CARE PACKAGES for our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2005

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1273305/posts ^ | 2-18-05 | patriciaruth

[patriciaruth]

Time for a new thread!

Our Merry Band of Patriots has seen a psy-ops unit at Bagram, Afghanistan, help educate voters in Afghanistan and come home successfully, while we supported them and special forces in the field by sending over 100 movies and many packages of snacks and toiletries and Hallowe'en candy. A Christmas tree and decorations (Daybreakcoming) and stockings (Ican'tbelieveit) and cards and over 400 candy canes were sent for their follow-on unit, and a box with movies and magazines and misc is just beginning to fill for their next care package. The movies and books we sent previously went into the Special Forces library there.

We've seen Beast Battery at Kirkuk, Iraq, through till their deployment home, sending them over 100 movies and dozens of books and a microwave and DVD/VCR player (from arjay) and many big boxes of snacks. Plus a huge wave of goodies was organized by McLynnan for Christmas in Kirkuk (2 prelit trees, ornaments, Santa suit, many stockings with stuffers, many cards, and a couple thousand candy canes to share out with all the forces there).

We've supported the 411th Engineers at Baghdad in 2004 with about 70 movies and several dozen books, a Playstation 2 and a Nintendo console with a couple dozen games (from asgardshill and ican'tbelieveit), a 4 foot Christmas tree and ornaments and boxes of snacks and many cards and 600 candy canes. In the next couple months we will be bidding them Godspeed as they return to their homebase in Hawaii.

We've sent over 50 movies, a DVD/VCR player (from arjay), and a dozen and a half books to an MI unit near Kirkuk, plus some Christmas decorations and stocking stuffers, and many cards and 156 candy canes. They have mostly left for home now and we just sent a package with more movies to their follow-on unit.

Also we have sent some packages to an Aviation unit at Balad, Iraq and to an Infantry Medics unit, and a small Christmas package each to another AVN unit and an MP unit.

Stryker Infantry company formerly at Fallujah and now at Mosul since November has been the major focus of our care packages these past months. All of Stryker at Mosul has taken fire, and our adopted company has suffered a KIA and some soldiers with severe injuries.

Early on we sent food items (mostly power bars and dried fruit and nuts) then Christmas stockings stuffed with goodies and many cards and 200 candy canes, and since Christmas have begun sending movies. They recently received a DVD/VCR player (from arjay) and with the movies just mailed today their collection will total about 75 movies and a dozen books.

And all this happened because our grassroots volunteer group began forming in the early summer of 2001 to send care packages to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, when the 101st Airborne and then the 10th Mountain were there.

The contents of packages just mailed will be listed in post below.

[Just mythoughts]

Warm weather is my best time for diverting, love being outside, gardening, etc., we have a three acre lot and other than shoveling occasional snow winter is the down time regarding outside work. I spend time in Bible study, which ultimately is what holds my mind together. The older I get the less I like winter as my body seems to act like a barometer with every weather change.

My three children are constant diversions. Oldest is college graduate and gainfully employed, bought his own place and is full of questions of Who, What, Where When and Why of homeownership, middle one will graduate college in May, although he is applying for grad school and youngest is a senior in high school. It is never dull and they do keep my mind active.

Freeping keeps me informed on events and meeting special people like you and others keeping our military aware that we here in comfortable US have not forgotten them.

[patriciaruth]

I love gardening, too.

The care packages have kept me inside mostly and the flowerbeds have gone to weeds these past months.

Your family sounds Heaven sent. I hope they are all home for Christmas.

We need prayers for successful and safe elections in Iraq this coming Thursday. That is the greatest help we can give our soldiers at this time.

Merry Christmas!

