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NavyDads Admin (Paul)

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Profile Information:

Your Sailor's First Name (Please Do Not Post SEAL Names): Eric
What Is Or Will Be Your Sailor's Rating (Job Classification) - ex. ABE, AM, GM, etc: AM1 (Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class)
Describe A Little About Yourself (your IP address/location will be checked::: Proud single dad of two great Navy kids!! My daughter is a Navy vet and served on the USS Abraham Lincoln as an MC3 (Mass Communications Specialist). My son who is an AM1 (Aviation Structural Mechanic, Second Class) served on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, then after re-enlisting was stationed at the Marine Air Base at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii attached to the "Easy Riders" or HSM-37. He recently re-enlisted, was attached to VAW-125- the "World Famous" Tigertails, had TDY to VRC-40 the "Rawhides" and later returned to VAW-125. Currently he is an instructor at A-school in Pensacola. I've been chief chemist for a number of world-class gold, silver, and copper mines for 40 years and just recently retired. Raised in the Sierra Nevada mountains, graduated from the University of Maryland (class of '77), a confirmed Westerner and Proud Navy Dad !!!
What Brought You To This Site:: My son is currently serving
What Were Your Feelings When Your Sailor Joined The Navy:: proud as can possibly be !!!!!!!!!!!
What Is Your Relationship With Your Sailor: Dad

Comment Wall:

Craig

Ahoy Mate! Finally got to sit with young daughter and review the pic's you sent (and am enjoying the ones you recently posted). Little Em's remark was "thas a really bigbigbig ship daddy!" Where's Conner?

Oct 7, 2008
Cindy

It's amazing what different types of jobs the military offers. I didn't know the Navy had media training. Three week underway? Could you explain that to me please. Morgan would love to go to Bremerton, he's been on that base several times. Kat is one strong young lady to handle dripping condensation, I'd be saying get me out of here! I'm holding up okay, had a rough weekend missing Morgan, okay, i'm still having a rough time! I'm getting used to him being in the Navy (ask me that again once he's stationed or deployed), and yes, it is a lot tougher on us Mom's. We're the emotional ones while you Dad's think more logically. Take my husband (Martin) for instance. While Morgan was in BC, he just couldn't understand why I was having such a tough time. "It'll be hard, but he'll do fine" or "That's what they do, they tear them down to build them up." Mom's don't want to hear that! I've said before it's a good thing Mom's aren't in charge of BC. We'd want to fix all their owies, provide a shoulder to cry on, let them sleep in so they could get some decent rest, etc.! I'm really hoping Morgan makes friends from all over. He's always been a very shy, quiet, guy who has very few friends, so I'm hoping the Navy will give him the confidence to make friends. How are you doing?

Oct 7, 2008
Chuck

Paul
Where is Kat Stationed? Is she on the Roosevelt...The Big Stick?
Andrew just reported to NAS Whidbey Island, WA for C school yesterday. He won't class up till Nov. 13. I guess he will he may end up at the business end of a manual sweep device for a while. He will have to go through the sign off's on the watch standing again.

Oct 8, 2008
Cindy

Thanks for the info Paul! As I was reading it, I was thinking that it sounded like battle stations. Morgan enjoyed that, though it was long. He was put in charge of the first fire group. I know he'll have some great and not so great experiences while serving. We've encouraged him, should he not make a career out of it, to at least stay Navy Reserve. We know he'll be in then Navy at least 4 years who knows what will happen after that. My two boys will always be 'my babies', no matter how grown up they are! I'm hangin in there, nothing else I can do other than trust that God will take care of them. I do have a tendency to worry, I'll admit.

Oct 8, 2008
Cindy

Like any Mom, I want my boys to be happy in whatever they do in life!

Oct 8, 2008
Chuck

Paul,
AH! You have two on flat tops. That is what my son wanted. He is to go to the Marine base Hawaii and be assigned to a P-3 Orion patrol squadron. We were blessed to have him home for a week during his transfer from Florida to Washington State. It was fun to see him interact with our friends from church and soccer. Most people are amazed at the maturity that he shows. I knew it was always there waiting to come out. I guess the Navy life brought it to the surface.
As for now he is at NAS Whidbey Island for C school. He has a room mate from his ATT School in Great Lakes. We have been exchanging text messages over the last two days. He seems to be adjusted and he has begun to settle in. Yesterday's work detail had him answering phones at Medical for the day.

