AUGUST adoption: Fun and GATOR Games with the USS IWO JIMA!!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

USS Iwo Jima August 2012 from Marcy Scott on Vimeo.

UPDATE - USS Iwo Jima Homecoming December 20, 2012 - a Cox Video Diary (Kleenex alert!)

Here's a September 2012 update to our amazing August adoption - a wonderful email I just received!!  I want to give a great big THANK YOU to everyone who made the August adoption of the junior enlisted aboard USS Iwo Jima on this long deployment such a wonderful one!!!   Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom 

Received the following email (from a female sailor) today (9/25):  

"The crew and I on the Iwo Jima want to thank you for the lovely care packages that you sent us on this deployment. 

I am a [xxx] on this ship and I have been onboard the Iwo Jima for over a year now.  This is my second deployment and it has been difficult, especially without visiting a liberty port for months on end and the many restrictions we go under for operational security purposes. 

Sometimes, the only exciting thing we have to look forward to is mail.  Most of us are always expecting mail from loved ones but they don’t always arrive on time. 

For some of us that don’t get any mail, instead are blessed with a care package from lovely, caring and appreciative persons like you.  We are just as grateful for receiving your gifts as you are for us serving our country. 

A couple of days ago, all of us in my work center were pleasantly surprised with care packages and let me tell you - we were like a bunch of happy little kids on Christmas day opening our presents! 

We truly appreciate you thinking of us and caring about us and taking the time out of your day to make these packages for us especially for those who may feel lonelier because of not hearing from their family and loved ones for so long.  It truly means a lot to us.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

[XX]" 

August Adoption:  Fun and GATOR Games!   Our adoptees are the junior enlisted sailors (E4 and below) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS IWO JIMA - part of the Navy’s “Gator Navy” - and we’re definitely going for the GOLD with this adoption!  

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group is halfway through an eight month deployment (more about the ship, below).  The Iwo Jima ARG is in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation patrolling parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, supporting maritime security operations and critical response capability if needed. 

They’ve been away from home a loooong time, and along with needing PERSONAL CARE items, they are hoping for SNACKS AND TREATS from home (chocolate is a special request!), and have specifically also asked for GAMES to help beat the dog days of summer and keep their spirits up! 

There are 625 junior enlisted aboard, of which about 100 are female.  We hope to send as many boxes as we can.  Lets do our MOLLY best to give these great sailors plenty of treats PLUS fun and games to share.  THANK YOU for ROCKING THE GATOR GAMES!!!! 

We're encouraging individual boxes with a mix of snacks & treats, personal care items and games in each.  If you want to send a common box full of one category, please clearly mark COMMON BOX -SHARE.

Print these MAS Stickers (2"x4", 10/page) and add to your boxes!!

Here’s the ‘Wish List' from our contact, the ships RP1:  (Note: no pillow cases permitted by the ship for this adoption.  

She says in her email...

“My list is compiled from things that I see firsthand some sailors run out of and the ship store does not carry or runs out of.  Movies/TV series (DVDs, any kind works) are welcome.  Homemade treats are the best - cookies, chocolate and brownies.

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS ~

Shampoo and conditioner

Soap

Toothpaste and mouthwash

Hand sanitizer

Lotion

Purex 3 in 1’s (laundry soap) is good

New dark blue T shirts compatible with NWUs

New black over the calf crew socks

Shoe polish (black)

SNACKS AND TREATS ~

Homemade treats - cookies, chocolate and brownies - note:  chocolate is a big request! :)  Recipes and Baking Tips for successful shipping

Candy

Chips/popcorn

GAMES ~

Board games

Phase 10 (card game)

Scrabble

Jenga

Taboo

Playing cards

Dominoes

Jump ropes

Jacks.....”

♥ And of course - cards and letters of support from home are the most welcome of all ♥ :)

Add a Molly's Adopt a Sailor sticker to your box!  MAS labels

Measuring 844 feet long (about the length of three football fields), the USS Iwo Jima and her 1,100 sailors provide the platform that can deliver up to 1,900 Marines (currently from the 24th Expeditionary Unit) to any contingency in their region.  

This eight-month deployment is longer than the norm for a routine rotation.  The ARG’s deployment also marks the maiden voyage of the USS New York, whose bow is forged with steel from the World Trade Center.

The Iwo (LHD-7) serves both as a warship and as a medical provider of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.  Her extensive medical department includes operating rooms, a blood bank, laboratories and patient wards.  When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the Iwo provided a floating command center and hospital, while her crew assisted in search and rescue operations, plucking almost 3,400 people from rooftops and saving them from rising waters.  In 2010, she provided healthcare and humanitarian aid to eight countries in the Caribbean and South America, and in 2006, evacuated nearly 15,000 American citizens from Lebanon.

 

 

[valeriejean]

oh donna, that sounds wonderful....I have a T shirt that says "chocolate is my middle name, thinking of changing it to my first"!  I am not as bad a chocoholic as I used to be, but still, nothing quite like it!

Congrats on the 37lbs, that is fantastic!

[Pentwater98]

Put me down for 2 boxes. 1 box personal care & games and 1 box snacks & treats.

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

What do you think of mixing them up, so each sailor getting his/her own box gets a variety?

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I have a former student who is a Coastie veteran and now a security guard at one of the casinos here.  She's going to get me as many decks of cards as she can--should be a ton!  They drill a hole in the middle of them so they can't be used in the casino again, but there's nothing wrong with them otherwise.  Just wait till we adopt a Coast Guard group--I am putting her to work for us!!!  But this time cards will do.

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

Ruth we just got our first Coast Guard group in the website the other day --------HOOYAH !! 

and that my ladies is how you get to adopt each and every branch of the US MILITARY ---not too shabby for a bunch of military moms huh :)    ha we simply rock 

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Let me look.  I think I still have the recipes for bar cookies and brownies that are recommended for the Middle East.  Give me a day or two, but I'll post them when I find them.  I sent them four years ago the first deployment my son did in A-stan. Made with crisco bar shortening so they withstand the heat.

[valeriejean]

I posted on my FB what Mollys was doing this month and have several friends who are interested in participating.  And I would love to send some baked goods, looking forward to getting Ruth's recipes.    I have a ginger/molasses cookie recipe that uses Crisco and ships well....

We aren't aiming at sending individual boxes are we?  I would prefer to just a bunch stuff and let them choose...

I have some yo yos that lite up...Would that be ok for this group?

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

I think yo-yos are a great idea, how fun!  Sending individual boxes is nice as the FCPOA will be handing them out to the sailors, but any which way works for you is terrific and appreciated!!! :)

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

http://www.verybestbaking.com/With-the-Kids/Family-Kitchen/Articles...

I had to go looking for the recipes on the web, but recognized them immediately.  I've made all of these and sent them.  The double chocolate bars sound like something these sailors might like.  The website has a lot of info about what to use in baking, what goes rancid, etc.  It's sort of an APO shipping 101 page, but still sort of interesting.  So now you can get baking!

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

Marcy ---- are they handing them out or having a party ?   

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Molly, the request was to hand them out.  The ship has been in restricted communications so I'm not able to easily get emails to and from our contact, but I'll try to confirm.  

[valeriejean]

The double chocolate brownies sound divine!  have to check my veg shortening supply!   Thank you!