P-3 DET November 2008 - TBD
Justin finally finished his training and has officially been
assigned to a squadron. He has been stationed with
VP-8, the Fighting Tigers, in Brunswick, ME. The base in
Maine is closing and the squadrons are moving to
Jacksonville, so I stayed here while Justin left. It didn't
make sense for me to move because he would be
deploying soon. The squadron will have it's
homecoming at NAS Jacksonville when they return.
assigned to a squadron. He has been stationed with
VP-8, the Fighting Tigers, in Brunswick, ME. The base in
Maine is closing and the squadrons are moving to
Jacksonville, so I stayed here while Justin left. It didn't
make sense for me to move because he would be
deploying soon. The squadron will have it's
homecoming at NAS Jacksonville when they return.
This is the C-17 that they flew on to
get overseas. It looks big in the
picture...but the picture just
doesn't do it justice. This plane is
mammoth. There were 7 pallets of
luggage
get overseas. It looks big in the
picture...but the picture just
doesn't do it justice. This plane is
mammoth. There were 7 pallets of
luggage
It takes a while for Justin to upload photos, so right now this is all I have. Sounds like he is doing
good. I have talked to him almost every day since he has been gone. He says the food is really good
, but where he is really stinks...literally. There is a dump close by and occasionally they burn the
trash there & it makes him have headaches really bad. He is living in a CLU (contained living unit) it
is much like a pod that you would store stuff in. Justin shares his "room" with one other guy in his
squadron. They have no TV in their room. He has to walk about 3/4 - 1 mile to use the internet, eat
and shop at the NEX (Navy Exchange). He will have a coffee maker for his room soon. I just sent it in
the mail to him yesterday. I sent him the Keurig brewer because it uses K-cups and requires almost
no clean up. The water where he is isn't drinkable, so I needed to find something that wouldn't
require lots of washing because all he has access to is bottled water. I hope to have more pictures
soon and some updates. There are no bathrooms in the CLU's...those are in more CLU's not too far
away. Justin was lucky enough to get close to the shower/bathroom area. Justin should be working
very hard over the next few months and hopefully will have time to take some pictures of the places
he gets to see. Meanwhile if you would like to send him mail you can send it to the address below.
The post office has a flat rate box that costs $10.95 to send regardless of weight. That is the best
way to send stuff if you are going to send more than a letter...it is priority mail & supposedly takes 6
days to reach him. You will need a customs form (form 2976-A) it is easy to fill out. Then you just take
the box to the post office.
good. I have talked to him almost every day since he has been gone. He says the food is really good
, but where he is really stinks...literally. There is a dump close by and occasionally they burn the
trash there & it makes him have headaches really bad. He is living in a CLU (contained living unit) it
is much like a pod that you would store stuff in. Justin shares his "room" with one other guy in his
squadron. They have no TV in their room. He has to walk about 3/4 - 1 mile to use the internet, eat
and shop at the NEX (Navy Exchange). He will have a coffee maker for his room soon. I just sent it in
the mail to him yesterday. I sent him the Keurig brewer because it uses K-cups and requires almost
no clean up. The water where he is isn't drinkable, so I needed to find something that wouldn't
require lots of washing because all he has access to is bottled water. I hope to have more pictures
soon and some updates. There are no bathrooms in the CLU's...those are in more CLU's not too far
away. Justin was lucky enough to get close to the shower/bathroom area. Justin should be working
very hard over the next few months and hopefully will have time to take some pictures of the places
he gets to see. Meanwhile if you would like to send him mail you can send it to the address below.
The post office has a flat rate box that costs $10.95 to send regardless of weight. That is the best
way to send stuff if you are going to send more than a letter...it is priority mail & supposedly takes 6
days to reach him. You will need a customs form (form 2976-A) it is easy to fill out. Then you just take
the box to the post office.
| LTJG Caudle, Justin R. VP-8 Patron DET APO AE 09309 You can e-mail him at justincaudle@gmail.com |
This is Justin in his desert flight
suit. This was taken right before
he left Maine for deployment. This
is his leather bomber jacket with
his cool leather (handmade, hand
painted patches on it)
suit. This was taken right before
he left Maine for deployment. This
is his leather bomber jacket with
his cool leather (handmade, hand
painted patches on it)
| On the way overseas. |
| Justin's half of the CLU he lives in. Not much space. |
| I guess you would say this is the "mall". |
I think this is the area where the
coffee shop is. I will have to check
with Justin on that. I believe it is
called the Bra because that is what
it looks like if you could see both
sides of it. There is another tent
(or whatever that is) to the right.
coffee shop is. I will have to check
with Justin on that. I believe it is
called the Bra because that is what
it looks like if you could see both
sides of it. There is another tent
(or whatever that is) to the right.
Christmas in the Desert 2008
| Here is Justin's Christmas tree for 2008! Not exactly what he had hoped for I am sure, but a Christmas tree fully equipped with lights nonetheless! |
And the stockings were hung by
the flight suits with care...
the flight suits with care...
On Christmas Justin spent the day on a whale shark excursion. Yes, Justin went swimming with the
sharks! Look at the pictures below!! I am still waiting on more. Ask him about it
justincaudle@gmail.com
sharks! Look at the pictures below!! I am still waiting on more. Ask him about it
justincaudle@gmail.com
| Justin preparing for a flight. He kinda looks like Tom Cruise huh? The guy sitting behind him is the flight engineer. |
Living the dream...
| I am waiting on more pictures, but yes...that is a shark fin! He said that the smallest one was about 10 feet! |
| Here is a self-portrait of Justin and a picture of Frank, Mario & Justin. These guys are on his crew. He and Mario plan to go again & I have sent a disposable underwater camera for this trip! |
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