[patriciaruth]

Mailed December 12, 2005, to Mosul, 3 boxes for New Years Party
Box 2, value $19.98, postage $7.70
7 pkgs. 10 Happy New Year party paper plates
2 pkgs. 20 Happy New Year paper napkins
Party favors: 4 sponge reindeer shooters, 12 bottles holiday bubble juice
8 zipper lock 1 gal. bags

Box 3, value
6 pkgs. 10 New Year plates
6 pkgs 20 New Year napkins
Party favors: 2 sponge reindeer shooters, 3 holiday figure pop-ups
4 zipper lock 1 gal. bags

Box 4, insured $74.50, postage $24.85
20 pkgs of 8 cups (8 are 16 oz red plastic, 11 are 12 oz Happy New Year cups, and one pkg. 16 oz New Year 2000 cups )
1 pkg. 20 New Year napkins
2 purple thin vinyl table cloths
2 New Years 2000 banners
Party favors:
3 blue Millennium 2000 top hats
6 bags 8 pointed party hats (half green Hulk, half Action Man)
2 pkgs 4 small maracas
7 clear plastic and gold 2000 noise maker clackers
4 horns (2 silver, 2 blue)
6 pkgs 8 Hulk blow out flutes
7 long parti-colored blow out flutes
2 gift bags: one purple, one celebration 2000 midnight blue
2 pkgs balloons
2 rolls of streamer ribbon
Toys:
2 silver and blue metallic snowflake rocket flyers
4 sponge reindeer shooters
Misc. from inside crackers: 5 each of tiny black tooters, pkgs gold streamers, pkg silver foil crowns,

[patriciaruth]

Update:
I'm in the midst of sending a New Years party to Stryker Brigade at Mosul.

However, because the modem on my laptop broke today and I may not be able to communicate easily for a while, I'm giving a preliminary report now.

Posts 1156 and 1163 have the list of party goods that have already been sent to Mosul.

I'm now starting to get some food and drink together to send to them to put in the cups and on the plates...

Anyone who wants to help send food or drink to Mosul for New Years or help pay for it, let me know. If you don't get an answer back in 24 hours, then I'm in communicado on the internet. For that possibility I've given my phone number to both kattracks and MJY1288. And Abigail Adams has the APO for Mosul.

I want to give a big hand of applause to the team captains of our Christmas projects, and I would separately post all the goodies that they coordinated sending if I could right now. Most of it is listed in the last 200 posts of this thread.

So, THANK YOU, to
MJY1288--shipping department
Abigail Adams--Mosul
CAluvdubya--Tal Afar
VeniVidiVici--Kirkuk
Ros42 and mscht--psyops Baghdad and Camp Ramadi
mathluv--Engineers at Baghdad
nina0113--Bagram air base, Afghanistan
kattracks--fairy godmother department
daybreakcoming--Christmas trees R Us

We also sent packages to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, and to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for our wounded in Germany.

I will be posting the accounting at the end of December when my modem is fixed, and at that time will give credit to our many and generous contributors. Meanwhile, thank you all so very much for your continuing and wonderful support for our soldiers, airmen and Marines at this special time of year.

God bless you all! Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukkah!

[Just mythoughts]

Merry Christmas to all BUMP for our Military!!!!

[shezza]

Patty, et al, Thank you for all you've done to make the holidays special for our wonderful heroes who are away from home and family. You're magnificent!

[apackof2]

My friend and I just had a drive to collect needed items for our troops in Iraq. My friend's young nephew is a Marine and was recently wounded. We send 5 large boxes of items to him and his squad.

I just want to encourage others to give to the troops either through this drive or getting others involved in your local community with a drive like my friend's and me.

Below is the letter I send, feel free to copy!

Dear Family, Friends and Neighbors,

You are invited to help Support Our Troops and here is how!

Jamie and I are having a drive to collect items that are needed by our troops. And you are invited to provide these items. Jamie and I will package and send them to Jamie's nephew, Lance Corporal -------, serving in Iraq who also was recently wounded and has since returned to duty. He will, in turn, deliver the packages to his platoon.

25 MOST NEEDED ITEMS ARE: Suntan Lotion** Bug Spray/Wipes, Chap Stick** Q-Tips (sm. packs) Razors, Eye Moisture Drops, Small powered drink mixes (to add to water bottles) Socks (white or green) Protein Bars*Granola/Cereal Bars, Sugar Free Items, Hard Candy, Batteries (any size) Calling Cards (AT&T) Baby Powder** Foot Powder/Spray** Gum/Breath Mints, Mouthwash, Cookies, Microwave Foods, Popcorn Medical Items (Aspirin, Cough/Allergy Medicine, Vitamins)** Shaving cream** Cereal (sm. boxes) Snack Foods** AND Letters & Cards of Support and Encouragement! ** Items needed the most

Jamie has volunteered her home as a collection point. Items may be dropped off next Saturday, November 19 starting at 6:00pm at ------------. In lieu of material items you may send a cash donation to my home which Jamie & I will use to purchase additional items and facilitate shipping.

