What do I send a soldier?

[dwarven1]

OK, so I've adopted a soldier overseas.

I do have a pair of boots to send him (Operation AC explains that they only get 2 pairs and beat them up pretty quick), and I'd like to put some other stuff in the box with them.

He says "I'm 22 years old and any kind of munchies will do i like just about any kind of candy." And I *think* he's in Afghanistan.

Any suggestions what I can send him that will survive the trip?

Ross

 

[Len-2A Training]

Ross, I don't have an answer, but suggest you contact the Veterans' Agent in your town. They probably can tell you what is good and what is not to ship overseas.

 

[Admin]

Jerky is always a nice treat in the field.

 

[Lynne]

Hey Ross,

I adopted one too from OAC. They have a list on their web site of suggestions of things you can send. Usually a big box of baby wipes is appreciated and if he likes munchies, then send a bunch, but hold off on the chocolate - it tends to melt in the heat. I sent mine deodorant, Irish Spring, pens, paper, envelopes, gum, wipes, life savers, mints, beef jerky (the good kind). I also asked him if he wanted any magazines (the kind you read ) or paperback books (I asked first because he may not have a place to keep a bunch of stuff). I've also heard they like DVD's, so you could ask if there's anything they'd like to see and if they have something to play the DVD on.

 

[SiameseRat]

Candies that should be able to withstand travel and heat:

Sprees, Twizzlers, Bottle Caps, Nerds, Lifesavers, Mentos, Skittles, Pixie Stix, Fireballs, Lemonheads, Necco Wafers, Good 'n Plenty, Dots and Bubble gum for starters.
Also consider something like granola bars, fruit roll ups , dried fruit or trail mix if you want to throw something a little healthier in.

Can you add a link to the site where you got the sponsorship info?
Thanks!

 

[Lynne]

There's a number of them out there, SR, but the one Ross and I used is www.operationac.org. You submit your name and info and then you'll receive an email with your soldiers name.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Hard candies (that do not melt), jerky, chef boy ardee,ramen noodles,prepacked food. Tuna in pouches, canned meats. Baby wipes,chewing tobacco(they can get cigerettes,not skoal) Foot powder. Different seasonings for those lovely MRE's. A sight I was on some soldiers are asking for gun related magazines to read. Cookies work too. Socks. I'll add more after the coffee hits my veins this morning. Deck of cards. Chapstick.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Above all a letter. Letters do wonders. Nothing is worse than mail call and NO mail.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Now that the coffee has kicked in somewhat. Powdered drink mixes. Koolaid, Crystal light,etc. Canned foods such as beef stew,chili,etc. toiletry items. Alot depends on the type of base they are on as to what they have for facilities. CD's and DVD's. Books if you can find out what he likes to read.
Maybe Nickle can add to this. His son is over there now. My brother makes bbq sauce and our son asked him to make and send him some while he is there. Pkgs of peanut butter crackers/or cheese. Once my son gets set overthere I am sending my spare breadmachine and pkg'd bread mixes.
SGTUSMC and Nickle would be good ones to ask too.

 

[SiameseRat]

Lynne, that link didn't work so I googled it and wound up there after a few tries. I should have mine soon, they say M, W and F they send names. Probably shouldn't expect the info tomorrow though.

Thanks guys!

 

[NHDispatcher]

A few other things you can send, not necessarily for him, but for his mission purposes are things like coloring books and crayons. A guy we work with just went to Iraq and he requested things like that, so they can give them too the kids when out on patrol, a public relations kind of thing....IDK if this also applies in Afghanistan or not though....

but also Sunflower Seeds, Beef Jerkey and stuff, things you can chew on that last a while, especially if the soldier you've adopted is involved with convoy's or supporting them in anyway, because I'm sure we all know 8 hours in a vehicle is boring, now try it in the extreme heat. These things give them something to chew on and what not too help keep them awake and alert.

 

[dwarven1]

Wow... thank you, boys and (especially!) girls for your suggestions! The specific list of hard candies is going to be really useful! I'd already thought of Good n Plenty and Necco Wafers (SWMBO works not too far from the factory!), but having a list like that is nice.

All those suggestions... fantastic. Also, NHDispatcher, you nailed it on the head about coloring books, etc. According to the message board on this website http://familyconnection.freespaces.com/, Terry's company was trying to help out orphanages in Kandahar in February...

Anyway, SWMBO and I will be shopping today for some goodies to send to our guy and ship them out on Tuesday.

Thanks, everyone.

Ross

 

[Len-2A Training]

Two people in Easton setup a non-profit org to put together packages for Easton soldiers serving in the sandbox. They would be good people to contact for info on what the soldiers need/could use.

Contacting the Easton Veteran's Agent should put you in contact with them. The town website has an Email address for the Veteran's Agent, as well as phone number.

http://www.easton.ma.us/Directory/veterans/VeteransFS.htm

I know that Stan <can't recall last name>, recently retired police chief and I think the other guy was Kevin Pacos
(I think he was a retired Lt with the PD and soldier who served in the sandbox) were the people who started this for Easton's soldiers/Marines. They had approached Ames R&P Club for a small donation twice and were blown away when the club donated $1200 to their cause (this was a couple of years ago).

EDITED: I had Kevin's last name wrong, corrected above.

 

[dwarven1]

Lynne, SR, Mrs WW, Derek -

Thanks again. I just cut & pasted this thread into a doc file and made a list. SWMBO and I (along with my oh-so-liberal mother - just got into another argument today. Yeesh) will be shopping for PFC Terry (that's his first name - don't panic) this afternoon.

