USS Bataan Underway

I Love My Sailor

Good-byes are always hard but when you know you are about to watch you child sail off and you won't see them for seven months it some how just doesn't feel the same. You need to say something that will encourage them and you. All while you're staring at the vast nothingness that the ocean holds. Your heart is breaking and you want to go and tell some Major or Lieutenant that they better take good care of your son or they will have you to answer to (well at least I wanted to!). Problem is you can't. They've grown up and have a job to do whether you like it or not. They have a country to protect. Ours. I don't believe a parent could be prouder than I was as I watched Josh make his way down the dock and on his ship.

I told you I'd post some more pictures in a few days. Well I'm closer to a few weeks but here they are.

This is Josh where he works in Air Traffic Control. All those little yellow dots on the screen are actually numbers. They are the identifying numbers of the planes in the air. I believe the screen was set on a twenty mile radius at this point. Now you know why they say it is a stressful job!







The four men in my life standing outside and under the flight deck.



Interesting fact: All Sailors must have their hats on when they are outside.




This is one of the Navy ships stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. They did a drive by for our benefit. You can see the edge of our ship in the lower left hand corner. The picture is a bit deceiving in that it was much closer than it looks here.





The Navy really went all out for family day. They also sent a submarine by. You can see the sailor saluting us as they pass. Pretty cool!







This is the Sea Knights helicopter coming in for a landing. Gotta love the name. Wait til you see the painting on the side.







I bet this pilot likes Medievals!























Ever wonder what the Navy Brig looks like? Yeah me neither but here is one for you to see anyway. We were informed they are no longer allowed to feed their prisoners stale bread and water. One thing you won't see here is any televisions and the only reading they are allowed is the bible.





This is a picture of the proud mom and dad and their son after a wet and windy day out to sea.