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.

 

 

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

The only ones I could get on the discount were "Counting Kisses".  The other recordable books were meant for the parent to read a part and then the child reads the next, so I didn't get them.  But see what you can find.

Matthew used recordable books for Samantha on his last deployment.  He recorded 3 or 4 for her.  She would often go into her room, get one of his books and bring it out.  Since she is so young she wouldn't necessarily go on to the next page, but keep turning back and forth hearing the same page over and over again.  I think she just loved hearing his voice.  He also added little short comments like "Daddy loves you Samantha Jo!"  (Made me cry to listen to his voice reading to her.  My baby reading to his baby!!)

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Hi Denise!  With yours I think we're good now on bubbles.  There are some great clearance sales now, perfect timing for stocking up for this adoption and future ones, too!......

[Denise (Dee)]

I picked up Twis the Night Before Christmas last year and was going to record it for my son and DIL but thought it was silly. I think I still have the book in my Christmas drawer for a later time.  Then I bought the Curious George one for my DIL's 1st niece - her sister loves monkeys.  I was going to have each family member read a page but thought they'd think I was crazy.  I really have to stop talking myself out of these things cuz I think it's so cute and then they have a part of you forever. 

I'm sure it was such a comfort to Samatha Jo to be able to pick up one of those books and hear her daddy.   I'm tearing up just thinking how much that must have pulled at your heart strings.......

[chowchow]

Ok I've been very busy sorry Mom's, but one of my sailors have been home (son-in-law) with my daughter and his mom so life has been busy, buy I'm ready to just back in and help.  I will make cookies & brownies seal them in my food saver.  My son says that works great and then off to shop for games and I will pick up some personal items as well.  I still have lots of toothbrushes & toothpaste from the dentist if they could use some of that stuff.  I can't wait to get started.

Chow

 

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Hey Chow!  I think we are good on the toothbrushes - but we need MORE of the stuff that makes them need them, namely cookies and brownies so you're right on!!  thank you, enjoy baking!

[valeriejean]

Chow Chow, I've never sealed brownies/cookies in my food saver.... any tips?

[chowchow]

The only thing I do different is I stop and seal the packages before the cookies get crushed, but the air is still out and the cookies stay fresh.  My church group of womem a couple of years back baked and bought cookies so I packaged them and sent I think 3 boxes of nothing but cookies to a friend of my son's on a carrier & she passed them out to all the branches of service on that tour.  I got all kinds of replies on how fresh the cookies were and how they weren't broke either.  So brownies are the same way.  Just make sure the cookies & brownies are completely cooled and stop the processor and seal it as they just start to get real tight so they don't get crushed.  Hope that works.  Plus don't worry even if they get a little crummy they are just happy to get them.

Chow 

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Would have loved to see that too....♥

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

Put me down for 2 individual male boxes. If I get anymore than that I will let you know. I'm hoping that the Boy Scout popcorn will be in in time for this group. My Navy wife friend said she would let me know when it was ready so I could tell her where to send it. I'm in Oklahoma and she is in Virginia so I'm not having her ship to me and then me ship to them.

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Awesome Kim!    Tell your Navy wife friend we send thanks too :)

[chowchow]

I've joined late this month so is shipping date the end of the month as usual.  I hope so.  Then I will have time to bake and maybe ask my church friends to help.

Chow

 

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

A quick question on the address we are shipping to.  Do we need to spell out "FCPOA" on the labels and customs forms?  I'm going to try and write up some before our party on Saturday.  Trying to make things move along smoothly.  Thanks, Marcy.