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How to send a Care Package (vanity)
me | 6/17/2002 | myself

Posted on 06/17/2002 10:59:25 AM PDT by Britton J Wingfield

While I was packing for a recent exercise, I was thinking about what kind of things would be best to send in a care package. 99% of the packages my buddies and I have gotten over the years consist of cookies, brownies, and more cookies. Here are a few hints on what will really make life more bearable for your loved one overseas.

Most of all, just ask what they would like to get.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: airforce; army; marines; military; navy; usocanteen
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs ; Snow Bunny
When I traveled I had a small leather folding box chess game about the size of my bible. It had/has a back gammom interior and a chess/checkers exterior. A cribbage board center section , standard decks of cards for poker , cribbage. chess & backgammon pieces, dice, harmonica, rubicks cube (the small one) a duncan yo-yo, .

Along with this I had a couple of the small folding compact "wing" style two line kites (drives security nuts at night with a chemlight or two attached :o), a frisbee, hacky sacks,nerf football and a small grundig compact "Short Wave" pocket radio with an earpiece.

I'll be putting a few of those togeather for sending this Christmas . That small individual kit was a don't leave home without it priority for my 26 year military career with stuff added as it came on the market like the compact rubiks cube monster.........

A new GI will "forget" or realize too late that such items as a sleeping bag liner made from a common bed sheet (queen size, dark color/pattern, high thread count (thank you martha stewart :o) as it will be hand washed a lot and air dried on a line ) and folded and sewn 3/4 of the way up makes that sleeping bag bearable after the many months of sleeping in it.

A couple of the small Photon III LED lights are also a godsend as they last forever and ride on your dog tag chain and will burn for 96 hours straight before a new battery is needed. I have carried em for years on lanyards and key chains and have yet to have to change a battery using them to find something in the dark. Photon even makes one for GI's now in a red stealth model......

Just some suggestions from me based on what I used, needed and enjoyed while in the deserts, jungles and woodlands of the world and those long rides to and from.

Stay Safe !

41 posted on 06/18/2002 7:59:12 AM PDT by Squantos
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To: piasa
I will bump it.

I had some friends called up during Desert Storm, and chap stick/lip balm with sun block were gifts from heaven for them. One of our friends really had chapped lips, and we sent him a half dozen of the little blue jars of LIP MEDEX. He still thanks us years later. The lip stuff is relatively inexpensive and light in weight and fairly indestructible during the transit phase from you to them.

A friend of mine did a couple of tours in Nam. His parents and sisters sent him a sock and underwear package each week. They went to the exchange and bought a large supply of socks and underwear. They sent him an envelope with 7 pairs of socks and a set of underwear every week. He was the only Marine in his platoon that didn't get jock itch and foot rot. Foot powder is another great welcome gift.

If you are in the Navy and on a ship, you can buy these comfort things. However, books, magazines, games, crossword puzzles and even newspapers from home or the home state were like treasures.

42 posted on 06/18/2002 8:15:50 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Squantos
That kite trick is pretty cool. I'm definitely going to try that.
43 posted on 06/18/2002 12:54:00 PM PDT by Britton J Wingfield
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub;Britton J Wingfield;McLynnan;Squantos
Big thank you ping for the tips. (^:
44 posted on 06/18/2002 2:53:20 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Grampa Dave
Thanks, gramps!

Wonder if anyone has some care package stories for some strange or totally useless stuff they received...

45 posted on 06/18/2002 3:07:29 PM PDT by piasa
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To: RikaStrom
From today's USO Canteen thread: (^:

Marine asking for some Morale Building

This is from SAMWolf to all of us.......

Our receptionist mentioned to me that a Marine friend of hers is in need of some morale building.

He's at Camp LeJeune right now waiting for a training deployment to a ship.

He's 29 has 2 daughters under age 3 and is missing his family.

I told her I'd pass his name and address onto the Canteen.

His current snail mail address is:

Cpl Berger, Charles W.
II MEF MARFOR UNITAS
RECON DET
Bldg 10, Wing 3
PSC 20164
Camp LeJeune, NC 28542-0164

His email is:

charlesberger@hotmail.com

Sounds like he could use some e-mails and maybe a care package.

13 posted on 6/18/02 7:36 AM Eastern by Snow Bunny

46 posted on 06/18/2002 4:14:14 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: DemoSmear
Similar list from another thread, but more urgent

Donation Information

Volunteer firefighters around the region are in need of supplies.

