CARE PACKAGES for our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2006

patriciaruth ^ | 1-21-06 | patriciaruth

[patriciaruth]

Welcome to the 2006 thread of the Merry Band of Patriots!

Our grassroots, volunteer group of troop supporters has been sending care packages to servicemen and women in war zones since the summer of 2001 when we began by sending VHS movies and Snickers candy bars to the 101st Airborne and then later the 10th Mountain at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.

This last year we sent a couple hundred care packages to troops at Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mosul and Tal Afar in Iraq, at Bagram in Afghanistan, at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo and to our wounded at Landstuhl Regional Hospital in Germany.

Our specialty in the past has been movies, books, snacks, holiday decorations and some appliances like DVD players and Playstations, and we have sent hundreds of movies to various bases.

This last year we had 6 main projects in addition to the usual care packages:

1. We sent over 80 state-of-the-art Petzl headlamps to our adopted company of Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Mosul and 35 to an MI unit at Kirkuk. This was probably the most appreciated item we've ever sent, thanks to a project that got off the ground due to the work of Spanaway Lori, HannaUSA , and Oatka and 3/4th of which was funded by my optometrist.

2. There was the Personal Care items "Emergency" Airlift to Bagram air base in June and July. (mathluv, nina0113, Coop, JustAmy, airborne, iceskater, Tunehead54, jtill participated.)

3. The 4th of July Party Decorations and Snacks blowout for all our adopted units. (pictures at posts 357, 358, 368 of our 2005 thread)

4. Operation Popcorn in August and September for the Engineers at Baghdad (iceskater, mathluv, SENClander, Coop, Abigail Adams, Ros42, Ican'tbelieve it, jtill and ebay's mshoponline sent over 600 bags of microwave popcorn, while omegatoo's were lost in the shuffle of her evacuating New Orleans prior to the Katrina flooding)

5. The End of Summer Luau for psyops at Baghdad in September and October (MJY1288 mailed off the party things we bought at eBay and Amazon with contributions from fanfan, kattracks, jtill, Just mythoughts, Ros42, Pig Rigger, MJY1288 and Kitty Mittens. Pictures at post 809 of the 2005 thread)

6. Halloween candy and movies for the Troops (kattracks, SENClander, Ican'tbelieveit, Abigail Adams mailed boxes in addition to the ones I sent with donations)

7. The Amazing Christmas and New Years Deluge, when it rained packages at all our adopted bases, especially at Tal Afar.
Special mentions go to Teams captains: mathluv (Engineers Baghdad), Ros42 (psyops Baghdad), CAluvdubya (Tal Afar), Abigail Adams (Stryker at Mosul), VeniVidiVici (MI at Kirkuk), nina0113 (Bagram, Afghanistan). Fairy Godmother Dept. (kattracks), Christmas Trees and Christmas Cards R Us (daybreakcoming), Shipping Dept (MJY1288), DVD Recording Dept (MJY1288), Webhosting and Photoshopping Dept (New Perspective), Daddy Warbucks Dept (my optometrist).

Among the many care packages sent by our troop supporters are these projects.
Boxes of school supplies for Iraqi children were sent by mathluv, Ican'tbelieveit, and my mother to Operation Crayon in Kirkuk.
Some members (CAluvdubya, angelsonmyside, 4integrity, ebay's susiemck) helped fill requests for Western Movies from an MI unit at Kirkuk (now home, movies still there) and Clint Eastwood and Adam Sandler movies from Fox Battery at Kirkuk (now home, movies still there).
bjcintennesse made many dozens of cooling neck scarves and sent them to pysops and Engineers at Baghdad.
DAVEY CROCKETT mailed boxesful of car magazines to a couple units.
A copy of the hardback book about the first year of the Revolutionary War (1776 by David McCullough) was sent to most of our units by DrDeb, iceskater, SwatTeam, and Just a Cowgirl.
Ros42 and mscht adopted a unit at Camp Ramadi for Christmas. (picture at 1195 of the 2005 thread).
CheneyChick and daybreakcoming saw to it that some care packages went to a remnant of our troops still in Kosovo.
Daybreakcoming's sister helped the staffers of the Louisiana legislature send about 8 boxes with around 32 bags of Christmas candy to Tal Afar.

Our many generous donors of checks, cash, money orders, Paypal, shopping cards, phone cards, etc are listed in the Accounting posts in our 2005 thread which can be linked from the post below.

We were surprised and emotional when we received back from our adopted units some of the items pictured below, and a big thank you to jkphoto for taking the pictures and webhosting them.

[patriciaruth]

mass55th mailed a tall prelit Christmas tree to Stryker at Baqubah and is currently mailing ornaments, tree skirt, etc.
WAY TO GO!!