Oct 9, 2008
Craig

Bass Pro is like a second home to me! We've decided on the mall gig already. He's in a 900 division so that will be WAY COOL! I'm staying at Navy Lodge and will get shuttle from where his mom is staying so no worries there. To to get outta here for the w/e...catch ya later!

Oct 10, 2008
Cindy

It snowed this evening! Yuck, ugh, and all those other words. Morgan was the one wanting snow.....I think it missed him, 'by the mile', as he used to say. It's times like tonight when I wished I was living in AZ. Hope things are going well.

Oct 10, 2008
Michele

Paul - Thank you so much for the comforting words and support! Wes didn't sign up for IA, since he has been in Pensacola he has been training with the Marines (not his choice) because of the rating he is - AT. I didn't think anything of it until about a week ago and I asked Wes 'why are you having to train with the Marines you aren't in medical?' He told me then there might be a chance the sailors with his rating will be sent to Iraq, but only a 30% chance. With that I was satisfied I still had a good chance, then yesterday my ex-husband calls with an update from his talk with Wes and says he is going probably before Christmas. I lost it then, per my post in Single Parents. I had a chance to sleep on it and it makes sense for his rating to be sent there with all the electronics on bases, vehicles, planes, etc. I did call Wes back to ask him if this was all true and he said, 'mom I should have my orders by Christmas but it isn't to say I am going to Iraq by then, dad must of mixed it up.' So I am doing a bit better in hopes I have more time yet. Wes will be a dad in January, they are having a girl and I don't want him to miss seeing his daughter before shipping out anywhere! Again thank you for all your support, it means the world to me to have people that care :). God Bless, Michele

Oct 11, 2008
Michele

Humor LOL that comic was hilarious!! Thanks :)

Oct 11, 2008
E.G. - ND's Creator/Admin

Paul thanks for the article. My local paper is doing an article about us Navy dads. It will be on the front page this coming Thursday. HooYah! I am pumped about that. It's like the article say's word of mouth is powerful. I will share it with everyone once I get a copy of it. I have researched navyformoms a lot. Who's idea it was, who owns it, who runs it, and it's intentions. I didn't no any of that when I started this site for the dads. I thought a mother created navyformoms. I knew us dads were just as concerned and involved with our children as the moms and I felt left out. So I started the dads site. This article explains the amount of traffic on our site from Tucson. I've wondered who from Tucson has visited our site so many times. I do agree with the article about the other branches following suit. This is the best source of info for us parents with children in the Navy( navydads , navyformoms ) Us dads play a very vital roll in children enlisting in the military just as much as the moms. Thanks again for the article.

Oct 12, 2008
Chuck

Greetings! Andrew is settled in at Whidbey Island. His roommate is a sailor he knew at ATT school in Great Lakes. He and some other guys went hiking on Mt. Baker last weekend. Class up is Nov. 13. Hurry up and wait.

Oct 14, 2008
Craig

Paul, first let me thank you again for this great site. It has allowed me to gain knowledge and insight to what lies ahead for both of my kids. All the kind words, awesome advice from all (even Terry!!), fantastic photos and the wonderful people I've met will allow me to continue to be a part of this...I'm a Navy Dad, allright!!!

Oct 15, 2008
Cindy

Hey Paul thank you.. I am better now I have talked to Evan everyday since he was so down he sounds better every day...so do I haha.. EG sent him a copy of the letter your son wrote and you posted on the site it helped him so much so thank Eric for me tell him his words helped a fellow sailor..I also want to thank you for all you do here also,you have been great. Thank you, Cindy

Oct 16, 2008
Jim Breen

Thanks for the Welcome.....James is stationed in Hawaii (tough Duty I know) aboard the USS Lake Erie.He's been in 2 years now and I see him during Christmas time.Twice in 2 years yuck.Oh well...he's doing what he needs to do.
Thanks again
Jim

Oct 16, 2008
Bruce

Paul,
Thanks for the welcome aboard! Please thank your daughter and son for their service for me. You have some amazing pictures! Really enjoyed your slide show.
Bruce

