Son Just Arrived Boot Camp Today 3/24

[Elaine E.]

Our second son to join the Navy arrived in Great Lakes today.  Anyone else out there with the same situation?  Thanks!

[Heartluvin]

Hi everybody, it is so good to see so many that are in the same ship and division as my son. I have gotten two sets of letters from him at this point. He told me in one of the sets that the greatest day of his time since he has been there was easter because he got 11 letters from everyone that has been writing. He keeps telling me the only thing he wants is letters every day. They get their mail everyday, but they can only write and send out mail on Sundays. My son has been using the little bit of time he has before lights out to write to memebers of the family. The letters are not long, but it is a little each day, then sends them out on Sunday. He says that things are getting a bit easier, and he is also counting down the days until PIR. I had to giggle when I was reading it, because I have been sending time lines with my letters as well. I missed his first call as well, but I got a surprise the other day. He was going to the annex and had a few minutes and called. I was so excited to talk to him that I couldn't think of what to say. I tried to think of all the questions that I wanted to ask and I forgot. He told me he had to go and he would get to call me again in three weeks. About 10 minutes later, I got another call. This one was only about three minutes and he was talking about his jobs. Then he said quickly, I got to go, I could hear his RTC in the background. Then "MOM I LOVE YOU". "Click". He is really missing home and in one of his letters he told me that many of the guys are homesick, so they are trying to help each other get through it. One of the guys he mentioned had the last name of "Harper". I hope I get to meet him at PIR, I want to thank him for helping my son out. I am very grateful for this site, for without it, I would never be making it through this. I want to hear more Tamijzr07, and sjb1107, maybe our sons are talking and that would be awesome to have that extra connection.

[sjb1107]

Oh, I have been unable to spend much time online due to work being really busy this week, but I need to start paying attention - exciting that our sons could be talking. I haven't noodled around this site too much due to lack of time, but we're talking about ship 14 division 190, right? I need to start a list of who else has sons there. Matt hasn't talked to me by phone but called his gf once. Letters I get say he is doing great and that they have very little time. His favorite day was Easter also! He loves all the letters. His gf said that she had been sending him addressed and stamped envelopes but he told her that they cannot use them. They must use navy envelopes. Just FYI for others.

[Tamijzr07]

Thanks for the FYI the self addressed envelopes. I was going to send some to motivate some letter writing. :)

[Tamijzr07]

Hi there Heartluvin and sjb1107, you might also want to join the group "Ship 14 Div 190: created by sailorMoesGirl. If you go to the n4m home page you can select groups then scroll down until you find that one. There are only five members just now but all have loved ones on that ship. :) The mail is good for the boys since they have no other contact from the outside world. I'm guessing my son is using his extra time for sleep. We got the one letter with the grad info with the three lines and then one other letter so far. But the 15 minute call we got last Wednesday was awsome and went a long way for me.When we were telling my husband about the call my daughter commented that I took ten minutes and she and her brother had to split the five. I just couldn't help it . I had so many questions.He said they were in a good group and sounded very positive. Thats good your son has some support from the other guys to help him through the home sickness. ( the letters from home help too) For many this is their first time away from home. I'm also greatful for this site,it really helps to know that we all have similar feelings. I told my son that I was on with other Mom's , girlfriends and wives and he did ask who I was talking with but I could only guess at some first names and the n4m community guidlines say not to use last names on the site for security reasons. I do hope out sons are talking. Hopefully I'll hear more in the next letter.

[karen]

Yes my daughter lauren, just started too! can we write them? can they call home?

[Heartluvin]

Thank you very much for all the words of wisdom...I had not thought about sending envelopes with stamps, but that would have been a good idea if they would let us. I get mom send more stamps, I have so many letters to write to everyone. So I have been sending them, I have not heard if they are told they can't have them yet. I know that we can't use last names but if anyones son is talking to a Casey, that would be mine. I keep hearing about how excited he will be to see me at Graduation and the time that we are going to spend together before he goes to "A" School. His last letter told me that things were getting easier but that he was still a little homesick and told me not to worry that he would always think of home. the most excitment came when he was talking about getting his cell phone back so that he could call me every night and tell me what was happening in his day. Also all the things he wants to tell me when I see him. I can already hear and feel the changes that he has gone through. I heard the pride in his letter when he told me that he was Position #1 Leader, and that he gets to wear the collar button of and E5. His words were loud and clear when he said that I would be able to pick him out as they marched during graduation. I can just see his face as he is telling me this...I am still missing him so much. I am glad that I have everyone here for support. I will let you know what the next bit of exciting news is when it comes in.

[Tindywink]

I'm also new at this- my daugther left on May 3rd, to Great Lakes IL, how long before she can call home?

[Susan Grose]

It took about three and a half weeks until I heard from my son, I finally got a call three days after Easter and I stayed home all day on Easter because I thought for sure he would call on Easter. I received a letter about a week later. Hang In There