How many of you can describe some support you received from friends and family back home during your military service?

SFC Jim Ruether — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 09:40:25 -0500

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Dec 22 at 2016 9:59 AM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 09:59:36 -0500

On submarines, there is only one holiday: "halfway night." Its when your patrol is halfway over. So the wives and girlfriends (parents, if you were single...) would send a box/gift to be opened during halfway night celebrations. Additionally, you were provided with eight "family gram" telegram messages to give to your family/loved ones/person of choice and they could send one a week to you. Each telegram was 40 words and was delivered for free by the US Navy.

The Navy would also assign your wife/girlfriend/mom and dad to a local ombudsman who would make sure all of their questions were answered, provide info and they would also ask pointed questions like "have you heard from your sailor lately?" So that was kind of a gentle prod to write letters. The submarine squadron also had a free phone set up onboard for phone calls prior to getting underway. So every night, the crew could get calls from their families.

This was back in 1985 - 1989 timeframe. Not sure what they do now...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 11:15 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:15:32 -0500

It was the simple care packages I got from my wife while I was deployed. Pictures, treats, letters...all contained within.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 11:15 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:15:43 -0500

SKYPE helped a lot, too.

Response by SFC George Smith made Dec 22 at 2016 11:18 AM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:18:11 -0500

always had support because most all of the family was in the military in one form or another...

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 22 at 2016 11:27 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:27:18 -0500

I was atop a telephone pole in Korea when a jeep raced up with a telegram from my mother. It read: "Happy Easter"!

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Dec 22 at 2016 2:51 PM

Cpl Mark A. Morris — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:51:26 -0500

SFC,
My Aunt and I would always write letters to each other. My brother too. I was overseas for 2 years and four months. It felt good to come home. But, the Marine Corp 2ed Division squared away everything about me.

I am very thankful for that.

M. Morris RVT

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Dec 22 at 2016 4:22 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 16:22:39 -0500

We received care packages in Vietnam back in 1967 from elementary schools in the Midwest I've always been sorry that I never took the time to find out the school,but in my defense we were in the field at the time and we had other things going on.I still appreciate their thoughtfulness even after all these years,and if by any chance someone reading this post did something along these lines,thank you for caring about us kids far from home long ago.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Dec 22 at 2016 5:41 PM

SFC Dennis A. — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:41:37 -0500

I could always depend on a letter from my grandmother every two weeks while she was alive.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2016 2:16 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 02:16:05 -0500

I'm appreciative that my Brother also serves so I have someone to talk to about stuff. We've written each other more then our family has written us, and Skyped more as well. I've tried to include them by telling stories about things I've experienced with my Unit or from Basic and I get a lot of blank stares or sometimes things are said like, "Well you joined the Army". Clearly missing the joke or point of the story.

They definitely care and are willing to assist with many things, just don't seem to know how to respond about anything involving the military. We are sort of a military family, where I have grandparents, cousins and uncles who formerly served and some who still are. Though it is a bit spread out in the family.

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Dec 28 at 2016 6:17 PM

SGT Paul Mackay — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 18:17:04 -0500

my hometown Menahga,Minnesota supported all of the troops when they came home a 100%.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jan 7 at 2018 9:15 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 21:15:57 -0500

I stayed on a small COP with just our Troop on it. Some of the platoons were able to rotate to the FOB every now and then but I often missed out on being able to do so. Because of this, I wasn't ever able to go and get myself cigarettes. To keep up with my habit, I had a whole group of friends and family that would send me multiple cartons of Marlboro Reds every month to make sure that I didn't lose my mind. After a while I had a stockpile of cigarettes that had actually came from the states and everyone would ask if they could just buy one pack from me so they wouldn't have to smoke the disgusting smokes that were over in iraq. Just saying, it was awesome. I was the guy to know when you ran out of smokes :P.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Jan 8 at 2018 10:54 AM

SFC Jim Ruether — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 10:54:09 -0500

My grandmother bless her heart sent me chocolate chip cookies secured in a false bottom in the box that went undetected when the DI made me open it in front of the platoon. Pencils, pens, writing tablet and a pack of gum concealed the rest of the shipment. My squad enjoyed nearly fresh cookies that evening.