Oct 18, 2008
Cindy

Hey Paul, that is so awesome! tell Eric he is still helping my sailor haha.... Evan called a little while ago and said they are having a good time tomm. is the talent show and today they had a ice cream thing. He is alot better we are talking everyday I just have to keep puting money on his phone card going broke ha. I am happy to hear his voice it keeps getting better everyday.. thank you for being there, Cindy

Oct 18, 2008
Craig

so cool...I am so sleep deprived from all of this. Have many photos to work on so give me a day or so. Will be giving my thoughts and experiences for "newbies" since I'm an "ole" pro now! I have another to go to in three weeks so now I know what to expect. I am so damn proud of all these sailors...kinda gets to ya doesn't it?

Oct 19, 2008
Chuck

Paul,
My two boys and I got to tour the U-505. The tour tickets were sold out when we arrived at the museum. The guard at the entrance to the U-505 invite Andrew (in uniform) to take the tour. Andrew requested that I (a former submariner) and his brother go along. We really enjoyed the tour. The American diesel boats of the same time period were a little nicer. I served on a WWII diesel boat recommissioned in the 1950’s.
We spent quite a bit of time in that section of the museum. We also spent a lot of time in the wing with the railroad exhibits.
Chuck

Oct 20, 2008
NavyDads Co-Admin, Calvin

Thanks for stopping by my Page. Military life is new to me, I was not in the Service. Back in 64 I got married and did not get drafted. I have a neice in the Navy and was in Afgan last year, it was really the first time I kept up with Navy life. Now it is a little closer to home. Grandson will start Phase 2 of BUDs soon and hopefully we will have a little more time to talk now, we have not really had time to talk much. I have texted him mostly but now we talk more. NSC have helped understand what is going on but more info and prospect from other just helps me understand how he went from GS to GS and a Man. The transformation is amazing.

Oct 20, 2008
Chuck

The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh has a submarine on display. The USS Requin SS481 is the same class diesel boat that I served on in the 1970's. A number of years ago we took a group of Cub Scouts down and spent the night on the Requin. I never thought I would pay money to sleep on a submarine! It is funny how things happen.

Oct 21, 2008
Craig

HA...I'm still "flying high"! Can't sleep, don't want to work, spend WAY to much on this darn thing but hey...they're worth every bit of it as far as I'm concerned. My wife has finally accepted that I've gone completely bonkers (Conner & Meg are her stepkids). I've dedicated my den TV to nothing but the Military Channel!

Oct 23, 2008
E.G. - ND's Creator/Admin

Paul I sent you an email but I think it failed to go through. I will try to send it again in a little bit. Everything is going good. Thanks for all your doing. About the article. I would love for Kat to write an article about it. I will get with you later.

Oct 23, 2008
Craig

roger that.

Oct 23, 2008
Craig

Navy Aunt,Navy Grandma, Navy flag on house, mugs, lanyards...if I can find a Navy leash and collar for my Golden I'm buying that too!!

Oct 23, 2008
Craig

It's Official...Craig has gone Nuts over Navy Stuff! thx, I just ordered. Guess I better get to work and pay for this!

Oct 23, 2008
Craig

no worries mate, this comes out of my mad money...thanks for all that you do!

Oct 23, 2008
Kevin

Hey Paul, thanks for the kind words. I love that saying from your son, "warheads on foreheads"! Makes all the aviation mechs and techs proud of doing their part. May the Lord bless Eric on "the big stick", and Kathleen wherever she serves. Thanks for raising two great patriots! Kevin

Oct 23, 2008
Tom McGlew

Hi Paul,

Thank for the great welcome message to NavyDads.com. I am looking forward to chatting with you and others in the future as my daughter Kelly begins her new life adventure in the Navy. This is an awesome site and I glad Kelly recommended it me. It will keep us close while she is away serving our country.

You mentioned that you ;ived in College Park Maryland while you were going through school. I lived in Adephi MD. off of Cool Springs Road and University blvd. I used to play on the U. of Maryland's golf course as a kid went to many of their football games with my dad who helped the radio announcers track the ball players. My dad worked for the US Government Printing Office when it was across the street from US Post Office in D.C.

Lets keep chatting if you like and thank your children for their service to this great country of ours.

