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.

 

 

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

@msvines - Not too late at all!  Haha you haven't been remiss at all, they're all ours :)  We're sending individual boxes - unless someone has a  ton of one thing of course - but yes, if you could send an individual box (or more! you said 'boxes' lol) with a mix of treats, personal care items and a game of some kind, that would be fantastic!  The address is here: August Mailing Address and thank you!!

[Pat L. in IL]

@Cmyhero, Sent you a message on your page. You have been approved for "MAS We Ship Love" which is where we keep the addresses! Thanks for joining us!

[Sailor Mom Again]

Cmyhero, here is the link to the address for this month http://www.navyformoms.com/group/masweshiplove/forum/topics/august-...

[Pat L. in IL]

Sailor Mom, You have to join "MAS We Ship Love" to have access to the address. That is how we give our POC a little security. Have talked to Cmyhero and she has been approved to join.

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

i JUST REALIZED WE NEVER TOOK ANY PICTURES OF US ---------and i also just realized I had caps lock on :)   ha ha OK Drama and I packed boxes today 

we packed 72 variety sized blue haines Tshirts (issue color) from all of us ( 1 large parcel post box) 

and

132 Black calf socks from all of us ( 1 larger parcel post box)

1 flat rate with hacky sacks and loofas and some toothpaste also  

[DramaSoul]

We were havin' too much fun teaching me the basics!  Molly you are a Master Packer!!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

I just can't stop smiling at the thought of the Master and the ingenue packing their l'il hearts out...  And Massachusetts - what an AWESOME group you all are!!   More packing coming up all over the country till we mail the week of Aug 27 and what a delivery at sea THAT's going to be!  the Iwo Jima junior enlisted sailors are so fortunate to have all this love from home coming their way very soon ~ Everyone here is a shining ★!!!

[carols_kitchen]

Yeah to all the above:)

[PAM (GM MOM)]

I will be shipping two indivdual boxes and one group box of playing cards , card games and books.

[Paula]

OK, Ladies. I must be blind , but I never saw the link for the address for this adoption! I have my boxes packed & don't know where to send them. A little help, please?!

[Pat L. in IL]

Paula, The address is in the "MAS We Ship Love" room. I checked and you are a member so you have access!

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

My 200 decks of cards are MIA at the moment.  I've been trying to connect with the donor, but haven't heard from her.  I'll keep trying.