USS Eisenhower was deployed yesterday

[uforgot]

Headed to the Middle East. My son is the tiny orange speck in the upper right.

[Crankin]

Good luck to your son, uforgot. How long will he be deployed?
My son just deployed back to Iraq last week. He volunteered to go back, after being home for only 4 months...

[Flybye]

So sorry. I will keep him in my prayers.

[gingerale]

That is such an amazing site to see. I'm sorry your son is gone, though. Many prayers for a safe and quick return. We're still awaiting my dh to return later this year.

[sfa]

Best of luck to him, and to you while he's gone!

My brother used to be on the Eisenhower in the late 80's.

Sarah

[Selkie]

Safe return to both your and Crankin's sons.

[PamNY]

Best of luck to your son.

If he or his group would enjoy care packages, cards, etc. let me know. I've sent a few things through Anysoldier.com. I'm told they enjoy even a small package or just a card. Crankin, same goes for your son.

Pam

[uforgot]

Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers. He will be there for 6 months, back in the US for 6, then deployed again. When they left the dock, (in Norfolk, VA) they had a band play the Star Spangled Banner and they lined the flight deck. Blew the whistle and took off waving to everyone on the dock. You can't see the crowd because I held my camera through the gate. Lots of cheers and tears! It was an amazing sight.

Pam, I'll ask him if there is a general addy. I'm sure with 6,000 in his strike group that it will be appreciated!

Crankin - my thoughts are with you! I told Justin the night before he left to NOT VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHING! He just laughed at me. We toured the ship on Friday and those guys are so young!

Gingerale - where is your dh?

[kermit]

Please tell him that his country appreciates his service. He will be in everyone's prayers.

[sundial]

I too am thankful for his service. Many prayers for you and your family.

[Crankin]

Yes, life was getting way too easy in San Diego! Being in intelligence is a desk job here at home, so according to Scott, this (going to Iraq) makes the time go faster. They had "forgotten" that a unit was going in February and no one had been assigned to be embedded from intelligence, so that's why he volunteered.
I don't think he will volunteer again, though, since there is now a girlfriend in San Diego. Of course, she's a Marine, too, but thankfully getting out in a year and staying there to go to college. Scott is planning on buying a house when he gets back, so I guess that's where he'll be settling and finishing school in 2012.

[gingerale]

Gingerale - where is your dh?

He's in Iraq. We just hit the halfway point so it feels pretty good to get here.

[Tuckervill]

All blessings and good vibes for all of our deployed service people. And especially for their mothers.

Karen