My address is;---------------- Please address check to Joan ------ or Jamie------ and write, "Support our Troops" in memo of check.
Please feel free to contact either me, Joan at ------- or Jamie at ------

Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting our troops!
They are always so grateful to receive packages and more importantly support from back home.
God Bless America,
God Bless Our Troops

Sincerely,
Joan & Jamie

[swheats]

What is the "fairy godmother department"?

[Tunehead54]

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

---

Just posted as received from a vet. Please count your blessings and then pass a couple along to Dr. Patty. ;-)

---

To all of us Swift Brothers from Barbara Fensch Xgirlfriend of Richard Baumberger KIA 5/5/69

RIP Richard.

[Beagle8U]

I have a nephew in the Marines that has served one tour in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. ( will be back in Iraq soon).

He is in special forces so his location is seldom disclosed.

He said that anything and everything sent to our troops are appreciated and really make their day, but...

What they most like to receive in packages are, beef jerky, kippered herring (often called kipper snacks, its canned smoked herring), slim-jims, and chew(skoal etc.)

All of those stand the trip well(better than broken cookie crumbs), and even if they don't use it they can swap it with a buddy for something else.

[Abigail Adams]

Christmas for Mosul update! Not sure if these items were posted yet or not.

ican'tbelieveit has sent the following:

6 boxes shipped on 12/5/05: 3 to Mosul, 3 to Tal Afar.

Both sites got a box with 5 boxes, 10 envelopes each of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate.

Both sites got a box each of 5 bags of candy bars (snickers & such).

2 boxes christmas decorations, 1 to each site. (We're not sure yet which box went to which unit.)
Box 1: Charlie Brown Christmas movie, Red/green 60' garland, 3 bead garland strings, box 100 candy canes, 1 box 100 minilights.
Box 2: 60' Silver garland, 3 bead garland strings, 1 box 100 minilights, holiday collection music CD.

Thanks ican'tbelieveit!

[patriciaruth]

Thank you so much for posting that very moving poem.

Is Barbara Fensch the author?

[patriciaruth]

Thanks for the great tips.

We have sent beef jerky and Slim Jims, but haven't tried kippered herring.

Technically we are forbidden to send tobacco products to military, although one of our group sent some skoal to a civilian gobetween this past month.

When your nephew gets back to Iraq, perhaps you could get us an APO for him. I have a couple generous donors who especially want to send packages to Special Forces and Marines, and are waiting for a confirmed contact.

God bless your nephew!

[patriciaruth]

Can you get a hold of some boxes of hot cider mix?

I can reimburse you. It just isn't available here, and I want to send it to Mosul for a New Years Eve party.

We need 17-20 boxes of 10 envelops.

Thanks especially for the extra boxes you sent off to Tal Afar and Mosul back on December 5. I hope they are all awed and delighted by our efforts.

Be sure to read the poem that Tunehead54 posted. It really got to me.

[patriciaruth]

Jamie has volunteered her home as a collection point.

What city and state is Jamie in?

[patriciaruth]

The fairy godmother department magically appeared before our eyes as we saw the many boxes that kattracks kept conjuring up with her FR wand and sending out to our adopted units.

The name of the department was originally disclosed in a book by Robert Heinlein called Glory Road about the mythical adventures of a Viet Nam vet.

[Abigail Adams]

"Thanks especially for the extra boxes you sent off to Tal Afar and Mosul back on December 5. I hope they are all awed and delighted by our efforts."

Thanks goes to ican'tbelieve it!

Not me. :-)

[Abigail Adams]

Patty, check your Freepmail for info on where you can order apple cider packets and have them shipped direct!

[patriciaruth]

Thanks for the great tip.

I'm going to a nearby town tomorrow. If I can't find any or SENClander can't find any in the next couple days, then I will use that website. It costs about triple what I was hoping to pay for the cider mix. The priority shipping charges are a bit less as shipping from midwest. Still will be more expensive that way.

But I will be happy to use that site if I still come up empty by Friday.

[Tunehead54]

Working on that ... I'll let you know - (shameless good thread bump)! ;-)