Soldiers would love late gifts of candy, coffee, Cottonelle

NEAR DULUIYAH, Iraq - Christmas has come and gone, but any Stryker brigade soldier will tell you that any day is a good day for a care package.

Soldiers typically tick off a list of personal hygiene stuff - baby wipes, shampoo, toothpaste, foot powder, nice soap, and razors, electric and otherwise. But such items are often easy to find over here.

"What about those Oreos you can only get at Christmas?" said Spc. Jashia Davis. "And a big box full of Twix candy. That's my morale candy. Please!"

"Starbursts. Twizzlers. Flaming Hot Cheetohs," said Sgt. Shane Dowtin. "That's about it. That's all I need."

Kenneth Ochs, a civilian contractor from Tacoma who maintains the communications relay trucks for the brigade's command post, knew right away what he'd prefer if expense, shelf life and logistics were no issue.

Sgt. Theresa Spicer's first thought would likewise be tough to send via the mail.

"Popeyes" chicken, she said. "And Coca-Cola." Pajamas would also be good, she said.

Lt. Sean Finnerty said that to be just right, a package from home has to have a surprise. Like the super comfy $20 socks his wife sent.

"The perfect care package is some unexpected, unseen, unheard-of item that you yourself didn't ask for and wouldn't think of," he said. "Because if you give someone a list and you get all that, then you may as well have gone on nippernet (that's Army slang for nonsecure Internet) and ordered it yourself."

"I like to be surprised. Actually, I was looking for a one-way ticket out of here."

"I would very much like a conjugal visit. ... Even prisoners get a conjugal visit."

"And send it in one of those sealing bags, because it gets here fresh," he said. "Me, personally, I love pound cake in the morning.

"My wife bakes pound cake, puts it in those sealed bags and sends it over. I open it here, and I still smell the pound cake. It's fresh.

Capt. Kenneth Mitchell goes for "those sour gummi candies with the white powder on 'em."

It doesn't all have to be edible. He got a metal engraver to mark his name on belongings. Books are good. So are magazines.

"Toilet paper is always good, the nice soft kind," he added. "The Cottonelle with aloe, in the little green package. We get toilet paper - it's not like we're out or anything - but the Army kind is scratchy."

Sgt. Joshua McKeown got one last year from a Rotary Club from his hometown in Florida. It was his second straight Christmas in Korea, away from his wife. Thursday made it three in a row.

But this box had it all - the toiletries, protein bars, powdered drinks, pens and letter-writing stuff. Another one of those would be great, he said, but with one additional item: "a day off."

The Evergreen State is decidedly under represented in the decor of the Stryker brigade's dining facilities in Kuwait and Iraq.

Back at Camp Udairi, the brigade's staging point in northern Kuwait before it moved north the first week of December, the mess hall was decorated with state flags. Washington's was not among them.

The big brigade chow hall at Camp Pacesetter, near Duluiyah, doesn't have the flag motif.

But the small eating area at the Strykers' 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment's Eagle Base near Balad does. And it, too, is missing the home state flag.

It's confusing enough that they're both the 3rd Brigade, but they're also both Strykers - or Strikers.

The Fort Lewis-based 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division works closely with the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colo., in the big sweep under way in Samarra.

The Fort Carson unit is sometimes known as the Strikers, thanks to a previous brigade commander who brought his old radio call sign - Striker 6 - with him to his new job.

The Fort Lewis brigade, of course, is known as the Army's first Stryker brigade, named for their new eight-wheeled vehicles.

They solve the problem by putting their brigade's more traditional nickname - Arrowhead - front and center.

•For regular reports on Fort Lewis' Stryker brigade, including the latest stories by News Tribune embedded reporter Michael Gilbert, sign up for your Stryker Brigade e-mail newsletter by registering at www.tribnet.com/registration.

CLICK HERE for 03/22/03 Department of Defense
Press Release.
TROOP SUPPORT MAIL POLICY STRESSED
To bolster force protection, the general public is urged not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members forward deployed unless you are a family member, loved one or personal friend.

Please DO NOT post any military snail mail addresses on
public internet message boards, forums etc.
This puts Military personnel at risk
and often causes them problems
receiving packages from their family and friends.