Kind regards,

Tom McGlew

Oct 24, 2008
Michele

Hey Paul - Wes is doing very good, probably because A-school graduation is right around the corner on Halloween. I spoke with him yesterday and apparently he isn't going to take leave when he gets his orders for his command for C-school. He said he is going to save his time for when his daughter is born sometime in Jan or possibly as early as Christmas :). I would say he is very excited since he is passing up seeing his ole mom for his daughter hehehe. He is almost 21 and I am proud of his decisions, he is thinking everything through so he makes an informed choice. At least I can see him at Christmas if I want to take the trip to cold weather land, Indiana hehe. . .this is where his girl lives. I am so excited too about my first grandbaby so I may skip Christmas to save my money for when the baby arrives and I can see Wes and my grandchild at the same time :).

How are your sailors getting along? How are you doing with the empty nest? God Bless, Michele :)

Oct 25, 2008
Dave

Thank you for the info. My wife actually got the correct address from the Navymoms site, the form letter we recieved had the wrong (old) address. I understand GL has had a fair amount of expansion and renovation. I think I have sent a letter every day since he has been gone incuding Sat. and Sun. except last week I did mis four days due to working 16 hours a day and adding my one hour commute one way. Can't wait to hear from Andrew and get a clue as to how he is doing. You know he left home talking about doing twenty years, curious to know if he still is fired up for the Navy.

Oct 25, 2008
Michele

Paul - Yes we are looking forward to the extended holiday, I have officially made the extention to include my grandchild :). How exciting it must be to travel the world in the safety of a Navy ship! Wes says he isn't interested in going on cruises now because of the baby, so he is opting for orders on land hopefully in the US only. He said he already filled out his "dream sheet" and commented 'that is exactly what it is too a dream' hehehe, he doesn't expect to get what he wants fully. He put in for the P-3 Orion aircraft for S. Carolina or Virginia and if he can't get them then his next choice was Washington/Hawai'i. I told him if he doesn't get close to home at least Hawai'i would be like a once in a lifetime vacation :). I told him I won't ever get to see him since I can't drive my car there but I would except lots of pictures!

I am so glad your sailors are doing so well . . .you need to post some pictures of their trips! God Bless, Michele :)

Oct 26, 2008
Dave

Paul yes, not sure how I will handle the PIR, I have a sixteen year old daughter which I have called Princess since she was a few minutes old. I know that I would not handle it near as well. She has done some amazing things, she is a great soccer player and aspires to play soccer at the college level, We have been a Notre Dame family, they have won several lady soccer National Champion Ships. We are about an hour away from ND. My son on the other hand has always done just enough to get by. We would always argue about doing more. He would say why? I was so excited when he joined the Navy because it was the first time in his life that he was talking about the future and not just planning on the next meal. He said he wanted to work and come out of BC as a E2. I have struggled with this for years because I have made a career out of making people do what they don't want to do but was not so successful with my own son. Why is it that I can motivate, through what ever means to get people to work, and yet could not apply those same skills to motivate my own son. Since I have not heard from him I don't know if he is flying under the radar or really doing the things he talked about before he left. I could really care less if he PIR as an E2 as long as he PIR. Anyway, I have rambled on enough, great job as a father on the success of your daughter. I will keep her in my prays. Sincerely Dave

Oct 26, 2008
Dave

Thanks Paul for the words of encouragement. I know that Andrew can do great things in the Navy, I also know that he is a little older than when some of the self sabatoge that plagued him before. I hope he pushes through and accomplishes all of his goals. It is an adjustment after all of these years the McKee boys have a tendancy to go to the Army back to the Civil War. I did not, I am surprised how supportive my Dad has been of Andrew in the Navy. I will admit that I also encouraged him toward the Navy due to all of the maintenance managers that I know got their start in the Navy. I know that this is the single greatest thing that Andrew has done, his uncle (Army) talked to him about he was starting into something that is bigger than he is. I know that Andrew is learning exactly what his Uncle Jeff was talking about.

Oct 26, 2008
Sindy

Hi Paul ~ Thank you for checking in with me. It's been a while since I've been on. I am without a computer at home for the time being and try to get on at work when I can. Trey is doing well. He graduated from Aircrew School last Thursday and is back waiting to class up to his next phase. How are Eric and Kathleen doing?

