Posted on 04/21/2004 1:44:23 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma
Freepers, I have been sent an email from someone stationed in Iraq regarding an urgent need by our wounded servicemen/women. For security reasons, the whole email can NOT be posted here. Read on, please.
Today I went to visit the military hospital here in the Green Zone. Yesterday my boss (a Marine) had gone to visit some of the Marines brought here from the Fallujah fighting. When he asked one of the wounded Marines if there was anything he could get for him, the Marine requested a razor so he could shave and be within standards again before he was discharged from the hospital. My boss also found that the hospital basically was lacking phones for the patients to be able to call home and talk with their loved ones. I think they only had one that the chaplain carried with him and let the patients use when visiting them. We were able to scrounge up a few razors and got a couple of our cell phones signed over to the ward. I took the items back today along with some candy folks gave me and spent some time talking with the patients.
Afterwards, I talked with the ward personnel and they gave me a list of items they can always use. Our hospital is the largest surgical hospital here in Iraq so most of the patients are evac'd here for their initial care until they can be stabilized and evac'd to Germany or returned to duty (although it is not a big hospital-more like a clinic sized unit).
Of course most of the wounded come in with only what they were wearing in most cases. As such, they don't have things like toothbrushes, etc. A lot of you are always asking if there is anything you can send me. There really isn't anything I need, but these folks could use some things for the wounded. It really is humbling when you think about these young men and women who have been wounded, some of them terribly, and they are really excited about getting a razor or some chocolate candy. So, following is the list of things the ward personnel said they could really use for their patients.
On the hygiene items (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), they are interested in the travel size products because the wounded are normally only here for a short period of time before they are transferred out to bigger hospitals that have better supplies of these items, or back to their units where they have access to their stuff. If you would like to donate any of these things (or start a drive for these things) just mail them to me. My office will sort the items and make sure they get to the hospital. If you would like to send food items, we'll need individually wrapped or single serving items. And, chocolate is okay if it's mailed soon before it gets too hot (but to tell the truth, we've been known to lick it off the wrapper when we want it bad enough!).
Razors
Shaving Cream
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Mouthwash
Soap
Shampoo
Feminine Hygiene Products
Underclothes (male and female)-okay this may sound like a strange item, but remember they normally only come in with the stuff they are wearing and normally those are ruined
Slippers/FlipFlop type of things (in large sizes-apparently the things on the local economy are pretty small)
Hospital PJs
Candy
Crackers
Snack Items
Anything else you can think of
Additionally, we like to go out and give our young Marines pulling post duty candy/cookies, so we can always use that type of stuff. We had a great time delivering our Easter candy stash Sunday and we left a lot of Marines grinning from ear to ear.
| MILITARY REQUESTS |
| Operation Semper Fi (formerly Operation FR Canteen Support Our Troops!) Who: Our Wounded Troops in Iraq What they need: Toiletries, slippers, hospital pajamas, candy, reading material, get well cards, letters of encouragement. Anything you can think of. Who do I contact: FReepmail Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, or MoJo2001 for the direct mailing address in Iraq. (Make sure to put Operation Semper Fi in the subject line.) Who made the request: MoJo2001's husband, The Sailor, Division received the request from a Lt.Col currently in Iraq. |
| Operation Iraqi Children Who: Iraqi Children |
| CARE PACKAGES Who: Our Troops |
| DONATIONS FOR CARE PACKAGES Who: Our Troops What Is Needed: If you are someone who would prefer to send donations to another trusted FReeper who will do the shopping for you, then this is your lucky day. Who Do I Contact: patriciaruth!! She is a trusted FReeper who has been receiving donations to help our Troops. She has been doing this for a long time. Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, MoJo2001, and many other FReepers can vouch for her. |
| OPERATION CONVOYS Who: Our Troops (specifically those in the Transportation companies) What Is Needed: Our Troops keeping the supply lines going are in need of basic necessities, reading material, candy, letters of encouragement, and anything else you can think of. They are sometimes unable to return back to their base of operations due to terrorist attacks or other adventurous Iraqi issues. Who Do I Contact: Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, or MoJo2001. We can give you the information to send it specifically to Iraq. (Please put Operation Convoys in the subject line.) Who made the request: archy. He has been in contact with a Chaplain that has asked for help. |
| OPERATION EMAIL AND FREEPMAIL Who: Our Troops What Is Needed: Our media is beyond pathetic. We need people to email our Troops with words of encouragement or a simple "Thank You" or "We are thinking about you". Very simple, but very effective. If you don't have money to spare, NOT A PROBLEM. This is cheap, free, and easy. We all like that, huh? Canteen Post Office Click OR FReepmail Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, or MoJo2001 to get an email for one of our Sailors. If you'd like to email a message, we would be happy to pass it along in one of the packages. |
| OPERATION USMC *added May 22, 2004 Who: Our Marines & Sailors on the ground in Iraq. (There is a contact person and all items will go through him. This is to ensure the safety and security of the other military members.) What Is Needed: Care packages and correspondences. Who Do I Contact: FReepmail MoJo2001, Brad's Gramma, or Kathy In Alaska for further details. (Please put Operation USMC in the subject line.) Who made the request: It has come from outside Free Republic. |
