An Opportunity to Help Our Wounded Servicemen and Women

Self | April 21, 2004 | Brad's Gramma

[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.

* * * * * * *

MoJo20001's husband's division is going to be collecting the items and sending them via transport to the hospital in Iraq. IF you feel so inclined, and the need IS urgent...please let one of us know.

We also are coming across names...MANY MANY names of servicemen who need care packages, a letter, sometimes depending upon the branch of service, an email. If you can commit to being faithful with the correspondence, PLEASE let us know about that, too.

[I_be_tc]

I would be honored to send needed items. Let me know who and I will send. Thanks for letting us know.

TC

[Joe_October]

Agreed.

That's why I sent this to Sears:

Hello,

I was reading a post on an Internet site from wives and mothers of US Service men and woman wounded in Iraq. They indicated that the injured men and woman were short on some simple personal needs like toiletries and underwear.

Now, to be fair I have already contacted Hanes and JCPenney asking for their help. Any one of your great companies could make this problem disappear overnight. But, I know that corporations have difficult considerations and things take time. But, perhaps, his time, the right manager could make this problem go away for some real heroes.

Wouldn't it be great to open the newspaper tomorrrow or hear on the radio how American companies came to the aid of our heroes when they needed it most. Wouldn't it be even better if it was an American institution like Sears and Roebucks that got there first with the most?

Thank-you for your time. Please direct this request to someone in your company who can make this happen.

Please refer to this link for more information: (Please refer to this link for this information http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1121972/posts?page=151,21)

Again, thanks.

The rat's have poisoned us all. I can't be Pat Tillman but I can believe for just a while (hey, I'm a sap, big deal.)

[patriciaruth]

Yes, many of us would go if we were physically able or they would take us despite our age and disabilities. But I'd just get in the way there, so this is what I do for those who are putting it all on the line for us.

[Doctor Raoul]

Slippers/FlipFlop type of things

Have you tried following John Kerry around? He's got a new flip flop every few hours, you've got to wonder what he's done with the ones he just used...

Seriously, Freep Mail me the address, I'll get some razors.

[potlatch]

You got me with the ping list patriciaruth! I'll send you a check by mail. If your address hasn't changed, I should have it in my address book from the last time.

Pinging some others for a good cause. Read post 167

[MoJo2001]

If you have FReepmailed me, I will FReepmail you in a few. I'm sorry, but I have to finish my thread for the Canteen. When that is done, then I will get back to FReepmailing everyone. I am not ignoring anyone.

My apologies.
MoJo

[MoJo2001]

Let me answer some questions that I've gotten from more than one person.

1. I do know IT1 Young. As a matter of fact, I'm married to him. Send your condolences to him later. We've gotta get this done first. LOL!

2. Girl Scouts cookies would definitely be appreciated. They need cookies, candy, and anything they can give to our Troops. Also, they may want to give a little treat to any of our Troops standing Watch or patrolling the area. So? Definitely send them.

3. THIS IS FOR FEMALE SHOPPERS!! Do you have things you can't live without? Like moisturizer, lotions, and other supplies. If you can find any in smaller sizes, that would be greatly appreciated.

4. NCTAMS LANT DET HRDS is his command.
It stands for - Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS), ATLANTIC (LANT) DETACHMENT (DET) HAMPTON ROADS (HRDS). It's the military. Anyways, if you want to know anymore information about the command we'll have to hurt ya. LOL! Just kidding. I'm sure I could try to find out for you.

5. These supplies are going to his Division and then off by military transport. Although, his Senior Chief would personally paddle the boat over to Iraq if she had to. She is very serious about making sure our Troops get these supplies.

6. Yes! They are absolutely overwhelmed by the response of the Canteen and Free Republic. The Senior Chief actually thanked me a million times. I felt really bad because I don't think I told her thank you back as many times. I'll work on that.

Most importantly:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I cannot begin to express to you how much gratitude I have to everyone that is helping to make sure our guys and gals get what they need to protect this country. I have always known that Free Republic is generous, but I'm just floored. So much so that I am almost speechless. I did say almost, but I'm getting very near it.

My living room and house will get over having all the supplies. I look forward to showing the Navy what Free Republic can do for them. WooHoo to everyone!

Thank you!!

[waRNmother.armyboots]

Please provide the address for me. Also I have a group of mom's willing to write and send packages, but we just need someone to send them to....Thanks. Jan

[Brad’s Gramma]

I am not ignoring anyone.

Why are you ignoring me? HAR!!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Incoming FRmail! THANKS for your help!

[patriciaruth]

Bless your heart, potlatch!

I'll FReep you my address. I paid somewhat more for items than I would have if I'd had the leisure of shopping for bargains, but I wanted everything in the mail today as it has a whole continent to fly over to get to the staging area on the East Coast.

And it costs to mail 70 lbs of stuff.:-)

Contributors like yourself make it possible for me to send more and send it more often than I could if I had to depend on just myself for the financing. Especially now, as I am still paying off a hospital bill from November.

MANY THANKS for your faithful support of the troops, especially now in their hour of need.

[Brad’s Gramma]

You too, my friend...a big ole THANK YOU...and watch the FRmail...INCOMING!!!

:-)

[lakey]

As per your FReepmail requesting me to post:

Just heard a lady this morning on local radio, asking for residents to volunteer on this very same project for the wounded.

So, I won't be sending anything to John in Virginia. I think it will be fun to work close to home on this.

Best of luck! lakey

Gramma & I are curious to know if this lady is a FReeper? I'll try to find out when I get the number.

[cherry]

"Your supply is cheaper. Mine cost 1.98 a pair because they didn't have cartons left at the only place I could locate quickly, only loose single packs."

if I can order some this weekend, I will...otherwise, it will be Monday....

[Brad’s Gramma]

I sorta stole your picture, presidio. (gulp)

[M0sby]

Hey BG!

This is a BIG one to me..
We are without a lot of extra $$$ here at our house (But, wait, republicans are supposed to be rich...right??) So, we contacted some of our local dentists and they are HAPPY to donate! Our own Denist office receptionist LOVES DAN and the Dentist went to High School with him.
They ARE NOT big supporters of the war in general but SO HAPPY to make a donation!
Now these are people that I can AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH! (little tiny ack)

Call your dentists! They have all the "little" stuff!

We also e-mailed CREST AND COLGATE...we will see where that goes...so, I am saving my $$$ to spend on the shipping of the donations! I am sure the donations will be much more than I would have been able to buy with my $$$

Thanks for taking up the cause BG!

GOD BLESS YOU! (again)

[Brad’s Gramma]

The local dentists?

DAN'S dentist?

Crest?

Colgate?

Oh my gosh....M0sby, Dan...THANK YOU!

For those of you who don't know, Dan was in Iraq when the war first broke out. M0sby and I became friends thru the Canteen. Then, the friendship became embedded in cement during Logan's thread. Now...this. Goodness sakes.

M0sby...Dan? Crest? Colgate! Hang on...I'll BRB!!

[M0sby]

I always feel NERVOUS when you say the BRB thing...where do you go? DO I want to know?
YIKES!

[M0sby]

Hey...I was also thinking of skin care sample stuff and moisturiser type stuff...I sell Mary Kay...(no jokes please) and I have some samples that I don't need..they are all the trial size ones...but I WOULD NOT want some poor woman in Iraq thinking I was trying to sell her Mary Kay!
ACK???

[Brad’s Gramma]

THANK YOU!