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.

[Brad’s Gramma]

How's Oliver???

[Brad’s Gramma]

You finally have mail.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Would you like an email address, too? Huh? Wouldja?

Anyone? We have email addresses!

Come ONE! Come ALL! Sailors to write to! The price is right! FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

See me! You can reach me at: Brad's Gramma

Yep that's me.

FREEEEEEEEEEEEE EMAIL ADDRESSES TO HELP A LONELY SAILOR!

[Yaelle]

He is a miniature dreamboat! He is a huge flirt and a happy baby. He took his first steps the other day but hasn't tried it in the past couple of days. Still getting weighed monthly by the pedi for his shrimpiosity, but he is so easy to carry this way, LOL. He is very healthy -- just small!

Hope you and Mister #2 are well.

[McGavin999]

Don't forget I want a regular address. I'm a faithful care package sender :o)

[Brad’s Gramma]

I'll forget. COUNT ON IT! :-)

KATHY!!! HELP ME REMEMBER!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!

Seriously...hang on, those regular addresses are coming. We don't have them yet. I think they're coming REAL SOON.

Thanks McG, very very much!!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

He took his first STEPS???? Oh boy...are YOU in for some fun, huh?

We have GOT TO GET TOGETHER someday SOON!!!

[XtreMarine]

Make mine Sait Paulie girl and it is on. We sincerely appreciate the support and I will print the message and take it down there. I will also try and get pictures of the first box we deliver down there.

Thanks Shipmate.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[Coop]

A heartfelt thank you for your service to our country during this difficult war on terror.

[Coop]

Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!

[HiJinx]

BUMP!!!

[kayak]

bttt

[in the Arena]

Thanks Coop, BG has me squared away...

[Coop]

I figured as much, but happened to see you on another thread. Anything for a bump! :-)

[in the Arena]

Good enough, hope all is well with you. I haven't heard from Kevin or Tracy since January...Do you know if they are still there ? I'll load them up again if so...

[Coop]

Haven't heard a word from either of them since then. I've got a couple of cards here on my desk to go out to them.

The good news is their names are not on the casualty list.

[MoJo2001]

OPERATION FR CANTEEN SUPPORT OUR TROOPS DAY 3

Hello everyone!

Today we received 10 boxes and counting. John had to go back to the Post Office to get something else. So? I'll let you all know about that later.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

Please watch your mailboxes for something. Everyone that sends something will receive a little something back to show our appreciation.

Oh! If you happen to live in one of these places, please FReepmail MoJo2001 as soon as possible. (Assuming you sent something!)

Fayetteville Arkansas
Gastonia, NC

It is very important that you contact me.

Senior Chief will probably update us later with the item count. So? Check back for that.

Thank you for your continued support of our Troops.

We greatly appreciate all your efforts.

Please don't forget that this will be an ongoing campaign.

Thank you,

MoJo2001

[ChuxsterS]

I'd like to contribute. Please FRMail the address, thanks.