USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

Hey Dad of Sailor..

I need your help with how things work after the homecoming.. if u don't mind can we talk threw my email?

sure...what's your email?

got it, you may delete that post and I'll contact you directly.

Just wanted to say this is my son's first deployment and a huge thanks to all of you as I needed all of you for moral support - I've learned alot about everything. No, I wasn't at the homecoming and hope it was wonderful for all of you!

Homecoming was AMAZING!  The energy of the crowd and the pride you feel as you watch the ship make it's way to the pier is so overwhelming.  Sad we had to leave on Sunday, but my sailor will be home in a couple days for 2 weeks.  Here is a picture of my son and daughter.

What a WONDERFUL time! Arrived Thursday, cruised around getting used to the area, went to night before meeting (sorry, was wasted on me. With no laptop, could not find anyone but bought lots of merchandise with BUSH on it), slept in because my sailor told me what time they would be leaving ship so getting there at the crack of dawn would of been a waste of time for us. Pulled in at Noon to see the ship pulling into their pier.  Not sure but I may of made the live-feed.  Heard they were having issues and had staff with mics going around and wishing their sailor a happy homecoming.  Then we saw guys running around with video cameras and one shot me from top to bottom holding my sailor's welcome home sign.  Had a great tour of the aircraft carrier the next day, got to see them bring in the colors that evening.  My hubby (sailor's step-dad) was in awe through the whole tour.  

Posted on the aircraft carrier...had to share.

What a wonderful few days with my sailor, the homecoming, the ship tour, getting to meet his ship family and making them all apart of our lives back home. 

What a wonderful few days it's been! Today is the last full day we will spend with our sailor, but planning to hang around for another couple days to see him in the evenings if possible. He'll be home in a few weeks on leave, so won't be as hard as usual to say goodbye. JackieD- Thanks so much for the picture the other morning. We tried to walk down and try to find you after you told me where you were, but got a little lost in the crowd and was afraid we'd miss him coming off the ship, so we went back. I saw a couple N4M signs from a distance too. Btw- My sailor son has a buddy V.M. who we met at homecoming and his brother (I think) took a ton of pictures of the two of them. So Mom if your on here, is there a way I can see some of those? I'd be more than happy to pay for a disc or something.

I almost forgot- I saw some Bush shirts at a vendor tent the other day and am kicking myself for not getting one. They had a cool color graphic on the back. They weren't in the hospitality tent, it was more toward the pier. Does anyone know what I'm talking about and where I might be able to get one?

Tracy, you're welcome. I also tried to find you, then got lost in the crowd. I even lost my daughter. I'm friends with V.M. mom on FB. She has a picture on there with her son next to yours (I'll tag you on there). I also have some pics of our sons manning the rails. V.M, my son and your son were very close together. All the pics/videos are on my camera. I hope to transfer soon and share on FB and with this group.

FYI - for those that did not get to be there and would like to see some of the ship, contact me.  I have pictures posted on my facebook page that you may enjoy (really shows you what they mean by having no room for extra stuff).

Last year I got to see my sailor for Christmas...this year, won't happen until the Christmas crew returns from their visit.  I'm just happy to know they will be home before the end of 2014!

After seeing where they bunk - no wonder they want to sleep as much as they can when they are home.  Loved my sailor's jacket they bought for their first deployment, covered in patches and names of places they went.  Maybe didn't get a tiger cruise this trip - but got to see everything one would have on it.

My daughter has duty on Thanksgiving, her 25th birthday and Christmas!!!

We were all there for Homecoming. Katie takes leave to visit friends between and then is coming home after.

I've never heard them getting off for Thanksgiving.

My son is on a plane home right now.  He'll land at SFO in 2 hours.  He'll be home through the end of November, then he'll be back for the second holiday leave.

Most will be off on thanksgiving day except for the duty section which my son is in. He has to work Thanksgiving day and Christmas day.A large group is on POM leave so they will get to be home on thanksgiving since they will be on leave.

