks lol. That's just too much force when you hit the water to not plug your nose. And guess what? I even got somebody to take a video of me jumping in! :) So I will be sure to get that from him and save it on my laptop so you guys can watch. Definitely an amazing experience and I am so glad I did it! And we still have a good meal and a concert tonight so it should end up being a pretty fun day!
I got an email that said "Swimming in the Gulf! I can now cross that off my bucket list." Of course, I replied, more details on the jump, swim, etc. we'll see.
What a great description! Thanks for sharing. It sounds like a blast for them.
To all you Moms - Happy Mother's Day! We have so much to be thankful for and proud of. We did good! Let's remember that as we are missing sharing this day with our sailors
Got a call from Katie! She went swimming twice. Katie said she went at the regular time and then again later with the 'stragglers'. Guess the rescue swimmers got to use their skills........some in her division just couldn't swim.
Tonya - swimming is required for BC. Guess it was different swimming in the wide open water.
I know when Katie was on the USS Essex, out of Japan, they had a swim call and that time some of Katie's friends held on to her and wouldn't let go. Katie could really enjoy a swim that time.
We are from MI and Katie didn't grow up with all that swimming. She enjoys getting into any of the Great Lakes when on vacation or any other water....so she will enjoy any swim calls they have.
My oldest is in the UP at Sault Ste Marie right the Soo Locks. She went at little ways west on Lake Superior where there is a lighthouse we visit. We had a picture of the 4 kids on a rock. She sent us a picture of that rock a few days ago and there was still snow/ice there! Today it is a beautiful sunny 70' day.
My Sailor went for the swim today he had a blast, we in Colorado are sitting in a blizzard today and tomorrow up to a foot of snow in some areas just north of me.
So proud tomorrow my Sailor receives his blue jacket of the quarter award.
Sorry I thought I had found a tumblr page but it was like one that they were tagged in. But here is another question how do I go about getting my husband's deployment orders? He took them with him and getting him to send them to me would be like pulling teeth. So how do I go about getting those?
Hi Mom here’s wishing you a Happy Mothers Day. Today I finally jump off the ship for the swim call. It was a 25 foot drop from one of the elevators in the hanger bay. When I fell from the ship it felt like I was in the air for a while until I hit the water. The thing though when I hit the water I didn’t go straight down, my back hit the water so hard I was wheezing when I got to the surface. And man was the water salty, blach! And the water was nice and warm while I was swimming back to the fantail. We’ll be hitting XXXXX soon and I can’t wait for the tours I can take when we get there. I’m sorry I haven’t been emailing you as much, work has been troublesome lately and I’m just trying to keep up. That’s all the news I have for now. Hope to hear from you soon.
Received a surprise call from my son for Mothers day! It was brief and he told me he did the swim call too! Said was a great experience and glad he did it. hate he had to hang up but the 3 minute fast phone call was the best!
I am on cloud 9 right now I saw a picture of my husband on the facebook page and then got an email from him this morning.....my week has been made and its only Tuesday!!
I received chocolate covered strawbeerys with a teddy bear on Mothers day...But the best part was that in the card he quoted our favorite song snow patrol
"even if you can not hear my voice, i'll be right beside you dear"
made me that happiest and saddest mom in the world !
Sounds like many had a good Mother's Day!! HMMMM BOY! Weather report for our sailor's part of the world looks HOT HOT HOT!!! 102 average high and 77 average low. But hey, its a dry heat - right? lol
Around the World Wednesday: Sailors participate in a swim call off the stern gate of the USS Mesa Verde while transiting the Arabian Sea. Where would you want to have a swim call?
Looks neat during a swim call but could you imagine if you fell overboard and that was the view you seen as the ship sailed away? One of my biggest concerns when I was on the ship and I was extra careful to make sure I never found myself looking at that view.
You thinking it looks like more or less than 25 feet? Looks all of 25 feet and maybe a few more to me. Those guys standing on the elevator look pretty small. I have 25 ft vaulted ceilings in my house and that looks higher than my ceilings.
Was it a 25' drop at boot camp? I can't remember. I know mine regretted it when they didn't hold their nose on the impact of the water (at boot camp). I'd love to do that....a few times :-) Hang in mid-air then the rush of water.....wooo hoooo!!
Thankfully my sailor is a great swimmer so I wasn't stressing out about him jumping. He said that jumping off the ship from 30 feet (his guess) and with the visual reference of the ship over his shoulder, made the jump feel like 80 feet. He said that he knows it only took 2 to 3 seconds to hit the water but it was an amazing experience and he would have sworn that it took much longer to hit the sea.
