Posted on 07/03/2004 5:35:38 PM PDT by patriciaruth
Our troop support group finally found a way to send care packages to our troops in Afghanistan, and I've received a couple letters this week requesting goodies. We're pretty excited about finally making contact, and are inviting others who want to show support to join us.
If you can't afford to contribute money or goods, the troops also really appreciate letters, cards and notes, and request your prayers for their safety and peace of mind.
The first set of care packages and thank you cards and notes that we sent to Afghanistan for the Fourth of July were received with joy and you can read about them on the second half of our last thread, Write a Thank You Note to a Soldier in Iraq this Memorial Day Weekend
We've been collecting goodies and contributions toward the next set of care packages to go to Afghanistan. Our contact there will send them to the troops at the outlying fire bases, and has requested toiletries, movies, paperback books, snacks, and games for them.
Also, there are ongoing requests from a group of soldiers near Kirkuk in Iraq for items for the poor village schools and children in the surrounding area, specifically elementary school supplies and children's toys and crayons 24 to a box are a special project of theirs.
Wow - talk about your one-stop shop. That'll help immensely, and I'll bet I have a few of those around here. Thanks!
Those are the lists of movies we're already sent or are about to send to Kirkuk and Bagam.
Over 70 already to both bases, many of them yours!
That list is the movies you HAVE or are coming, right?
Yeah, our replies crossed, I think. Dyslexia is a horrible thing, let me tell you :)
Can anybody tell me how many soldiers are in
A platoon?
A squad?
a COMPANY?: 50 to 100 men, commanded by a captain?
a regiment? Normally made up of 10 companies? About 1,000 men?
a BRIGADE? 4 to 6 regiments?
an Infantry DIVISION?:
My goal is 100 movies each and then we'll find another sorry ass base with no entertainment.;-)
bttt
| Name | No. of personnel | No. of subordinate units | Officer in charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army Group | Many | 2+ armies | General or Field Marshal |
| Army | Many | 2+ corps | General |
| Corps | 30,000+ | 2+ divisions | Lieutenant General |
| Division | 10,000-20,000 | 2-4 brigades | Major General |
| Brigade | 2000-5000 | 2+ regiments or 3-6 battalions |
Brigadier General, Brigadier (UK) or Colonel (US Army) |
| Regiment (USMC) | ? | 4 battalions | Colonel |
| Regiment (UK) | 500-700 | 4-6 squadrons | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battalion | 300-1000 | 2-6 companies | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Company or Squadron | 100-300 | 3-6 platoons or troops | Captain or Major |
| Platoon or Troop | 30-40 | 2+ squads or sections | First or Second Lieutenant |
| Squad or Section | 8-12 | 2+ fireteams | NCO (Corporal to Staff Sergeant) |
| Fireteam | 4-5 | n/a | NCO (Lance Corporal to Sergeant) |
Thanks for the breakdown. Trying to figure out here how many soldiers in some of the groups we are sending to.
They are alot cheaper then buying them brand new.. One was a Dirt Bike game and the other one for the life of me I can't remember .. Sorry, old age is kicking in *L*
Maybe other freepers might have old Play-station One games they are no longer using and they can be sent off also.
In the second package I sent 3 boxes of Power Bars .. each box has 15 bars in it ..
I wasn't sure which flavor to get .. and I figured I couldn't go wrong with chocolate *L*
One box is called Balance Gold Crunch - Chocolate Mint Cookie .. 210 calories - 1.76 oz bars
the 2 other boxes are called Priva Powerbar - Double chocolate cookie .. 110 calories - .98 oz bars
In the Third package I sent off 10 brown T-shirts and 8 pairs of 50% wool socks that were asked for
I hope these help and thanks for letting us know
I'm so glad I can help add to the supplies
Letter from BALAD!
Patty,
...I received your letter from B****..she is my platoon sgt. I am 24 yrs old and my hometown is *****, Illinois--a small town of about 3,000 and one blinking light! We have a lot of corn fields -- which I never thought I would miss, but I do!
I recetly graduated from **** with a B.S. in Social Science Education. After teaching for a year or so, I am going to get my Masters but I don't know what in yet! I started studying for the GRE [Graduate Record Exam] before we were deployed. I recently enrolled in a correspondence course to take while I am over here!
***Have you always lived in California? I have never been to the west coast, but everyone that I know that has, tells me I have to go!
I have a lot of pictures from over here if you would like to see them. I can send them to you through an email link if you'd like. We don't really need to much here. The only thing my roommate C***** and I could think of would be stationary and stickers.
