Two Texas Counties To Provide Support For US Troops

Self

[rapture-me]

Here is a project that we have started in central (Erath & Hamilton Counties) Texas. You may wish to join with your county to carry this nationwide.

Several local individuals have started a project to provide “care packages” to members of the Armed Services who are deployed to forward areas in the Persian Gulf. Although all basic needs are furnished by the military and the PXs provide many additional items, there are items that can make life in the forward areas more enjoyable that are not readily available. These are the items most requested by Marines in the desert:

Foot powder
AA & AAA batteries
Chap stick, Carmex, or the like
Sunscreen and moisturizing lotion (helps ward off the effects of the extreme desert cold and heat)
Travel wipes (non scented) – (for long periods of time in the field without bathing facilities.)
Throat lozenges
Extra sugar-free gum or Arm & Hammer Dental Care Chewing gum (for when they are unable to brush their teeth.)
A paperback book – Something a young serviceman might enjoy or a book of crossword puzzles or word games.
Small packages of beef jerky.
Writing material, envelopes, a couple of pens.
Pack of playing cards.
Small bottles of Tabasco sauce to “enhance” the flavor of the MREs.
Travel pack of toilet paper. (Small please, large rolls are to cumbersome and take up to much space to be carried in pack on the move.)

If you wish to leave a card/note of support for the servicemen/women, please do so. We will ensure a note is put in each package.

H.E.B. and Piggly Wiggly have granted permission to have collection boxes at their locations. Just purchase the items you wish to send to our troops and deposit them in the box. We will package and mail them to specific units or distribute through the U.S.O. and the American Red Cross. Thank you for your support.

If you have questions, contact: Name Removed

[NELSON111]

Thanks. Being over in the sand box right now....I could use some of this. One thing though...leave out the Tabasco sauce. Every MRE now has a little bottle inside...I use them on every meal. Wipes would be GREAT..and so would batteries.

Thanks for your effort...it means a lot to us over here.

[rapture-me]

Thank You!

Is there anything that we can add to the list that would be useful?

[Mudboy Slim]

Thank YOU fer yer service, sir!! REAL Americans are behind YOU and the President 100%!!

Utmost FReegards...MUD

[disgustedvet]

One item that can be included is dip or smokes. If they are over there for a while, any form of tobacco will be worth it's weight in gold. Sure, they can get it at the PX or S5, but they can hardly ever keep up with the demand.

Once, while deployed, my family sent me a care package right about the time that everyone was running out of dip, and the PX couldn't tell us when another shipment would come in. Things were getting "tense", and low and behold, my family sent me enough to get me through another couple of weeks. It was a life saver (but it was tough turning down $15.00/can for a $2.50 can of dip)!

Being that far from home going through nicotine withdrawals is surely a drag.

Two things soldiers can never have too much of: dip and Tobasco sauce. My $0.02.

[NELSON111]

Yes...some drink mix of some kind. Most MRE's have the Cocoa Beverage Powder Base mix...which I find absolutely disgusting....especially when you no means of heating water to put it in. Some of the guys take 2 packages and make a field "YOOHOO"...but it tastes like cocoa mixed with flour to me...not real good.

I would also suggest some D batteries...that's what our flashlights take. Maybe some razors, shaving cream, and soap. I know I'm in a location that doesn't have an AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Service...traveling BX's)...and I can see myself running low. Thanks again. Nothing like getting to freep from "The Kingdom".

[call meVeronica]

God Bless you for your devotion. Thank you for your service. Take Care

[N8VTXNinWV]

God Bless You! We're already working on some packages up here in West By Golly for my brother-in-law (Army) and brother and sister-in-law (both Air Force.)

[john316]

Are you sitting on the corner of "This Way" and "That Way"...Just a little attempt at some Lake Jackson humor...Give'm Hell.

[sparkomatic]

Refer to http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/861972/posts . An Ohio company is sending washboards, galvanized tubs and laundry soap to the gulf.

[NELSON111]

Lake Jackson? I live in Angleton...do we know each other?

[Coop]

Thanks for your effort...it means a lot to us over here.

Come on, don't be shy. Tell everyone you guys would love a roll or two of thick, quilted Charmin. Admit it! :-)

Thanks for protecting our freedom, and stay safe!

[john316]

negative..Just got some folks spread between lake jackson clute and freeport. Those street names allways give me chuckle and thought some humor from your neck of woods would give you grin from the home front.

[NELSON111]

You got that right...we've got John Wayne toilet paper....it won't take crap off of nobody:-)

[NELSON111]

thanks...the funny thing about that section of town is that they designed it to make it easier to get around. Ooops.

[Coop]

I know the feeling well. It's doubly pleasant when squatting upon sandbags stacked over the day's, uh, latrine. Hopefully you're fortunate enough to have one of those GI-version Port-a-potties.

[NELSON111]

Harvest Falcon baby...I'm livin' large.

[Coop]

I'm not familiar with that term, but I'm guessing you're Air Force? Is that an F-16 squadron/platform?

[NELSON111]

Right...I'm AF. harvest Falcons are the pre-packed kits complete with field showers...tents...toilets...etc.

[rimtop56]

Here's a comprehensive list:
http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html