An Opportunity to Help Our Wounded Servicemen and Women

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.

I have over the last 1/2 year bought out Target's supply of "Man on the Go" travel kits. They only had one left when I went to buy stuff on Friday.

It was the comb in the kit that made me grab some combs without thinking, like those soldiers probably actually use an electric razor to comb their hair. Well, as I said, maybe a lady soldier can use a comb.

It would have saved me money if they'd still had kits left...you get a price break and a carrying case when you buy all the stuff together.

Cheers!

OPERATION FR CANTEEN SUPPORT OUR TROOPS DAY 2

Hello everyone!

Today we received a generous monetary donation and a box.

We figure everyone did most of their shopping this weekend. We are thankful for all the donations sent in so far. We are very appreciative of all those packages that are in the process of coming to us. If you would like to donate, please don't hesitate to FReepmail us. (Brad's Gramma, Kathy In Alaska, MoJo2001)

Here's a few FAQ's for those that have wondered about this Operation. (FAQ's being Frequently Asked Questions!

Q. Am I too late in signing up?
A. No! This is an ongoing campaign. Our Troops need supplies. This field hospital will be in existence as long as our Troops are in harm's way.

Q. Why isn't our government or military doing anything about this?
A. Our government and military is making sure our men and women have what they need. However, during battle sometimes our Troops get separated from their Camp and personal belongings. Thus, we are trying to make sure that they have the basic necessities before they return either back to their units or sent to a hospital elsewhere.
After all, in most cases our injured heroes are sent to field hospitals.

Q. What does "IT1" stand for?
A. IT1 stands for Information Systems Technician (IT) and (1) stands for First Class Petty Officer.

Q. Are these supplies just for Marines?
A. No. If any of our Troops or civilians are hurt, they will be treated by the hospitals. That is just how our country operates. We help everyone. Whether they deserve it or not.

Q. I don't have any money to spend or send. What can I do?
A. This is never a problem. First and foremost, you can pray. Pray for the safety of our Troops. Second, PASS THE WORD that we are trying to help our Wounded Troops. Third, write a FReepmail with a message and we'll make sure to send it forward. Fourth, stop by and bump the threads. Fifth, volunteer to correspond with one of our Troops via email. (This is not applicable for those military units that do not have email access.) Sixth, write to any corporation, radio station, or to anyone that can help us provide for our Troops.

Q. Can I contact someone for verification via email or phone?
A. Yes! Please FReepmail MoJo2001 to get the information. We will not provide any information on the threads that will endanger our Troops, their jobs, or anything else. IT1 John Young is being mentioned because he's the point of contact for packages and also the husband of MoJo2001.

Q. I am being asked for similar requests. I'm not sure which one is legitimate.
A. Feel free to FReepmail MoJo2001 to ask for verification. Or if you really don't feel comfortable, just stop by and BUMP the threads. We appreciate all the help we can get.

Before we end this, please allow me to THANK YOU all for the help that you are giving to our military. Whether you are participating in this campaign or doing your own show of support, WE APPRECIATE IT!!

Thank you!

Good Morning Xtremarine and fellow American combatants...,
My Division may not have command backing, but YOU have my division, myself, my family and all these GREAT and Generous FReepers who are set to see that no American needs are over sought, especially when they're down. My DIVO brought this to me, I to Mojo, and Mojo to FreeRepublic. Since, we got my Dept Head onboard to allow us to keep this going(as if he had a choice, it's going to happen). It's only a matter of time and packages before we get the Command's full backing. The Post Office has informed Mojo and myself that they'll not deliver all boxes to my house(wouldn't fit in Mondays delivery truck), they'll call when I can pick them up directly.
If you get the chance to pass the word of our endeavors at FreeRepublic to those Doctors and corpsmen, Please do.
If your ever in Hampton Roads, I'll buy the first rounds...

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