Oct 27, 2008
Dave

Paul, THANK YOU! Greg writes like Mickey Spilane. I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to comment me as you have over the last week, and think of me and share the link to Gregs discussion. I am going over to comment to Greg on his discussion. Still waiting to hear from Andrew, Dec. 5th can't get here soon enough. Don't worry about the Army comment. My wife has me wearing a Navy hat to work every day and drinking my coffee out of a Navy travel mug, and opening my office with key on a Navy lanyard. So from an old ground pounders family I am proud to say GO NAVY! Thanks again. Dave

Oct 28, 2008
Dave

Paul
Just wanted to share that We have finally recieved our first letter from Andrew. He tells us that he is the Starboard Section Leader? Sounds impressive, but keeping in mind that people are selected because they have blue eyes or because they don't have blue eyes, or because they are tall, or short, or because their name is Andrew, or because their name is not Andrew. Anyway, feels great to actually hear from him. Nice to read that he misses us and loves us. Just wanted to share. Thanks Dave

Oct 29, 2008
Brad

Paul, Thank you for the welcome. We all have a story I'm sure, and all proud of our sailor's. Garrett is in the final part of his AW/RSS program in San Diego HS-10. Recently picked his orders and selected Japan. He knew most of his classmates didn't want that so he took it off the table so others could get what they wanted. Two of his buddies followed him for Japan leaving the rest to for sure get what they wanted. He has worked hard to get through RSS in the second hardest program next to the SEALS, and I am proud to help train him, as well as proud of his reslove as one of the smallest (5' 7" 130 lbs) for that job to pass at the top of his class. As he continues, he is passionate of his choice and so looking forward to what adventures are before him to help save our men who are brought down or in need.

I look forward to maybe starting a group for Rescue Swimmers dads.

Brad

Oct 30, 2008
navydad

thank you paul i'm so excited this is my first time for this computer lingo, so bear with me. i want to learn everything i can about the navy. can you tell me anything about what an airman is and what a aviation machinist mate is. i haven't been able to get any details from my sailor yet. sounds exciting though.

Oct 30, 2008
Craig

Paul, we're leaving that up to her...whatever she wants at this point. Her letters are full of pride, some discontent about certain personel (we Meredith's have a high expectation of ourselves!) but all is good and she's prepping for BS next week. I know she'll wants Starbucks immediately though. She's quite the coffee snob...

Oct 30, 2008
Craig

forgot to tell you she missed live fire last week due to cold..(does everyone get sick up there or what?) but got the make up and scored with marksman status.She can't wait to tell her brother!!

Oct 30, 2008
Cindy

Hi Paul! It has been awhile and having to work for a living does need to change! I'd love to find a job where I can work from home and keep my own hours. I'll be missing a lot of Kelson's tennis tournaments this spring because I'm working. I would love to send cooler weather that way, if I could figure out how to send warmer weather this way at the same time! I just watched the weather...high's in the 40's next week, yuck. I had a member tell me this afternoon that Nov., Dec., Jan., and Feb. are the longest months out of the year. I agree with her. You could head this way for some cooler weather! I keep telling Martin he needs to get a job in the private sector, but he won't listen to me...maybe it has something to do with selective hearing? His job is secure though. Once you get hired on with the state, it's totally impossible to get fired. If he'd go into the private sector, we might be able to retire in Orlando for the winter months! That....would be awesome! Morgan is doing well. He takes test #10 tomorrow morning and told me tonight it's going to be a really hard one. He's been attending the mando studies, on his own, but I'm sure they've helped. He helped 4 or 5 guys pass test 9 on Tuesday, so he was asked to go to mando tonight and help them study. I'm very proud of him. He was never one to study in high school. Well, he'd do the homework but wouldn't turn it in. We haven't figured that one out yet! How's Kathleen doing?

Oct 30, 2008
E.G. - ND's Creator/Admin

Paul I'm doing good. I've been really busy the last couple of weeks so I appreciate all you've been doing. We are growing nicely. I like the t shirt idea. I had been working with a graphic designer but he was lazy so I gave up. I wanted to offer shirts like n4m's but it hasn't worked out yet. It would be great advertising for the site. I'll try to do it again later. Thanks again for all you've done.

Oct 31, 2008

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