The way I understood it from my son was they had to pick which leave they wanted. POM leave, Christmas, or New Years. I think they are each they same length, 10-14 days or so (I haven't gotten the exact dates yet from my son). Dad- does that sound right to you?

Jackie, If yours is coming home again for holiday leave, S. must have misunderstood. We've spent all week with him (evenings after he went back to work), then he'll be home for Christmas. I know he's wanting to save up his leave time since he has a couple things he's wanting to be home for this upcoming year.

Some sailors flew home early for leave and then returned in time for the Homecoming....the ones we all saw embarking the ship.  Then there was the POM leave that JacieDs son is on. He'll return in time for my daughter to take her leave in early December.  Then there is a Christmas leave and a New Year's leave.

Anita your daughter looks so pretty!! I would love to say thank you to all my navy moms, dads, aunts, uncles and/or whom ever got on this site to post things about their kids. This deployment was the first one for us and you guys made it easier by sharing stories, comments and care for each other. THANKS TO EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS!! :)

Thanks, Soccermom.      Hope everyone has a "Fattening" Thanksgiving :-)

Yeah, Tracy is correct. They have to pick which POM leave period and then pick which holiday leave period they want.

They each get two leave periods, POM and holiday but they are split up and only last for around 2 weeks.

Christmas holiday leave is the most popular so many were told they had to pick the New Years period because the Christmas period had too many people. My son being the junior guy in the shop was told he could only have the New Years period.

so glad to see the Bush back!  I hope all the sailors get to be with their families on Thanksgiving and Christmas!  

But if by any chance some of those sailors can't make it home or family doesn't come to them, my husband and I would like to invite them to our house for Thanksgiving. Just let us know who you are. :) You can go to our page on this site and find out more about us. We have lots of sailors who come over to our house on the weekends for food, board games, a place to hang out away from the ship.

Yvonne and John Wagner

Did anyone happen to buy anything at homecoming from the vendor right outside the pier who was selling the FRG merchandise and remember if there was a name on the receipt? I bought an ornament, but didn't keep the receipt and I'm wanting to see if I can get some t-shirts they had for Christmas gifts. I've tried contacting the FRG and haven't heard anything, but I'm sure they're taking some much needed downtime.

Tracy -

On my account it shows Southern Screen & Graphic, Virginia Beach, VA.  I looked up their number for you (757) 490-3355.

Besides t-shirts, they also had headbands, magnetic ribbons in blue digital camo with USS George HW Bush (CVN 77), their first deployment cookbook with recipes from crew members and their families.   Lots with the Bush logo on it.

Here's their website

http://southernscreen.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/default.htm

Thanks so much Anita- I had paid for my ornament in cash, so didn't have a record at all of who I bought it from. I'll check it out.

I saw the Navy released the Petty Officer lists, and I think my cousin is on it (have to check w/him or his dad).  But I noticed the names are not alphabetical on the lists, even within each rank, I wondered if Dad of Sailor or anyone knew why this was, like is the higher scores first or something? 

CousinSarah, I have no idea why they are not in alphabetical order. It does seem odd for sure.

A suggestion that worked well for my sailor's last homecoming...I wasn't at the Bush homecoming so I can't do this.

Someone with photos starts a "Homecoming Photos" discussion group.  Others can post photos to this page.  It is a great way to share photos.

We did for my son's last deployment and it's amazing how many of us found additional photos of our sailors in other people's photos. It was great seeing the arrival through another person's vantage point.

where are you finding the petty officer lists?

Here's the official list from the navy:  http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/documents/cyc224%20active.pdf

Thanks SailorMom and Dad of Sailor-thanks for the input!  We did receive confirmation from my cousin that it is his name we found on the list-yay!

Thanks-we're pretty excited about it!  Yes, had to use the search function on the internet browser to find his name!  And it was like one of hundreds of "John"'s (as in John Doe, not his name for security reasons...)