Here's what we distilled down from all the posts:
baby wipes
deodorant
Irish Spring
pens
paper
envelopes
gum
life savers
mints
beef jerky

Candies that should be able to withstand travel and heat:
Sprees
Twizzlers
Bottle Caps
Nerds
Lifesavers
Mentos
Skittles
Pixie Stix
Fireballs
Lemonheads
Necco Wafers
Good 'n Plenty
Dots
Bubble gum

granola bars,
fruit roll ups
dried fruit
trail mix
chef boy ardee
ramen noodles
Tuna in pouches
canned meats
Foot powder
Different seasonings for those lovely MRE's.
Gun related magazines to read.
Cookies
Socks.
Deck of cards
Chapstick.
Sunflower seeds
Powdered drink mixes.
Koolaid, Crystal light, Gatorade, Coffee
Canned foods such as beef stew, chili, with a Pop Top lid
Pkgs of peanut butter crackers/or cheese.

I won't be trying to ship EVERYTHING on this list - but a good representation will go out.

Thanks again.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

It will give you a start and then you can find out what he likes,and go from there. Beanie Babies too for handing out to the kids. It has saved quite a few soldiers because of them. Kids will tell the soldiers where the IED's are. I'm collecting for our son to hand out.

 

[Republic of Mass]

I sent stuff to a co-worker's son in Iraq.

The number one Request: Powdered concentrate for sports drinks / juices.

Hi-C, Gatorade, Lemonaid.

They get all the water they want, but something like Gatorade makes it taste a hell of a lot better, and helps with retention too.

I also sent a lot of jerkey, powerbars, oatmeal, peanutbutter crackers.

I also sent a bunch of magazines about stuff he liked. Sports, motorcycles, and videogames. I also got some PS2 games from someone and sent them over.

Alcahol / porn are no-no's, and the soldier will get a big-time pee-pee smack if you send it over. Im sure you were aware of that.

 

[dwarven1]

Well, we went shopping and we bought: nuts, candy of several different varieties, beef jerky, lemonade mix, koolaid, crackers, dried fruit, granola bars... we went a little nuts. We are going to have to put a second box together. [oops]

and we did grab a couple of bike magazines, but no naked wimmen. Just ones wearing lots of leather. [twisted] As in riding gear.

Ross

 

[Lynne]

Another thing as an FYI for when you send your packages out.... You have to fill out a form for customs - you don't need to list everything you send. Just condense it - like pers. hygene items/candy/snack items/stationary supplies - like that. IIRC, you also have to list your address and the address of the person receiving it. It's been a couple months since I filled out out, so I don't remember evertyhing on it, but you don't have to list ever item your shipping.

BTW - I'm proud of you guys.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

You would be amazed at what does get in as far as porn and alcohol. Just won't tell you how it's done. [twisted]

 

[Lynne]

Another thing I thought of today... If they don't have any means to "phone home", then a phone card is always appreciated. K-mart has some deals on cards. I sent a couple to my guy before Xmas.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Phone cards are good but make sure you can use them in Iraq/afghanistan. P.O. sells them, or if you know someone with aafes access. They have the best deals. Link here. https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx actually any one can get the phone cards through aafes.

 

[Lynne]

Phone cards are good but make sure you can use them in Iraq/afghanistan. P.O. sells them, or if you know someone with aafes access. They have the best deals. Link here. https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx actually any one can get the phone cards through aafes.

The ones I sent said they were good for international calls - that would cover it, wouldn't it? Egads...I hope it did. [shock]

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Not necessarily. Only reason why we know is we have been looking into all options.

 

[Lynne]

Not necessarily. Only reason why we know is we have been looking into all options.

Dang and tarnation....I'll make sure to check the next time I send some. Thanks Mrs. W.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

The post office and aafes have the best per minutes for Iraq.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

Sorry to bum you out. As I said we have been looking at all options including sat phone. This was the best we could come up with.

 

[Lynne]

Sorry to bum you out. As I said we have been looking at all options including sat phone. This was the best we could come up with.

That's okay, but I haven't heard that they didn't work (I doubt he'd tell me), so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I'll remember that for the next ones.

 

[dwarven1]

Well, my wife sent two boxes to PFC TJ today. But she had to include a note explaining that if TJ found something like a catnip mouse, it was because our cat was playing around the box this morning! [lol]

BTW, we followed the instructions that Operatin AC sent us and sent the package insured, and put the boots in a different box. This was so no one would steal the boots in transit, they said. So what did the PO do? Affix the list of contents to the outside of the box.

I don't UNDERSTAAAAANNNNNDDDDD! (read that word like a 6 year old would pronounce it, all drawn out...)

The very confused Dwarven One in Marlboro.

 

[MrsWildweasel]

At least she didn't send the cat. Ours try to get in the boxes too.

 

[dwarven1]

There's NO WAY that Shadow could have fit in the box. We stuffed it full!

We kind of went a little crazy shopping for TJ. We don't have kids, you see, so we needed someone to spoil. [lol] OK, that's not actually it.

We have many friends who are ex-military, and Kathy works on a Navy project, so she knows a bunch of the pilots down at Eglin AFB. They fly test flights for her twice a year. In fact, I was watching Mail Call once, and called Kath in to see (since they were mentioning a program at Eglin), and she looks at the screen and says "I've been in that hanger!"

Then she says "Hey, I know that Captain! He flew for us!"

So, even though she's not really pro-gun, she's pro-military because she knows so many of them.

Ross