I'm so glad he got the chance to make the jump. He didn't have the opportunity on the last carrier deployment to the same area.
Dad ~ if you go read her personal page, it is just the way she rolls. Doesn't sound like anything personal. If she's not active with you, she just chooses to leave.
ATTENTION all those near CVG. Come to CVG tonight to welcome home the latest Honor Flight as they return from their trip from Washington D.C. to visit their memorials. They served their time. Do your share to come thank them before its too late.
My first time commenting, so bear with me. :) My 18 year old son has been on the Bush for nearly 5 weeks now. I hear from him nearly every day through email and he calls at least once or twice a week. He seems to like it, though he says the days are long and the weeks are short. I have sent him two packages so far to the address he gave me...but he hasn't received them yet and he's worried that he won't get them. Does anyone know how long it can take to get a package? It's been nearly 3 weeks since I sent the first one...
Anita, thx...she sent me a PM and said her son isn't on the Bush so that is why she left.
sjpdaisy, we had some packages take 6 weeks to get there so give it some time. Depends on the backlog and amount of transportation available to the ship. They all showed up eventually. Welcome to the group!
Sure hope O'Hare Airport has their act together! Crazy - pallets upon pallets not processed for shipment. Last 3 care packages I sent are going on 4 weeks...no sign yet. Maybe I should of sent that birthday card for June out back in March?!? LOL
That might help explain why he is so entertainingly cranky throughout Another Great Day at Sea, his compact diary of the two weeks he spent as a writer-in-residence aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. Despite their gargantuan scale, aircraft carriers are, in their airtight confines and industrious energy, the seaworthy equivalent of ant farms — and, as Dyer puts it, "as crowded as a Bombay slum." Every day of their monthslong deployment in the Persian Gulf, lurking suggestively close to Iraq and Iran, 5,000 members of the U.S. Navy clamber over the carrier's "overwhelmingly horizontal" flight deck and scamper through its hellish substratum: a cramped, complex and disorienting maze of interior passageways and hatches. With so many feverish bluejackets at work — and with the airborne fuel and grease of a vessel whose lone purpose is to launch and land screaming jets — keeping things shipshape is essential. "There were always people cleaning," Dyer observes. "Everywhere you went ... sailors were washing, wiping, rinsing, dusting, sweeping, scrubbing, brushing, buffing, polishing, shining."
Thanks for that Anita...someone posted an article from the New Yorker Magazine about the ship but you had to have a subscription to read it. Anyone ever find that article without needing a subscription?
Yeah, the mail delivery times vary a lot. It seems to take much longer for those sending mail from the west coast. All the packages my daughter in law sends from Norfolk get to the ship MUCH quicker (two to three weeks) than ours do from Arizona.
Maybe that's why my last 2 haven't arrived, shipped 4/17 and 5/1 respectively. Odd though, during my son's 2010 deployment they arrived faster, several as fast as within 5 days. I thought perhaps they travel a different route from HI. But hey, any day now, they must be close :)
Dad of Sailor
Happy Mothers Day to all you mom's, hope your day is special.
Received this email from my son this morning about the swim...
Hey dad,
Well I can officially say I have jumped off a carrier and swam
in the open ocean!!! It was soooo much fun!!! The jump was a lot further feeling when you were doing it lol. It was a 25ft jump and literally it felt like I was in the air forever lol. But once I hit the water it was so nice and relaxing. The water was 85 degrees and super calm. We just got to swim from aircraft elevator 3 (right behind the island) to the back of the ship. The guy after me didn't plug his nose and it started to pour out blood as soon as he came up after his jump
lol. Everyone was freaking out that he was going to attract sharks lol. That's just too much force when you hit the water to not plug your nose. And guess what? I even got somebody to take a video of me jumping in! :) So I will be sure to get that from him and save it on my laptop so
you guys can watch. Definitely an amazing experience and I am so glad I did it! And we still have a good meal and a concert tonight so it should end up being a pretty fun day!
May 11, 2014
JackieD
May 11, 2014
ed'smom
Hey Dad,
What a great description! Thanks for sharing. It sounds like a blast for them.
To all you Moms - Happy Mother's Day! We have so much to be thankful for and proud of. We did good! Let's remember that as we are missing sharing this day with our sailors
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Got a call from Katie! She went swimming twice. Katie said she went at the regular time and then again later with the 'stragglers'. Guess the rescue swimmers got to use their skills........some in her division just couldn't swim.
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Tonya - swimming is required for BC. Guess it was different swimming in the wide open water.
