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Help us support our troops! [Knives for Soldiers] Update: 1,000 shipped to date and counting!
The FReeper Hobbit Hole Blog ^

Posted on 07/29/2005 7:42:45 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog

As some of you know, The group of friends here at Free Republic known as the Hobbit Hole thread, have been contributing to a small project to buy pocketknives and other needed tools for our deployed soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. It started out as care and comfort packages, and grew into pocketknives because we learned that while sweets and snacks were good, there were very practical tools, such as a good pocket knife, that our troops didn’t have unless they purchased them themselves. Handy items that would actually help them do their job.

Since we started we have shipped 700 knives as well as other tools, flashlights, EMT shears, seat belt cutters, and other gadgets to our troops overseas. Please visit our newly updated project blog to read about the rest of the project! The Hobbit Hole project blog



One of our pocketknives, in Iraq

Our project leader, 300winmag, has spent thousands of his own money to meet demand just hoping enough donations would be made to keep him out of the poorhouse. My husband ecurbh and I have sent at least $100 per month, and others in the group have sent more or less, depending on what they can afford. But still demand has outpaced the funds coming in. Requests for these knives continue to pour in at the rate of dozens per week:

July 27, 2005
I recently found out about your organization. It makes me feel really good to know there are people out there who care about us and the equipment we carry. I can’t express the amount of gratitude I felt when I found out about your organization. Many of us are junior enlisted, and just can’t afford a quality knife (which tends to be essential in our environment). I am an infantryman fulfilling a combat medic/shooter role because of civilian paramedic training. I was hoping I could get a few knives for the guys in my team if it isn’t too much of a burden. Check out my blog to see what we have been doing here, we are doing a good job of training the Iraqi soldiers if I may toot my own horn! - Chad in Baghdad

Much of the feedback we get are letters from deployed troops who have seen our knives, and went to our site to see about how to also receive one. (More emails from troops)

We have all donated as much as we can and will continue to regularly, but we have reached a limit on how much we alone can do. We’ve decided to both scale back on the more expensive knives we had tested sending, but also decided to ramp up the project and ask for money from outside the group... To ask fellow FReepers, and all our friends and family if you would consider sending a donation to our cause.

We aren’t official enough to fundraise in any kind of big way, we aren’t an official charity with financial statements and tax benefits, and we don’t want to be. We just want to help out just a little, the men and women that are sacrificing overseas for all of us. If you are reading this post, and agree with our mission, we hope you will help us :) . There is a donation link at the Hobbit Hole site linked above. We guarantee that every dollar you send will be spent on knives.

- HairOfTheDog, ecurbh, and 300winmag, for The Hobbit Hole.



TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; akti; bladeforums; blades; hh; hobbithole; iraq; knife; knifeproject; knives; soldier; soldiers; supportourtroops
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To: HairOfTheDog; Corin Stormhands; 2Jedismom; g'nad; JenB; Rose in RoseBear; Bear_in_RoseBear; ...
Several more requests today. Here is a sample...
Several individuals in my unit have requested and recieved a Camillus BK2. My FLL just recieved one and wow, what a knife! This knife is heavy and solid. The rumor is that you still have some on hand. If you do, and I am eligible as a soldier in an aviation battalion I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

Also received this picture.


(The sign reads "Ms. Fonda, we're holding your regular seat in Tikrit")

121 posted on 08/01/2005 4:14:40 PM PDT by ecurbh (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: ecurbh

That's worth a bump!


122 posted on 08/01/2005 4:31:43 PM PDT by Lil'freeper
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To: ecurbh

That's great. :~D


123 posted on 08/01/2005 5:29:59 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: ecurbh

thanks for the ping.


124 posted on 08/01/2005 5:56:35 PM PDT by Peanut Gallery
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To: 300winmag
BUMP!
125 posted on 08/01/2005 5:59:38 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: ecurbh
Another BUMP!

I love this picture of the troops! It's a winner!
Take that, Hanoi Jane! You fool no one.

126 posted on 08/01/2005 6:02:47 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: ecurbh

Great pic BUMP!


127 posted on 08/01/2005 7:42:24 PM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: ecurbh
(The sign reads "Ms. Fonda, we're holding your regular seat in Tikrit")

LOL - I love it!