“Operation USO Care Package”
Delivers Needed Items and Personal Messages to
Service Members Deployed Overseas
You, Too, Can Show a Service Member You Care

With thousands of U.S. troops deployed around the world, still actively engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom and the fight against terrorism, the United Service Organizations (USO) is offering a unique way for individuals and corporations to let our nation's defenders know we haven't forgotten them. “Operation USO Care Package,” sponsored by the USO World Headquarters and administered by the USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro), enables individuals to write a personal message and financially support care packages that will be delivered to service members participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Because of heightened security, individuals can no longer send letters and packages to 'Any Service Member.' Operation USO Care Package is approved by the Department of Defense, providing a safe, easy way for individuals and corporations to show their prayers and thoughts are with our men and women in uniform.

Corporations may also contribute to this program through financial contributions, items donated in bulk for the care packages, or through implementation of an employee participation program. AT&T is a major supporter of this program, providing a complimentary toll free number for individuals to call for further information (1-866-USO-GIVE) and donating thousands of prepaid international phone cards to be included in the packages for the troops. “Our men and women in uniform give so much to the country, we wanted to give something in return as a token of our appreciation that would allow their separation from their loved ones to be a little easier,” according to Paul McQuillan, Defense Sales Vice President, AT&T Government Solutions.

“These Care Packages help the USO bring a touch of home to our men and women in uniform,” said Edward A. Powell, President and CEO of USO World Headquarters. The care packages contain an assortment of items the military have specifically requested, such as prepaid international calling cards, disposable cameras, toiletries, and sunscreen. They also include greetings from the American public, transcribed onto official “Operation USO Care Package” post cards by volunteers and USO staff members.

“Operation USO Care Package will continue for as long as our country is at war,” according to Elaine Rogers, USO-Metro President. “This program is possible because of the support from individuals, corporations and organizations that donate funds to sponsor these care packages.”

Individuals and corporations can learn more about how to get involved and support “Operation USO Care Package” through donations of product or funds, by calling 866-USO-GIVE.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT OPERATION USO CARE PACKAGE?

Individuals may donate $25, which goes toward sponsorship of an “Operation USO Care Package.” Personal greetings may be forwarded to our post office box with the contribution. USO will transcribe the message onto an official “Operation USO Care Package” postcard, available for preview here.
Corporations may make a tax-deductible financial donation to support “Operation USO Care Package.” A $25 donation goes toward sponsorship of one care package. Each care package will recognize corporate sponsors.
Corporations may donate items listed on the “Service Members’ Wish List” to USO-Metro, many of which may be branded with your corporate logo. These items must be sent in bulk from the manufacturer. Please call (703) 696-2628 for advance coordination of deliveries.
Corporations may delegate an employee to serve as its “Operation USO Care Package” liaison. The liaison will communicate your corporate involvement and enlist employees to participate. Employee participants could sponsor an individual care package, which would include their personal message. Corporations interested in participating in this option or willing to match their employees’ support should call (703) 696-2628 for further information.

Please send all checks and personal greetings for “Operation USO Care Package” to:
USO-Operation USO Care Package
C/O Pentagon Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 19221
Alexandria, VA 22320-9998

Due to the threat of anthrax following September 11, DoD suspended its practice of forwarding personal care packages and correspondence by the American public to “Any Service Member.” In its place, USO created a care package program. Through sponsorship of an “Operation USO Care Package,” an individual’s personal greeting will be transcribed onto an official postcard and included in the care package going to a service member.

MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW!

SERVICE MEMBERS' WISH LIST
Travel Size Personal Items*	Miscellaneous Items*
Disposable Razors	Playing Cards and Board Games
Toothbrushes	Compact Discs
Toothpaste	Current Movies on DVD
Tissues	Crossword Puzzle Books
Shampoo/Conditioner	Disposable Cameras
Shower Gel	Pre-paid Global Calling Cards
Sunscreen	Stationery and Journals
Baby Wipes	Sunglasses
Hand Lotion	Small Footballs, Softballs
Lip Balm	CD/DVD Cases with Zipper
Cotton Swabs	Individually Wrapped Snack Items
Sewing Kits	Shoe Polish Kits
*Many of these items may be imprinted with your corporate logo and /or the USO logo.

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