also, why would a private company need to donate to the US military? i think it's great. just asking...
In the mountains of the infamous Hindu Kush - at least, My grandson' Unit - BATTLE Company of the 2nd/503rd, 173rd AIRBORNE... It's in the northeast Province of Kunar, up against the Paki border. My grandson said the other day : "negative 30 with wind chill factor" and they are on mountainside perch they literally pickaxed out of the mountainside.
They have no power, no heat, no hot meals - only the MRE's...out on patrol on goat paths, hills crawling with Taliban...Korengal Valley - aka "Taliban Central" and "The Most Dangerous Place on Earth"
You can see what they are facing - fighting wise - from video clips on the 173rds home web base and a mag. article - that were done in warmer weather this fall at
http://www.setaf.army.mil/
video clips: click on "Go behind the front lines in Afghanistan"
for mag article click on " Into the Valley of Death"
(at the time this was done, they had been through some 450 firefights - now that has more than tripled... Add to the above, one of the bitterest winter ranges in the world - and picture yourself without a warm hut to get into - without power, with MRE's day in day out....You are in that cold 24/7 - cold that, this winter, has already caused the lives of some 400 locals and thousands of their livestock animals.
Cold? Bet your bippi.
Military socks are not as warm or comfortable as many civilian socks, like WigWam - with Merino wool and knitting patterns that keep them from bunching up =
Think of what you would need to even attempt to keep warm - were it not for the wonderful Americans who have so generously given and who have organized drives and packed and sent clothing and food -
and handwarmers - This is one they say really works the best -
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/campmor/search/main.jsp?command=text&ip_text=solid+fuel+sticks+ℑ.x=6ℑ.y=5
I just sent 3 warmers and 5 boxes of fuel sticks = and will send more when my Soc Sec comes ;o)
Food is crucial. They need protein for energy and warmth (They are humping miles of mountain trails every day) - they like the peanut butter power bars, jars of peanut butter (plastic)and crackers, nuts, jerky, (NO PORK ALLOWED IN COUNTRY), dried fruit, vitamins, gum (Helps keep the ears from popping when the mortars fly) drink packets (coffee, cocoa,) canned hash, tuna, (They are no where near a PX) -
just picture yourself getting dropped off on the side of a mountain in the high Rockies, YOu're in the open, except for when you can crawl into what passes for a hut that you have managed to cobble together from rocks and wood - for 15 months - and there are crazy mountain men with guns and rockets that don't want you there...)
Cold? the coldest.
Hungry. Oh yes.
Feel like you're in Hell?
God bless the American people who are not forgetting our troops -= God give the politicians that are fighting against them - hell.