128 posted on 08/01/2005 9:22:04 PM PDT by Allegra (Less Than 20 Days Until R&R - W'HOOOO!)
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To: HairOfTheDog

A pingy bttt. Also know those who are not freepers who would want to know about this.


129 posted on 08/02/2005 3:23:31 AM PDT by Bellflower (A new day is Coming!)
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To: JockoManning

bttt


130 posted on 08/02/2005 4:48:15 AM PDT by JockoManning (www.biblegateway.com)
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To: JockoManning

Wake up and smell the napalm BUMP.


131 posted on 08/02/2005 5:38:01 AM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: RMDupree; JockoManning; Bellflower; Allegra; radu; Peanut Gallery

Thank you and good morning!


132 posted on 08/02/2005 6:32:25 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog; silent_jonny; conservativebabe; MNJohnnie; Tunehead54; radu; mplsconservative; ...

And it certainly IS a good morning when two more PayPal donations have arrived from freepers. I expect the checks to appear in the mail soon, too.

Thank you, everyone.

Rick


133 posted on 08/02/2005 7:12:23 AM PDT by 300winmag (FR's Hobbit Hole supports America's troops)
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To: HairOfTheDog

Welcome. BTTT.


134 posted on 08/02/2005 10:07:52 AM PDT by JockoManning (www.biblegateway.com)
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To: 300winmag; HairOfTheDog
Small donation on way via Paypal. Let me know that you got it - Our paypal account was linked to a Credit Union when we got an unknown $84.00 internet charge - I sent in a request for more information and the CU helpfully cancelled the card as "stolen" without even checking with us. Arrgh!
My wife updated the PP account but our new card number is listed as a "secondary source" - I may have to fix this. ;-) Let me know! Thanks for your good efforts.

BTW I've sent help via PatriciaRuth and will continue to do so but I must say if I was in trouble I'd rather have one of your knives then some popcorn! - Still morale is important as well ... tough choice.

135 posted on 08/02/2005 1:17:54 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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To: Tunehead54

Thank you so much for your donation Tunehead54! Both goodies and knives are both good.... but these knives are sure appreciated over there.... Credit all goes to winmag for the idea.... Silly me, I thought the troops would be issued all the tools they'd need.


136 posted on 08/02/2005 1:23:40 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: HairOfTheDog; MikeinIraq; Allegra
Silly me, I thought the troops would be issued all the tools they'd need.
Silly you - silly me too! PatriciaRuth sends out boxes with goodies and DVDs but equally appreciated are things like deodorant and tampons that she includes! With the billions going over there I'm surprised that a lot of basic needs are unmet for our guys and gals putting it ALL on the line. :-(

Ping for info from over there? What do you guys and gals need and what do you have too much of (other than sand and rocks)?

137 posted on 08/02/2005 3:42:28 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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To: Tunehead54

We were so naive!

We sent a lot of sunscreen, I think that never goes out of style...


138 posted on 08/02/2005 3:46:20 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: Tunehead54; HairOfTheDog; silent_jonny; conservativebabe; MNJohnnie; radu; mplsconservative; ...
Thank you very much for your donation. The program is growing, with more troops requesting the sheath knives, as is their right.

Suprisingly (or not, if you know the government), the government bought 30,000 of the same identical Camillus knives that we donate. From what I hear from the troops, only the remfs with time on their hands can figure out how to get the knives out of the supply system. Your tax dollars NOT at work.

And on a cheerier note, this email from a special operations unit that was the first recipient of our "closeout" Camillus CQB3s, which started this whole ball bouncing in an undreamed-of direction just six months ago:

----------

All,

I just thought that this might interest you. My entire unit has now returned safe and sound, with NO losses I might add. I just want to thank all of you that kept me company and gave me and my guys support throughout the deployment. You will all be remembered fondly and I hope to hear from you again. Thanks again,

CW2 Kent D

139 posted on 08/02/2005 3:50:25 PM PDT by 300winmag (FR's Hobbit Hole supports America's troops)
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To: 300winmag

Great to know when they come home safe, winmag, thank you!


140 posted on 08/02/2005 4:08:06 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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