We also read a lot! Anything you'd like to send would be nice -- we are not picky! there is a list of books that we have.
Thank you so much for your support. Hope to hear from you soon.
P*****
Books available: Queen Noor, Case for Christ, Why I'm Like This, The Da Vinci Code, Cold Case, Death Row, The Guardian, The Notebook, Blindsight, Betrayed, The Red Tent, Hostile Witness, Unveiling Islam, The Inextinguishable Symphony, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
NOTE: I've ordered these books for her -- Sarum (Rutherfurd), Russka (Rutherfurd), Winds of War (Wouk), Clan of the Cave Bear (Auel), The Chequer Board (Shute) and will put in some of the ones that JustAmy and etabeta sent.
Letter from KIRKUK!
July 27
Dear Patricia,
...I am one of the 3 female soldier in [C****'s unit]. He asked me to write to you. It is wonderful people like yourself that are so supportive of us soldeirs over here in Iraq. We really cannot thank you enough.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am 23 years old, from ******** NY. I attended college for 2 1/1 years (majoring in psychology) before joining the Army. I've been in 3 years and stationed in Hawaii the entire time. I am getting out next May, and then I plan on travelling for 5-6 months and then going back to school to finish my degree (in what I am not sure yet).
I am definitely looking forward to leaving Iraq. It is much to hot here for my tastes. What I wouldn't give for a nice 75" day, but I'd probably freeze after dealing with 110-120 degree weather for 2 months.
I asked the 2 other females what they would like or need. The main thing we thought of was movies (The Others, How to Deal, Butterfly Effect, Beautiful Life, etc.), books (Nora Roberts, suspense/triller), magazines (Glamour, Self, Cosmo, People, Allure, etc), CD's (alternative rock, hip hop, R&B, techno, etc) & stuff that smells good (body lotion/spray). Other than that, I think we are pretty much set.
Again, thank you for all your care and support and please know that it is appreciated and doesn't go unnnoticed.
Sgt N*****
NOTE: I ordered a Nora Roberts trilogy for these gals -- Sea Swept/Rising Tides/Inner Harbor, plus the movie Not Without My Daughter (Sally Field). See a post above for some books, movies, hand cream, CD that I had on hand and sent them already. Anyone want to take a crack at the music (I recently sent an R&B CD to the whole unit) or the requested movies? Someone just sent some stuff that smells good in the mail for here, and I'll ship some to them when it arrives.
Mailed August 4, 2004, to Kirkuk for $15.75 postage, no insurance.
Books: Wings (Danielle Steel), A Rage Against Heaven (Fred M. Stewart), Thorns of Truth (Eileen Goudge)--from JustAmy
VHS movies: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The American President (Michael Douglas, Annette Benning), --from JustAmy, Baby Boom (Diane Keaton, Sam Shepard), Grand Canyon (Alfie Woodard, Kevin Kline, Steve Martin)--from patriciaruth
3-4.3 oz of hand cream from Battle Axe.
Vogue magazine with Bush daughters from patriciaruth.
CD-Van Morrison
1 bar Caswell Massey ginger and lemon herb soap.
Thanks for the ping. I hope they enjoy.
I have some books and a couple of movies. I will get them mailed next week. This week has been hectic.
I will try to pick up some nice smelly stuff this weekend.
Thanks, Patty, for all you do.
Just to let you know, I received an Email today that the package my son and I put together was received at Bagram. We sent an assortment of shampoos, conditioners, creams, soap, hair bands, razors, games, cocoa, candy, sewing kits, a few flea collars and I can't remember what else.
We're hoping the soldiers there will let us know what they would like so we can send it off to them next time.
The good news is that "How to Deal" and "Butterfly Effect" are gettable. But as for "Beautiful Life", IMDB has no info on any movie with that exact title. There is a review of that title on a Filipino web site, but the movie is not yet available in the states that I can find. Could she have perhaps meant "Life is Beautiful"? That one I CAN acquire.
Also, on "The Others", here are the IMDB hits I found:
The Others 2001 (Nicole Kidman): Plot Outline: A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted.
The Others 2000 (Julianne Nicholson): Plot Summary: College student Marian Kitt is terrified to discover that she has the power to see into the "other side.".
The Others 1997 (Phillip Rhys): A charming little film, with quality actors (Rhys is superb) and very impressive dialogue. Perfect film for a quiet night in.
Autres, Les (The Others) 1974: French, no info available.
Sounds like the 1997 version is the one she wants, but correct me if I'm wrong.
I can also probably score a Green Day CD or two and some Arthur Loves Plastic and Schneider (techno).
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