Navy Guy Christmas gift ?

[moparguy]

Navy son is living onboard ship in Norfolk and we're having a hard time coming up with a Christmas gift since space is at a super premium on a Cruiser.



Thought some of you ex-Navy (or current) might have some ideas.



Thanks,



RJR

 

[CarlJensen]

After 22 years in the Navy the thing I allways liked receiving was good ole home made goodies, did not matter for what. Space is definately at a premium but goodies have a way of vanishing real fast because we all ways shared with friends. Most guys pretty much have what they need, give something they LIKE, not need. Just a suggestion. Merry Christmas.

 

[JApol]

Carl hit it. Spending the holidays away from home is the real pits.

Baked goods like cookies always go well.

A real good tip is to make sure that he has a place for christmas dinner. There are always one or two people that will invite some single sailors over for dinner.

If he says that he doesn't have a place to go. Find his ships website and try to get ahold of the ombudsman to see if he/she can get him hooked up.

Doing that will help out immensly with the drearyness of the holidays. Thats how I got through 2 years of overseas duty.

I feel blessed, I have been home for the last 5 holiday seasons, either christmas or new years. I get to go home again this year.



AE1, USN active for 8. 5 years and counting

 

[Jim Fulmer]

I like the idea of the home baked goods, you know it really doesn't matter how good they really are because Mom put her Love into them just for you.



Second: Picture from the home front... ... . you miss those allot when your in some hole like the Gulf!



Ah... . the Boat Navy... ... long ago!



Jim

 

[JApol]

Not just boat navy. SMALL BOY NAVY

 

[klenger]

An ipod or other mp3 player might be a real nice toy to have there. You might want to check to see if he has access to a computer to upload from.

 

[DHRA]

How about a digital camera either still or video and put some pics of home or movies of the loved ones on there. I did one year on duty and remember sitting in the mess decks thinking of the snow back home.

I'm super jealous of today's military with the ability of email and internet, that would have made such a difference while in the Gulf. 30-45 days of waiting on mail SUCKS.

 

[RHARVEY]

How about one of those small DVD players with a full length video of maybe a Christmas dinner with the family... Not the same but with the baked goods it would be special.



Rick

 

[nps]

Given that he is a sailor at sea, a tube of KY jelly may come in handy. :-laf



(From a retired Marine that also has a sailor son - you should hear the fur fly when the two of us get together. )

 

[moparguy]

Thanks for the replys so far. Guess I should have mentioned he will be home for Christmas. We're struggling with a practical gift idea he can utilize while on board.



Did the mp3 player and digital camera already. But a small dvd player is good, will have to check that out. Thought about a laptop computer, it could act as a dvd player and pc, I suspect (don't know) that internet access for a laptop would be very difficult on ship. This is a older cruiser without all the new nice touches and he's a GSM3, spends time either on watch or working on stuff down below (engines, pumps power generation, etc. ).



Thanks, RJR

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Given that he is a sailor at sea, a tube of KY jelly may come in handy. :-laf



(From a retired Marine that also has a sailor son - you should hear the fur fly when the two of us get together. )

Do you know why the Navy has Marines on board ships?







Sheep are too expensive!!! :-laf :-laf



Sorry, I had to.

 

[Tcolesanti]

Do you know why the Navy has Marines on board ships?







Sheep are too expensive!!! :-laf :-laf



Sorry, I had to.

No, its because the Fleeters need someone to dance with!!!



EO1 (scw) Colesanti USN Seabees

 

[ropinfool2]

I used to be a GSE1 (similar to the GSM but better!) stationed in Norfolk, what he needs is a transfer to charleston or mayport! but since you can't do that it really depends on his likes. I remember playing a lot of video games onboard, watched a lot of movies (most of which was porn, why I don't know, it was there I guess), read books, etc... Care packages were always awesome, tried to share with everybody. The guys that wouldn't share were hated. Phone cards would be good (do they still use those?). I was going to say that if he's a GS the ship couldn't be that old, but then I remembered how long I've been out! Good luck and ask him about the "snake pit". John

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Hey, I was a GSE1 also!

 

[ropinfool2]

When did you get out? I got out in '95. I did a couple years on the Kidd, then went west coast hovercraft. GSE1 (SW) Roberts. John

 

[Blu-meanie]

My best friend from WWII called Marines "Sea going bell-hops". We just called them wrinkle necks. Only in jest, all military guys and gals deserve more than credit.

I was on a diesel sub during the 60's. No mail, no internet, no telephone, no bed, no showers, no nothing. Wouldn't trade those years for anything. I got a package of plastic dog crap for my birthday in boot camp, best gift I ever got. :-laf