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Well, it's my opinion that if I were the chaplain's family member, I'd feel comfortable sending home-made items. I would love to send him some of my home-made cookies, but I stop short of doing it. I just personally would stick to packaged goods.

Steve went to Lowes! We're repairing the exterior of our house where the water leak disintigrated the siding.

I'm beyond thrilled about the Chaplain getting those goodies yesterday. And if I understand correctly, he should be getting at least 3 more boxes of goodies, since I sent 6 and one of the four packages he got yesterday were the binocs.

And I did send some more goodies, including WN's extra two buckets of fireballs, more moonpies, ding dongs and twinkies, and some oatmeal creme pies, and a couple of bags of Easter jellybeans I got on sale. Stuck some of it in with the 150 tubes of sunscreen I sent the other day.

Also, FYI...the account that I use for the contributions has a Visa Debit card that I can use anywhere, just like a regular credit card...

I'm so happy that they got the items just when they needed some encouragement.

Thanks for posting the email from the Chaplain. I was absolutely blown away by it. I hope he realizes how thrilled we are to hear that our modest efforts are appreciated. I'll continue to contribute to the "goodie fund", knowing that you'll pick something that cheers and amazes them.

I'm a bit embarrassed that the binoculars were such a big hit, even though they are real cheapies. It's like those cheap FRS radios that the troops are buying (I saw a captain in the 101st with a blue FRS radio on his LBE), it's stuff that every grunt should have, but the military bureaucracy hasn't figured it out yet. Food, letters, videos from home are great, but these things are tools that can be used to keep our guys alive.

I'd send FRS radios, except the troops may or may not use them, and they always risk an Article 15 if the brass decide to make a federal case of it. Troops in the field also need a quality large lockback knife, but I'd probably go to jail if I tried to send one of those now (I did manage to send one to a friend's younger brother in the Marines in the first gulf war).

Another thing that troops in the field can use are compasses. Not the $80 GI lensatic compass, or the $400 engineer's compass, but $5-$10 ones carried by backpackers. Even in the age of GPS, if things go sideways and you're all alone in bandit country, you have a bit of help on your side.

These are all "comfort tools", just like the food goodies we send are "comfort food". They're good to have, and may someday save your bacon. And you don't have to be an 11Bravo to appreciate it, and maybe even need it in a pinch.

2J, please continue your wonderful work, and I'll continue to contribute. Meanwhile, I'll be taking some of my eBay income, and shop for things I know the troops can use, and that won't get them or me in trouble.