| If you would like to add your military request, please FReepmail MoJo2001 to add your request. We would be happy to help out. |
| ~ Military Requests ~ Below you will find a list of requests by family members, Active Duty Freepers, or various sources for help. Please feel free to browse and see if there is some way you'd like to show support for our brave heroes. God Bless Our Men and Women! Thank you to their families! If you know of any other requests, please FReepmail MoJo2001 to add your request to the list. Thank you! |
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| Operation Semper Fi (formerly Operation FR Canteen Support Our Troops!) Who: Our Wounded Troops in Iraq What they need: Toiletries, slippers, hospital pajamas, candy, reading material, get well cards, letters of encouragement. Anything you can think of. Who do I contact: FReepmail Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, or MoJo2001 for the direct mailing address in Iraq. (Make sure to put Operation Semper Fi in the subject line.) Who made the request: MoJo2001's husband, The Sailor, Division received the request from a Lt.Col currently in Iraq. |
Operation Iraqi Children Who: Iraqi Children
|
| CARE PACKAGES Who: Our Troops
|
DONATIONS FOR CARE PACKAGES Who: Our Troops What Is Needed: If you are someone who would prefer to send donations to another trusted FReeper who will do the shopping for you, then this is your lucky day. Who Do I Contact: patriciaruth!! She is a trusted FReeper who has been receiving donations to help our Troops. She has been doing this for a long time. Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, MoJo2001, and many other FReepers can vouch for her. |
| OPERATION CONVOYS Who: Our Troops (specifically those in the Transportation companies) What Is Needed: Our Troops keeping the supply lines going are in need of basic necessities, reading material, candy, letters of encouragement, and anything else you can think of. They are sometimes unable to return back to their base of operations due to terrorist attacks or other adventurous Iraqi issues. Who Do I Contact: Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, or MoJo2001. We can give you the information to send it specifically to Iraq. (Please put Operation Convoys in the subject line.) Who made the request: archy. He has been in contact with a Chaplain that has asked for help.
|
OPERATION EMAIL AND FREEPMAIL Who: Our Troops What Is Needed: Our media is beyond pathetic. We need people to email our Troops with words of encouragement or a simple "Thank You" or "We are thinking about you". Very simple, but very effective. If you don't have money to spare, NOT A PROBLEM. This is cheap, free, and easy. We all like that, huh? Canteen Post Office Click OR FReepmail Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, or MoJo2001 to get an email for one of our Sailors. If you'd like to email a message, we would be happy to pass it along in one of the packages. |
| OPERATION USMC *added May 22, 2004 Who: Our Marines & Sailors on the ground in Iraq. (There is a contact person and all items will go through him. This is to ensure the safety and security of the other military members.) What Is Needed: Care packages and correspondences. Who Do I Contact: FReepmail MoJo2001, Brad's Gramma, or Kathy In Alaska for further details. (Please put Operation USMC in the subject line.) Who made the request: It has come from outside Free Republic. |
WALTER REED & BETHESDA HELP! *added May 24th, 2004 Who: Our Wounded Troops at Walter Reed Army Hospital & Bethesda Naval Hospital. What Is Needed: Magazines, pen, paper, hand held games, anything to help them pass the time while they are staying at the hospital. Pre-paid phone cards are greatly appreciated. Who Do I Contact: TruthNtegrity (Please put Operation Hospital Care in the subject line!) Special Mention goes to: MJY1288, Pippin, baseballmom. (They have visited the hospitals as well.) Thank you as well to: Ragtime Cowgirl & prairiebreeze for their contributions. |
| OPERATION TOOLS *added May 24th, 2004 Who: Our soldiers in Iraq. Who made the request: mrstank made the request on behalf of her husband. He is currently stationed in Iraq. |
NEED HELP? WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT OUR MILITARY NEEDS HELP WITH REQUESTS? Just Freepmail MoJo2001 and your request will be added. Thank you! |
Please let everyone know the packages are getting here-in fact we are working thank you letters now to everyone who has sent stuff (complete with pictures of our Marines). We will be changing the address again because of CPA dissolving. However, the (removed) zip code is our post office only and they know where the stuff goes-they even have a shelf labeled the "Ministry of L (Her name has been removed)" because I get so much stuff (especially from your organization). We had hoped to have thank you letters out earlier, but quite frankly the dissolving of CPA and standup of what is now being called the Area Support Group has taken a toll on our hours-my average day is now from about 0815 to between 0200-0300. I think I'm going to hibernate for a week or more when I get home! Anyways, letters should be on the way (it's kind of done like a flyer with pictures of our Marines-we felt uncomfortable taking pictures of wounded) as soon as our mail is flowing again (security conditions sometimes prevents the flow of our mail). By the way, here's a picture of one of the guys enjoying some of the snacks-in fact, I think it looks like some of the ones that came out of your organizations boxes if I'm not mistaken. (As you can see, our Marines have a lot of "character." And they are soooo young-I think most of them were born after I graduated from high school, and in many cases college-it's time to retire.)
Again, tell everyone I'm sorry we haven't gotten a letter to you all sooner. We've just been overwhelmed lately as we get closer to the transfer of sovereignty. As soon as mail starts flowing again, you will all see something.
Lt Col L. J
Click to enlarge the photo!
Thanks, Little Diva.
Thanks MoJo!
Good Job, MoJo and thank you!
Thanks to you all for your contributions!
Thanks for the update MoJo2001
Thank You, MoJo and all those involved in this awesome care package effort.
Kudos to all
Colleen
:-)
We can't thank all of you enough for your continuous generosity in helping our troops. Just look at that picture! :-)
BTTT!!!!!!
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