Items needed include:

chain saws

bar oil, two-cycle oil,

90-weight gear oil

chaps

21/2-gallon gas cans

chains, 18 and 20 inches

oil - 5W40, SAE30 and 15W40

washer fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid (type F and Dextron), antifreeze

money for gasoline

flat-head axes; metal garden rakes; long-handled, round-tipped shovels

soda pop, sausage sticks, beef jerky

electrical and duct tape

dish soap, laundry soap

binoculars

Gold Bond powder, hand lotion, Chapstick

bandannas, suspenders, underwear sizes 31-38, thick socks,

industrial work boots sizes 11-13 (no steel toes),

T-shirts, leather gloves

spray bottles, Windex, paper towels, tissue, bungee cords,

39- and 55-gallon trash bags, Ziploc bags

copy paper, copier,

HP 15 and 17 cartridges

Post-it notes, 81/2 x 11 legal pads, pens, clipboards

paper plates, napkins, cups, forks, knives and spoons.

safety glasses or goggles with NO VENTS (clear and sunglass lens)

floodlights 1,000 amps or greater

adhesive bandages (cloth, not plastic)

Items needed by the Salvation Army Food Wagon:

Plastic or foam cups, Aleve or ibuprofen (sealed/unopened), sponges, plastic knives, forks and

spoons, skinless chicken, hamburger patties, lunch meats, condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo), hamburger/hot dog buns, olive oil, grated cheese, canned vegetables and beans (larger cans are better), margarine, salt, "to go" boxes, eggs, potatoes, fruit, or

cash donations to Ute Pass Fire Relief Fund, 7855 Bluff Road, Cascade, CO 80809. For information, 684-9295.

Drop points:

Colorado Springs Fire Station 5, 29th Street and Colorado Avenue.

WalMart, 707 S. 8th Street, Colorado Springs

Java Junction, U.S. 24, Woodland Park

Woodland Park Volunteer Fire Department

(Northeast)

Divide Volunteer Fire Department

Lake George Volunteer Fire Department

4-Mile Volunteer Fire Department

47 posted on 06/19/2002 1:03:21 PM PDT by Britton J Wingfield
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To: Britton J Wingfield
bump and thanks for the post!
48 posted on 06/19/2002 1:14:50 PM PDT by DemoSmear
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To: Squantos
A couple of the small Photon III LED lights are also a godsend as they last forever and ride on your dog tag chain and will burn for 96 hours straight before a new battery is needed. I have carried em for years on lanyards and key chains and have yet to have to change a battery using them to find something in the dark. Photon even makes one for GI's now in a red stealth model......

Just an update, but they now make the Micro Photon, which has a computer chip in it. Press the front of the case for regular use. Press and hold the back of the case, and it cycles through three different intensities, and three kinds of strobe effects. It also has a collar around the side of the LED so it only lights up what's in front of you, and not everything to the sides. Colors include red, white, and colors compatible with NVGs.

49 posted on 12/18/2002 7:26:30 AM PST by 300winmag
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To: 300winmag
I believe the Photon III is the one with the chip as mine does as you stated. The "S" version is for stealth thus the ring to shield the view of the light from the side. They are awesome little point of use lights indeed !

Stay Safe !!!

50 posted on 12/18/2002 11:48:29 AM PST by Squantos
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To: Squantos
Where does one obtain the Photons? I'd like to obtain a few to send in some care packages.
51 posted on 02/10/2003 9:07:21 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
REI or a local gun shop (sorry forgot where you are....:o)..... or on line at ;

http://www.photonlight.com/products/photon_3.html


Scroll down to the covert model if ya really like your adopted GI :o)


Stay Safe "H" !!
52 posted on 02/10/2003 9:12:47 AM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
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To: Squantos
I'll bet this shop stocks this item. There's one of these stores not all that far from here. Don't laugh too hard, but the Cable Guy is here installing a new system for us. ;-)
53 posted on 02/10/2003 9:31:24 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: Squantos
I'll bet this shop stocks this item. There's one of these stores not all that far from here.

Similarly, I see lots of on-line shopping opportunities for the "Covert Photon 3". Maybe a retailer like this will do a bulk deal for me if I specify what they're for? ;-)

PS Don't laugh too hard, but the Cable Guy is here installing a new system for us. ;-)

54 posted on 02/10/2003 9:36:08 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
Well there ya go then.....cable guy eh ?.......:o)

Stay Safe !

55 posted on 02/10/2003 9:41:11 AM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
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To: Britton J Wingfield
BTTT! :)
56 posted on 02/10/2003 9:41:54 AM PST by Jennifer in Florida (God Bless America)
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To: Squantos
Check this out: Military Super Bright LED Light

FactoryDirectDeals

It's a much better price than the Photon III model. What do you think? Would it be useful for service personnel in the same way the Photon II model would be? (I fully trust your judgment on this issue.)

57 posted on 02/10/2003 4:58:53 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: Britton J Wingfield
Toothbrushes because it's hard to clean out the sand that gets in them. And babywipes for cleaning - not many showers out there.
58 posted on 02/10/2003 5:03:45 PM PST by Ladysmith
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To: Ladysmith
Amen to babywipes. Eyedrops, too, especially in the desert.
59 posted on 02/10/2003 9:37:47 PM PST by Britton J Wingfield
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To: Britton J Wingfield
Bump
60 posted on 02/15/2003 11:41:37 PM PST by Jael (Thy Word is Truth!)
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