I know when Katie was on the USS Essex, out of Japan, they had a swim call and that time some of Katie's friends held on to her and wouldn't let go. Katie could really enjoy a swim that time.
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
We are from MI and Katie didn't grow up with all that swimming. She enjoys getting into any of the Great Lakes when on vacation or any other water....so she will enjoy any swim calls they have.
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
My oldest is in the UP at Sault Ste Marie right the Soo Locks. She went at little ways west on Lake Superior where there is a lighthouse we visit. We had a picture of the 4 kids on a rock. She sent us a picture of that rock a few days ago and there was still snow/ice there! Today it is a beautiful sunny 70' day.
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Guess it was Jason Michael Carroll concert on board ship today
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
My kids all too swimming lessons....but I'm not sure I could swim well enough to save myself! So I know what you mean.
May 11, 2014
NavyMomDPL
My Sailor went for the swim today he had a blast, we in Colorado are sitting in a blizzard today and tomorrow up to a foot of snow in some areas just north of me.
So proud tomorrow my Sailor receives his blue jacket of the quarter award.
Happy mothers day to all
May 11, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Congratulations to your son!
Hope you survive the blizzard!
May 11, 2014
rikki_100113
Hey does anyone have the tumbler info for the ship?
May 11, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Was not aware there was a tumblr page for the ship. A google search provided nothing. Let us know if you find something.
May 11, 2014
NavyMomDPL
Thank You MarianneKT's Mom
May 11, 2014
rikki_100113
May 11, 2014
Dad of Sailor
He's the only one that is going to have his orders. He can scan and email them to you.
May 11, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!!!
Latest from my sailor:
Hi Mom here’s wishing you a Happy Mothers Day. Today I finally jump off the ship for the swim call. It was a 25 foot drop from one of the elevators in the hanger bay. When I fell from the ship it felt like I was in the air for a while until I hit the water. The thing though when I hit the water I didn’t go straight down, my back hit the water so hard I was wheezing when I got to the surface. And man was the water salty, blach! And the water was nice and warm while I was swimming back to the fantail. We’ll be hitting XXXXX soon and I can’t wait for the tours I can take when we get there. I’m sorry I haven’t been emailing you as much, work has been troublesome lately and I’m just trying to keep up. That’s all the news I have for now. Hope to hear from you soon.
Love, XXXXXX
May 12, 2014
pattyb
Received a surprise call from my son for Mothers day! It was brief and he told me he did the swim call too! Said was a great experience and glad he did it. hate he had to hang up but the 3 minute fast phone call was the best!
May 12, 2014
rikki_100113
I am on cloud 9 right now I saw a picture of my husband on the facebook page and then got an email from him this morning.....my week has been made and its only Tuesday!!
May 13, 2014
lavendergrl8
I received chocolate covered strawbeerys with a teddy bear on Mothers day...But the best part was that in the card he quoted our favorite song snow patrol
"even if you can not hear my voice, i'll be right beside you dear"
made me that happiest and saddest mom in the world !
Just love him so :0)
May 13, 2014
NavyMomDPL
Happy for you both Lavendergrl8 and rikki
May 13, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Sounds like many had a good Mother's Day!! HMMMM BOY! Weather report for our sailor's part of the world looks HOT HOT HOT!!! 102 average high and 77 average low. But hey, its a dry heat - right? lol
May 13, 2014
Dad of Sailor
May 13, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Rikki - so glad you got to see his picture and heard from him too!
May 13, 2014
lymurphy1262
May 13, 2014
Dad of Sailor
George H.W. Bush Conducts First Swim Call of 2014 Deployment
Jason Michael Carroll Performs Aboard George H.W. Bush
May 13, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Around the World Wednesday: Sailors participate in a swim call off the stern gate of the USS Mesa Verde while transiting the Arabian Sea. Where would you want to have a swim call?
May 14, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Looks neat during a swim call but could you imagine if you fell overboard and that was the view you seen as the ship sailed away? One of my biggest concerns when I was on the ship and I was extra careful to make sure I never found myself looking at that view.
May 14, 2014
Dad of Sailor
A neat perspective...
May 15, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Doesn't look like 25 feet, does it?
May 15, 2014
Dad of Sailor
You thinking it looks like more or less than 25 feet? Looks all of 25 feet and maybe a few more to me. Those guys standing on the elevator look pretty small. I have 25 ft vaulted ceilings in my house and that looks higher than my ceilings.
May 15, 2014
SMom808
May 15, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Was it a 25' drop at boot camp? I can't remember. I know mine regretted it when they didn't hold their nose on the impact of the water (at boot camp). I'd love to do that....a few times :-) Hang in mid-air then the rush of water.....wooo hoooo!!
