Conflicting Emotions..

[DocDad]

I have spent the better part of the day reading posts on the site. I must say that this seems to be a wonderful place for support and information.

Today, MY Doc is graduating from FMTB (Pendleton) and heads right out for Okinawa. Luckily, he got a chit for off base, no-buddy liberty last weekend and we flew him home for 3 days. I'm proud ( and just a bit concerned! Who isn't?) as heck of him. You'll be seeing me around as I look for more info. But it has already helped knowing there are others who understand and can help.

Thanks!

DocDad

[Corpsman77Wife]

Welcome aboard DocDad we are glad to have you. We are a very close knit family here and are always willing to help out in any way possible. Tell you son Good Luck and I wish him the best with his Navy Career.


~Marie

[DocDad]

Will Do! And Thanks!

[DocDad]

Thanks for the welcome! I will certainly pass along the info. As a matter of fact, I am trying to organize some support efforts locally as well. I just may have to chat with Dee Dee to get some ideas! :D

[The_Dirty_Name]

Greetings DocDad.

Thanks for doing such a fine job on raising your son. Navy and Hospital Corpsman, could not have done a better job. Hehe.

Kentucky Boy is stationed in Okinawa, 3rd Battalion Aid Station I believe.

Well, have a good'n.

[DocDad]

Thanks! Good luck at Great lakes. My son was a DEPer as well. He may in fact meet up with Kentucky Boy as he is heading to one of the BAS. I just can't for the life of me remember which one. As I was never in the service (Grew up in that awful period after Nam in which it was beaten into you that any service was bad. By the time I realized it would be good, I was the owner of very messed up Knees) I can never understand his orders when I see them. Oh well. I am waiting on him to call as we speak. He should be on his way to LA for his flight to Japan. Its a strange thing, The Unknown. Plays crazy havoc with your mind.

I miss him already.

[Da-Chief]

Sir,
I would bet my next retirement check that most sailors wished their parents were as involved as you are with supporting them in their Naval Career.

I am the guy who "Owns" Corpsman.com. I just retired with 24 years of service 23 or which were as a Corpsman. (Yeah I went the long route!)

You will never find anywhere else a more devoted, Caring, Funny, Steadfast group anywhere else but here in support of the Enlisted Medical Mission.

If you ever have any questions, drop us a line, as you can see you already have had several responses to your "HOWDY" message.

Welcome Aboard!
Darrell "Da-Chief" Crone

[DocDad]

Thanks. Its amazing, He is my oldest by my 1st marriage and we weren't really close because of it. Until.. He came to live with me after HS. I got 7 months before he reported to Great Lakes. Changed my life. And his too, I think. I'm just waiting on his younger brother now. But his decision merits support. If I wasn't involved it would mean nothing. So I am. Also just signed up to be a Navy Academy Sponsor too. We live outside of Annapolis so it makes it easy. I have heard enough stories about young men and women joining up and NOT having the support they need. No families to go home to. Or too far away to go. So I figured now I can help others too.

Amazing how involved you can get when it gets personal...

DocDad

[DocDad]

Just talked with my son. He is in a car on his way to the airport. Then 2 (1 connecting) flights to Japan. Then to Okinawa.

My wife and I have a running joke. Whenever one of her Sprouts graduated, left, did something crazy, she'd cry. When I would tell her it was ok, she would let loose this "weepy mom" cry - "But its my babyyyyy!". So, of course, I razz her about it. (and I do a pretty fair Imitation!).


But now, I just know I won't be able to make fun of her anymore.

[oldavt]

We saw my son off from Camp Lejeune on Monday afternoon, headed for the sandbox. Got our first call this morning at 0450 from Kuwait. He had good flights, stopped in Shannon Ireland, and says Kuwait is just what you'd expect. HOT, SAND, FLAT. He expects to transition to Iraq very soon.

[DocDad]

Its amazing, isn't it? If anyone other than my son calls me at 0:dark early, I'd be big time miffed. But, if it was him... Instant awake, Instant talkative.

I'm glad you got the call and I am glad to hear is is okay! Keep us posted!


DocDad

[oldavt]

8404,
Thanks for mentioning it. I registered for MotoMail last week, sent my first mail yesterday and it printed out this morning. Total of 13 hours from submission to envelope. The question of course, is how quickly can it be delivered while everything is in transit, but what a great service.

[KentuckyBoy]

Hey DocDad, I'm stationed here in Okinawa. I was with 3rd Med BN, but I am now the 31st MEU, CLB 31. Your son will check into camp Foster and be there for a couple of days in program called ROC or something along those lines. From there he will leave and check into his real command. While in that program he can't leave base and will obviously live in a temporary room. I was able to call home a couple of times. Get used to some calls in the early morning or late night. Best of luck, if you have any questions send me a message.

[DeeDee]

Haven't sent any messages to my son yet via MotoMail since he hasn't actually left yet - though they started forwarding the mail before they got back from block leave. :(

Departure this weekend - Mom is major bummin' - gonna miss him - first time he is too far away for me to do anything for him besides sending packages and email/letters

gonna keep my cell phone with me 24/7 so I don't miss any calls :)

[DocDad]

Thanks, KentuckyBoy. I do appreciate it. We've gotten two emails so far. It'll be a few before he gets a new phone that works. But at least I know he's ok!

DocDad

[oldavt]

Received our first email today. Our 8404 is currently at an airbase west of Baghdad. He says the weather is hot, but not as bad as he feared and the nights cool off quickly. Claims he's getting the best food at the chow hall he's ever seen in the military, by far. Awesome was the word used. Will be moving out to a FOB soon, but right now things are good. What a treat to open my email and see his name in the in-box. The best feeling in the world.

[DeeDee]

oldavt - sounds like your 8404 is at the same place mine is heading tonight - I think I've talked to him 4 times today - hmmm, I think he's gonna miss his mom :) OK he's gonna miss us all - atleast we have email and phones to stay in touch.

I'm a weepy woman right now - can't seem to turn off the water works

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

He says the weather is hot, but not as bad as he feared and the nights cool off quickly.

If he does not have snivel gear now, then he needs to start getting his hands on some. Iraq can get damn cold during the winter season. The thunderstorms can be pretty severe and hail is fairly common in some areas. It even manages to snow every so often. Mix in wind chill, stationary duty (ie. Obs Post, check point, guard tower, etc.), or drafty vehicles during convey ops and heat is something you pray for....

BTW: snivel gear = cold weather gear

[oldavt]

He actually took his polyprop and other cold weather gear. He knew it was going to get cold in the winter. I'm not sure what the Marines provide in terms of cold weather outer wear. It sure wasn't issued to him at field med. I'm thinking quality wool would be a better choice, especially with IED's and such to contend with.