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Definitely more than four hours away geographically or I WOULD be there. I’ll definitely be there in spirit and cannot thank all of you who carry so much of the burden for us by Freeping all around the DC area on a regular basis.

I got a message this week that all items have been received in Afghanistan and that the Chaplain and his assistant distroed to all!

It’s the America Supports You flat rate box in case you want to order them. I don’t think you will be able to order them on line or get them at the PO until early to mid March 2008.

Thanks for posting this Concrete Bob. And thanks to all of you who have emailed Carhartt. When we asked them for a donation we asked BIG because the need is big. They not only met our request but exceeded it. Definitely big hearts.

The program has a bit of a “flaw” in it. You are required to fill in an alternate person/address OR mark to abandon OR mark to be charged postage if the package is returned. NOrmally when filling out manually we mark to forward to the Chaplain if the specific person has moved to a different firebase, etc. The post office SAYS this will be fixed in April WHEN...............the NEW, LARGER flat rate box becomes available. Not only is the box going to be bigger but IF shipping to APO or FPO the postage rate will be 20% less than if shipping anywhere else. FINALLY - while not a huge postage savings to military addresses the post office is begining to “get it.”

The Army does issue cold weather gear and trust me this is not the fault of the CO/XO. If I had thought for even a moment that was the case I would still have done what needs to be done for the Soldiers but would have been raising cane in Washington. Bottom line - it’s a funding “issue” - if you know what I mean.

Allow me to add how happy I am to read that your son is home safe and sound in time for the holiday season. That is just fantastic news!

I’d also like to add my thanks to all of you who Freep so diligently at WRAMC, Olney and so many other places around the nation. Wish I could join you more often. Hope to see you at WRAMC soon!

Merry Christmas!!!

A big HOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAH, or I guess it should be OORAH to all of you - specifically to PatrioticMarineMom and RockerMom2MyHero. I sure wish I could be there more often but the drive is a wee bit too long.

With you in spirit every week.

Give 'em heck and more!

Those of you who have stood at the corners at WRAMC for so many weeks,so many months, so many years have my utmost respect and support. Living mid country and not being able to be with you all more often is PAINFUL! I’m always thankful for the opportunity to stand with so many true Americans and TRUE supporters of our military. Thoughts, prayers and thanks with you EVERY week.

AW Shucks! Thanks for the birthday wishes. I was way up in the mountains tucked away in a cabin with no phone, internet, etc. It was FANTASTIC! Missed you all but felt the love. I’ll have an update on the 173rd over at my blog on vox later tonight. Hugs to you all!

From an email I got from Afghanistan: Friends and Family- If you read below, there is a Nightline edition on Monday the 12th at 2335, or 1135 PM, eastern that will showcase for 40 minutes what it is the men of Battle Company have been through up until last month. We have been fortunate to have several very respectable journalists cover the extraordinary story of these great men I have the chance to serve with.

Battle Hard!

Yes, fleece blankets please. Mostly dark colors.

I add my thanks to ConcreteBob and all of you. And...hope to have some good news to share in a day or two...fingers crossed.

Well, as usual, PleaDeal is correct but...just to explain...they need the dark colored fleece blankets to use when they are out at the observation points and the "any colored" one are being used to line their mud huts for warmth. That's what the email said today.

Another note of interest - two organizations have come on board to help out. One is the AT&T Pioneers. I got a VERY encouraging email from them today but am waiting for confirmation before sharing. And I talked with Kyle at www.keystonesoldiers.com today. She is absolutely, positively on board and is working to see what she can get donated to her organization from the list. Her son is going to be deployed to Afghanistan later this year. She wasn't sure where. I doubt it will be Kunar but who knows. Could be Ghanzi or Helmand which isn't such a cake walk either.

You all are just fantastic. I know now that with everyone pulling together we WILL get these Soldiers geared up for winter.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I just got an email from the 1SG of D Company. He said they only need size medium long johns in his company because they have all lost so much weight. I posted most of his email to me on my blog, www.tankerbabelc985.vox.com, that tells more about the Needs versus Wants of his men (and one woman).

Thank you. I’m not sure why I waited so long.

Looking forward to being with all of you on Friday night outside Walter Reed. Wish I could be there more often but...I’m half way across the nation. My heart’s not.

First of all sincere thanks to all of you who have responded to this request. ConcreteBob and I are honored to be spearheading this project for the Soldiers in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. While we have received generous donations to date we are still very short of the NECESSARY items they are asking for. One lady in Texas adopted the entire A (Able)Company and has shipped 140 pairs of socks, 140 pairs of sock liners, 150 pairs of hand warmers, 100 neck gaitors, 150 tubes of lip balm, 150 packets of body wipes and mass quantities of jerky, candy and drink mix to Able Company. She was not able to provide the long johns so we still need those for Able Company. She chooses to remain annoymous but I know who she is and can't tell her thanks enough. We have also received 950 additional sticks of lip balm - white tubes, red caps and blue writing with messages of encouragement on them. So we are good on the lip balm.

Now as to the "what we need" questions
1600 pair of long johns. Can be bought via U S Cav per ConcreteBob's link or even at WalMart, etc. Must be dark colors. Sizes medium and large
800 dark or earthtone colored neck gaitors
700 balcalvas
Cases of hand warmers and body/baby wipes - unscented
warm gloves that must be thin enough for them to be able to use with their weapons
blank greeting cards for them to send back home to their loves ones
paper, envelopes and ink pens
AA and AAA batteries
Wool hiking socks - dark colors (grey is OK). We have already sent close to 1000 pair.
Fleece blankets - must be dark colors - these are used by the men who hike out to the observation posts in lieu of packing their sleeping bags. I'm told they like the blankets because they take up less room than the sleeping bag and that is important with all of the gear they have to haul.

As to the question of "why?" they need this gear all I can tell you is they left Italy in May for Afghanistan with their normal Army issue items. They have no PX and no DFAC at the KOP, Firebases or Observation Points. They are on MREs and bottled water. Many of these men are single and have no spouse to send them things that they could get in Italy. If you go to AnySoldier.com and search by "where unit is from" and put in "Italy" you will find requests from many of these Soldiers asking for the items listed above along with snack foods, DVDs and other items. ConcreteBob and I are just trying to focus on the items necessary to help get them through the harsh winter at 8000 feet and up in the Hindu Kush Mtns.

The men at the KOP and the Observation Posts only get a hot shower and a hot meal about once every 4-6 weeks. They are washing themselves and their laundry in 5 gallon buckets. The only opportunity they have to call or email home is once very 4-6 weeks.

As I've told numerous people, any ONE item is a huge help for these Soldiers. Sorry to be so long winded. Just wanted to give details to those who were interested. I appreciate all of you for you interest and for being the Patriots that you are. I look forward to seeing you on Friday.