A Gift for Soldier in Iraq

December 15, 2006 | Incredulous Joe

[incredulous joe]

Our church sponsored a giving tree this year in which the participants are members of our military serving in Iraq.

Aside from cookies, personal toiletrees, prayers and good wishes does anybody have any suggestions for what a soldier serving in Iraq might find useful??

Just curious if anyone has any personal insight.

Thanks

[Lokibob]

Black and Decker makes a LED flashlight that takes no batteries. You crank it to charge it, and it provides 30 minutes of light. I got one at Wally World for $10 and sending it to my son in Kuwait for those midnight latrine runs..

[BroncosFan]

I just got back home after a year in Iraq (as a weenie civilian lawyer). My two cents: handi-wipes, decent reading material (i.e., not Clancy-esque crap -- there's plenty of those novels at every FOB), headphones, brand name gum and candy, drugstore.com gift certificates . . .

[heylady]

My son asks for :
Bags of Dunkin Donuts coffee
Gatorade and Crystal Lite powder drink mixes
Tuna fish in the foil packages
Socks
Writing paper and envelopes
Send pictures of everyone..makes the packages more personal

[moonpie57]

I have adopted some soldiers through Adopt A Platoon. There is a list of various things that can be sent in care packages at http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/new/pdf/care.pdf.

[incredulous joe]

Thanks. I was sort of like, gee whiz, is it weird to include a pic of me and my family back here enjoying a normal Christmas while our penpal soldier is over there away from his family?

Then I'm thinking, it'd be nice to remember what they are doing and why they are over there fighting for us.

[org.whodat]

SNACK FOOD in the box. Have great nephew there now.

[Laverne]

We just did a collection at my office; the troops requested a number of things, the ones that were top of the list:

Baby wipes
Toothbrushes
Trail mix snack packages

[Cannoneer No. 4]

See Kit Up! for some gifting ideas.

Ranger Joe's, US Cavalry, Brigade Quartermaster and Diamondback Tactical catalogs are always welcome.

[fanfan]

You are welcome to mine the ideas at "The Merry Band of Patriots" thread.

Patriciaruth started it, she's great.

:-)

CARE PACKAGES for our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2006

[Mr Rogers]

Copied from the internet - can't verify its accuracy:

Some things we could use are:
1. Pancake mix that only needs water
2. long oven mitts that go up to the elbow. ( our outdoor grill is big and we are steadily losing all hair below the elbow).
3. cans of cheez-it. That non-refrigeration needed canned cheese.
4. sliced pepperoni
5. of course spices, recipes, etc like that
6. plasticware of spoons.
7. canned air for computers and weapons
8. one a day vitamins for men
9. Chewable Vitamin C
10. Gold Bond Foot Powder and the body powder
11. lens paper and lens cleaner for optics, scopes, goggles, Ballistic glasses and night vision devices

Here is the latest and greatest list of things we could use and want.

1. Snyder Sourdough Hard Pretzels.
2. Tortilla Chips (you would not believe how hard they are to find here) (We have lots of dip mix, but no chips)
3. Dried Fruit (for pancakes and munching)
4. Rotel
5. Shaving Cream
6. DVDs (action, comedy, drama)
7. Box sets of any TV shows
8. Nice sheets for twin sized beds
9. Good pillows like down or whatever other kind are nice
10. Pillow top mattress covers for Twin beds
11. Large Bath towels
12. Febreeze or something like it. Also there is a product called Armor Fresh for body armor.
13. denture cleaner for our camelback water systems.
14. canned air for computers and weapons

I suspect a lot depends on location. A large base has Burger King and a well stocked store. Some small FOBs have very little.

[fanfan]

To all of you who have someone serving, or have served, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

OK.
I'm sappy sounding, but it's true.


Thank you.

:-)

[isthisnickcool]

Ask these folks what to send:

suppliedtosurvive.com

The fellow that started the site has a son who was badly injured in Iraq. See helpsteven.com

I got an email on this. They want as many people as possible to stop by and sign the guest book.

[incredulous joe]

I don't think it's sappy at all.

This September Christian Bagge - the young soldier who made national news by running with President Bush. Christian is a double amputee - came to talk to my son's school. What an honor to meet this young man!

I got a bit choked-up when I got up to him in the reception line. The only I could think to say was "God bless. Thanks for protecting my children."

It's a small thing to be able to buy some of these items for our soldiers, but it's important for them to know how much we appreciate their effort. I should think that their hearts would sink if they only learned of how we view them from the national media.

[fanfan]

I should think that their hearts would sink if they only learned of how we view them from the national media.

We don't view them like the Drive-by media does; we view them and their families as the heroes they are.

I wish the entirety of your post could be seen by them all.

:-)

[Motherhood IS a career]

Try this wonderful site to find out directly from soldiers what they wish for.

http://anysoldier.com/

[Motherhood IS a career]

Letters... lots of letters letting them know how much we appreciate them.

[wayne_b24]

Christian bookstore Heaven and Earth (national chain?) will send yer handwritten greetings/prayers free ... along with a free Bible.
they are here in tidewater va area.
go for it - we did!

[alnick]

Artificial tears eye drops for dry eyes
playing cards
Paper, pens
candy

[ErnBatavia]

I got one at Wally World for $10 and sending it to my son in Kuwait for those midnight latrine runs..

I saw those (also at Wally) over the weekend; gonna get one for our Earthquake Kit - looked to work well enough to find the way to the Loo for sure!