***
EMAIL from NPTT at Camp Liberty, Baghdad:
Patty,

Thank you very much for your latest package—we loved it, especially the movies. Life here is very calm compared to what it was this summer—the violence is way down and there’s hope that the peace may actually last a while. Cross your fingers . . .

Our APO has not changed—we’re still here. Thanks again for thinking of us here!

EMAIL from HHC of NPTT Camp Liberty:

Patty,
Recieved the package with the videos, candy and petzel head lamp. Thank you! Our address is changing to ...
The change takes effect immediately. We’re not moving, but the unit that was supporting our mail is, hence the new address.

Again I can’t thank you enough for all the support you and the Merry Band of Patriots are providing us with.

V/R

***

Mailed November 20, 2007, to Balad, Iraq
1 box, insured $61.60, postage $11.00
10 DVD’s/12 movies:
Terminator 2 (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
True Lies (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis)
Tuxedo (Jackie Chan)
Enemy at the Gates (Joseph Fiennes)
Galaxy Quest (Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub)
Forever Young (Mel Gibson, Jamie Lee Curtis)
My Cousin Vinny (Marisa Tomei, Joe Pesci)
Air Force One (Harrison Ford)/In the Line of Fire (Clint Eastwood)
Stargate (Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson)
Gettysburg (Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger)/Gods and Generals (Robert Duvall)
1 package 30 Keebler’s soft chocolate chip cookies
1 package 8 Pepperidge Farm white chocolate macadamian nuts cookies
1 package 8 Pepperidge Farm oatmeal raisin cookies

Mailed November 20, 2007, to Stryker at Baqubah, 2 boxes:
Box 1 (#7), insured $86.34, postage $11.00
25 travel packages 15 Wet Ones, citrus fragrance
9 DVD movies:
Eraser (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
From Russia with Love (Sean Connery)
The Man from Snowy River (Kirk Douglas, Tom Burlinson)
Master and Commander (Russell Crowe)
Sixth Sense (Bruce Willis, Joel Haley Osment)
Tears of the Sun (Bruce Willis)
True Lies (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
Without a Paddle (Burt Reynolds)
You Only Live Twice (Sean Connery)

Box 2 (#8), insured $57.10, postage $11.00
9 DVD movies:
Along Came a Spider (Morgan Freeman)
La Bamba (Lou Diamond Phillips)
City Slickers (Billy Crystal, Jack Palance)
Collateral Damage (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
Desperado (Antonio Banderas)
Enemy at the Gates (Joseph Finnes)
Escape from New York (Kurt Russell)
The Man who Shot Liberty Valance (John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart)
Once Upon a Time in the West (Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson)
1 package of 30 Kleebler soft chocolate chip cookies
1 box 100 envelops
3 ruled writing pads (50 sheets each)
3 large packets Whoppers (1.75 oz)

[MEG33]

WOO HOO for you mass55th..Terrific.

Life here is very calm compared to what it was this summer—the violence is way down and there’s hope that the peace may actually last a while. Cross your fingers .

This is so good to read from someone there..Prayers it will last.

[SW6906]

No, no ,no YOU are awesome!!!!!! Don't even begin to put me near the same category!!! ;o)

[donnab]

I am sorry that your experience with Fisher House was not as you hoped.
I am still grateful for the good works and things they have accomplished for our troops and their families.

[sam_paine]

I am sorry that your experience with Fisher House was not as you hoped.

I give to various charities, and any place like, say, Americares...when they get your donation, of course they put you on a list and hound you for ever more. But at least you know that they know that they got the donation. You can only hope that they give some of it to the intended, and don't burn all of it in more mass mailing campaigns!

But to just "disappear" the gift like Fisher did, and to not be able to even acknowledge or identify what they received? That's not just disappointing, that's irresponsible.

It's not just potentially wasteful, it's ripe for abuse and ripoffs.

[Abigail Adams]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :-)

Is there anything in particular that the new Stryker unit wants for Christmas? I may be able to do a little something. Let me know.

[patriciaruth]

How about commercial cookies?

[mass55th]

Patty:

On Monday I mailed via Priority, a pre-lit (multi-colored bulbs) 7-foot artificial Asterpine tree to our unit in Iraq. On Tuesday I shipped two large boxes via Priority, with the following items in them:

1 Container of 40 count assorted styles shatter-proof ornaments
1 Container of 72 count assorted styles shatter-proof ornaments
1 Container of 76 count assorted styles shatter-proof ornaments
1 Multi-Color lights Star-Shaped Tree Topper
1 Tree Skirt
1 12' Extension Cord
5 Packages Ornament hangers, assorted shapes and colors
1 Tree Light fuse tester
1 Package Tree Light fuses
6 Packages Tree Icicles, silver, gold and rainbow colored
10 Pkgs. (8-10 count) asstd. size and shape shatter-proof ornaments
4 Sets of decorated icicle ornaments (4 to a set)
3 Packages of Hershey's Mint-Chocolate Candy Canes
2 Packages of Fruit-Flavored Candy Canes
2 Packages of Jelly Belly Flavored Candy Canes
2 Packages of Life Savers Candy Canes
2 Package Red and White Candy Canes
1 Package Mini Red and White Candy Canes

[patriciaruth]

All these Christmas goodies you sent are so great, but what stands out in my mind is the extension cord.

