Deployment 101

I do not even no where to start. We originally thought LCpl Honda would deploy on the 18th of September, but the ship broke down and they did not leave. So I have been in deployment notice mode for two weeks now. On Wednesday I was in limbo not knowing what would happen and when they would actually leave. This is a copy of the email Crafty sent me:

SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY SEMPER GUMBY

Yea Ok. Bear in mind that her son Sgt Red has been deployed three times already.

So we finally got the call that deployment would be Thursday at 10:00 am. So me and Corvette got on the road at 5:30 pm on Wednesday night.We drove and arrived in San Diego about 1:30 am on Thursday and promptly got lost. We called LCpl Honda who was waiting at our hotel and he GPS’s our location, found us and then came and got us. We finally got to the hotel and went to sleep at about 2:00 am.

We then got up at 5:45, which was 4:45 our time and went to the base. LCpl Honda reported in and we went and ate breakfast. I did not feel to good at that point and just ordered toast. It was the worst toast I ever had. Hard, cold and yucky. I just drank some milk and called it good. We then went outside and I thought that I would not be seeing LCpl Honda again as we had said our goodbyes before we went to the restuarant but he called and said we could tour the ship! Yea!!!

We then walked about 1/4 mile to get to the ship, stopping every so often so Corvette could rest. For those of you who don’t know, Corvette had polio as an infant and walks with a limp. We finally got to the ship and climbed three flights of stairs and got on the ship. I went with LCpl Honda to the chow hall, past the post office and almost to his barracks, but we thought better of that because I did not want to intrude on other Marine’s privacy.

Next we went to the flight deck. That is where LCpl Honda works in Combat Cargo. Wow it is huge and impressive. After that Corvette and I left the ship and sat on the dock for about three hours while we where waiting for it to get underway. I walked the 1/4 mile 3 times to get water and such and because I was a little bored just sitting there. Basically I just watched so many families saying goodbye to each other. I saw wives, girlfriends and most importantly kids say goodbye to husbands, boyfriends, and daddies. Military families give up so much.

Finally, the ship got underway. We watched the Sailors and Marines march out to line the flight deck. By this time, there was not a lot of people left on the dock. We all went to the end of the dock and watched as the tug boats slowly pushed the ship and turned the ship so it could leave the harbor. There was a man, a parent I think, who held an American flag out-stretched in his arms, toward the ship. He held it fast and strong until the ship was far away. I will never forget that moment. He made me proud to be an Amercian. There was not many people at the end of the dock, but I felt united with them. Like a family. Semper Fi. I was so glad I was there.

 

Here is a professional pic of the ship, underway.

 

Please pray the 11th MEU has a wonderful adventue and comes home safe!

Military Monday – At Sea

I am a little late with this. There is a new series, “At Sea” on the Military Channel featuring the US Navy and the US Marines. It actually started last night, Aug. 9th. It is a three episode special focusing on Naval ships.  The second episode airs tonight Aug. 10th at 10pm eastern time and concluding with the third episode on Tues. Aug. 11th. Hopefully it will repeat at another time. There is an excellent article about the series here.

The series focus is to let the American people know how the Navy and Marines work together and what these joined forces do when they are at sea. Our armed forces are made up of real people who have chosen to serve the American people and the series conveys this message to the viewer.

LCpl Honda is currently on the USS Bonhomme Richard preparing for an upcoming  MEU. This is why I am especially interested in this program. He currently works on the fight deck in Combat Cargo. He and other Marines and Sailors are responsible for loading and unloading cargo and making sure that people get on and off the Helicopters safely.

Go to the Military Channel website and you can explore an aircraft carrier interactively, find out more about the program, “At Sea” and learn about ships of the future.