May 15, 2014
Laura
Thankfully my sailor is a great swimmer so I wasn't stressing out about him jumping. He said that jumping off the ship from 30 feet (his guess) and with the visual reference of the ship over his shoulder, made the jump feel like 80 feet. He said that he knows it only took 2 to 3 seconds to hit the water but it was an amazing experience and he would have sworn that it took much longer to hit the sea.
I'm so glad he got the chance to make the jump. He didn't have the opportunity on the last carrier deployment to the same area.
May 17, 2014
Dad of Sailor
My son has been telling me that they have been working extra long hours getting ready for and during this inspection. Looks like they passed...
George H.W. Bush Successfully Completes 3M Inspection
May 18, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
I hadn't seen/read the official report that you posted, but I did get a text on Friday 'passed inspection!'
May 18, 2014
scootersmom94
ok lemonelephant....I cant see your posts to my profile....help
May 19, 2014
lemonelephant
scootersmom94, go to your My Page.
(I will now leave the group.)
May 19, 2014
Dad of Sailor
lemonelephant: why are you leaving the group, did I miss something?
May 19, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Dad ~ if you go read her personal page, it is just the way she rolls. Doesn't sound like anything personal. If she's not active with you, she just chooses to leave.
May 20, 2014
Anita n Ohio
ATTENTION all those near CVG. Come to CVG tonight to welcome home the latest Honor Flight as they return from their trip from Washington D.C. to visit their memorials. They served their time. Do your share to come thank them before its too late.
May 20, 2014
sjpdaisy
My first time commenting, so bear with me. :) My 18 year old son has been on the Bush for nearly 5 weeks now. I hear from him nearly every day through email and he calls at least once or twice a week. He seems to like it, though he says the days are long and the weeks are short. I have sent him two packages so far to the address he gave me...but he hasn't received them yet and he's worried that he won't get them. Does anyone know how long it can take to get a package? It's been nearly 3 weeks since I sent the first one...
May 20, 2014
newnavywife2014
May 20, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Anita, thx...she sent me a PM and said her son isn't on the Bush so that is why she left.
sjpdaisy, we had some packages take 6 weeks to get there so give it some time. Depends on the backlog and amount of transportation available to the ship. They all showed up eventually. Welcome to the group!
May 20, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Sure hope O'Hare Airport has their act together! Crazy - pallets upon pallets not processed for shipment. Last 3 care packages I sent are going on 4 weeks...no sign yet. Maybe I should of sent that birthday card for June out back in March?!? LOL
May 20, 2014
Anita n Ohio
http://www.npr.org/2014/05/20/312190747/a-great-day-at-sea-for-a-br...
That might help explain why he is so entertainingly cranky throughout Another Great Day at Sea, his compact diary of the two weeks he spent as a writer-in-residence aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. Despite their gargantuan scale, aircraft carriers are, in their airtight confines and industrious energy, the seaworthy equivalent of ant farms — and, as Dyer puts it, "as crowded as a Bombay slum." Every day of their monthslong deployment in the Persian Gulf, lurking suggestively close to Iraq and Iran, 5,000 members of the U.S. Navy clamber over the carrier's "overwhelmingly horizontal" flight deck and scamper through its hellish substratum: a cramped, complex and disorienting maze of interior passageways and hatches. With so many feverish bluejackets at work — and with the airborne fuel and grease of a vessel whose lone purpose is to launch and land screaming jets — keeping things shipshape is essential. "There were always people cleaning," Dyer observes. "Everywhere you went ... sailors were washing, wiping, rinsing, dusting, sweeping, scrubbing, brushing, buffing, polishing, shining."
May 20, 2014
Anita n Ohio
FYI - this book was written back in October 2011.
May 20, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Thanks for that Anita...someone posted an article from the New Yorker Magazine about the ship but you had to have a subscription to read it. Anyone ever find that article without needing a subscription?
May 20, 2014
Dad of Sailor
dreamer,
Yeah, the mail delivery times vary a lot. It seems to take much longer for those sending mail from the west coast. All the packages my daughter in law sends from Norfolk get to the ship MUCH quicker (two to three weeks) than ours do from Arizona.
May 20, 2014
SMom808
Uh oh, and I'm in Hawaii..
Maybe that's why my last 2 haven't arrived, shipped 4/17 and 5/1 respectively. Odd though, during my son's 2010 deployment they arrived faster, several as fast as within 5 days. I thought perhaps they travel a different route from HI. But hey, any day now, they must be close :)
May 20, 2014