What a fastastic idea!

I don’t know how much access they have to electricity (it just occured to me that they might not have electricity; but if it becomes available intermittently, then I hope they can light the tree long enough for a Christmas carol to play in their minds.

At any rate they are going to be so overjoyed that someone cared enough to send them all these things from home. Bless your dear heart! :-)

[mass55th]

"I don’t know how much access they have to electricity (it just occured to me that they might not have electricity..."

I'm assuming they have their own generators at their base camps...possibly gas driven? Maybe someone who knows for sure can answer that question.

[Aut Pax Aut Bellum]

I have a bunch of "Soldier of Fortune" magazines and gun magazines here that I would like to send to the troops. I understand that these are popular with them. I need addresses where to send things to them. I could also enclose kids stuff like crayons and coloring books for the troops to pass out. Some candy too, like lollipops.
Same. Got lots of back issues of Guns and Ammo and the like. Where to mail? Also, I tried donating Delta airmiles a year ago, and they didn't have any program to do so, any ideas?

[4Godsoloved..Hegave]

Mailed to Stryker unit at Baqubah, Iraq Nov. 27, 2007

Priority Flat Rate box 8.95

24 Chocolate Chip Granola bars
12 Peanut Sweet & Salty Granola bars
2 1 lb. packages of Fig Bars
12 packages of sandwich crackers
10 envelopes chocolate breakfast drink mix
individually wrapped tootsie brand candies to fill box

[patriciaruth]

Oh, yummy, yummy!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS is on its way!

[patriciaruth]

Want to send the magazines to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?

FReepmail me for more information on how.

[patriciaruth]

Dear Mike,

Thank you for offering to get a prelit multicolored lights Christmas tree mailed out to HHC of NPTT at Camp Libery in Baghdad. I’ve got some ornaments and will get more.

Here’s the old thread. As you can see, I have been too busy taking care of my elderly mother here in my home this last year to start a 2007 thread, so we’ve been piggybacking on the 2006 thread.

I suffered a relapse of my long standing nemesis illness and after enduring it for several months, I started a course of Doxycycline and am finally improved, no more chills and night sweats and less fatigue, after 4 weeks of therapy.

Hope you drop by here from time to time.

Cheers!
Patty

[4Godsoloved..Hegave]

Box sent to Stryker Unit in Baqubah, Iraq Nov. 27, 2007

Insured for $100, Postage $25

24 packages Baby wipes.
Hefty zipper bags
2 DVD movies -
Ten Commandments 2005 version
The Legend of Zorro

[fanfan]

Canada is weird.

:-(

Scroll down to the 4th post, and on.
Thanks Patty.

http://www.freedominion.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=89617&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75

[patriciaruth]

MJY1288 is getting a prelit Christmas tree for our unit at HHC of NPTT at Baghdad.

We have two units in Afghanistan and 3 in Iraq. If anyone wishes to send a Christmas package of goodies by December 5, please contact me for unit at Pakistan border, HHC of NPTT at Baghdad, or any unit.
nina0113 for Bagram near Kabul, Afghanistan
SENClander for one other NPTT at Baghdad
JustAmy for Stryker at Baqubah

Here’s an email from Stryker at Baqubah that just came:

Dear ***,
I want to say thank you for the shipment of headlamps and all the packages for the Soldiers. I have distributed all the goodies throughout [the] Company, and it really brought a smile to everyone’s face. All the Soldiers in the company couldn’t have asked for such great support. This week is very busy for us, but I will be sure to keep in touch and let you know how the decorating for Christmas goes.

Currently we are in the process of changing out Company Commanders and helping the new commander integrate himself into the company. We continue to fight the fight here in Baqubah as we go into the colder months here in Iraq. Recently we have experienced the loss of soldiers within our Battalion and Brigade and our hearts go out to the families of those Soldiers. The men continue to work day in and day out, improving schools, conducting major operations and keeping the peace here in Baqubah.

I want to personally thank everyone who put together packages for the company. Thanks again for the support and keep us in your prayers.

LT **

[I’ve just emailed him that mass55th sent Christmas tree and ornaments last week]

[Abigail Adams]

Okay, I would like to send cookies to the Stryker unit! Is Dec. 5 the cutoff date for shipping? Go ahead and freepmail me the APO. Thanks!

[patriciaruth]

And those 24 packages are large refill packs of wet wipes as I recall your description. They are going to be so grateful when those arrive...plus two good movies. THANK YOU!!