Care packages for soldiers? What to include
I know I've seen threads with this info posted, but after searching I can't seem to come up with the right search words to get them to come up. We are getting ready to send a package to our adoptee, just want some help on essentials, and luxury items to include. We have only had one correspondance with him, and he is way too busy to gab with. Said he only checks his email every couple weeks, and is working 18 hours a day, so haven't had a chance to ask him what he wants/needs. We'll just wing it on this first one and find out from him ofr the next one. Thanks for any help.
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Batteries
beef jerky
books and magizines0 -
+1 on the batteries for the surefires and other weaponlights(cr123's) 0 -
I found out we weren't supposed to send pork products on account of the Muslims, so I was always sure to send pork rinds and Vienna sausages. 0 -
i agree with nunn, lots of nice bacon and a couple of nice smoked hams! after all he`s an american, not an iraqi!..oh, and maybe a nice bottle of sippin` whisky.[;)] 0 -
I asked a Marine friend of mine what they wanted over there when I was getting ready to send some packages to him and his Marines.
He said they liked things like jerky, lots of baby wipes, gum, hard candy, gun oil, shaving cream and razor blades.0 -
buy a large jar of green olives, open the jar and drain the liquid and refill with Everclear and reseal the jar![;)][:D]
And yes I know someone who was having this done when I was there. It was the best way to get some good drink material into the country.0 -
magazines, peanut M&Ms, sticky fly strips, harmonicas. What they do not use someone else will 0 -
gold bond 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ruger270man
gold bond
+1
I would get the powder and the cream.0 -
Since I'm here also, I'll chime in ...The pork, may get nabbed as we are guests here who are not supposed to offend our guests deep religious beliefs ... TOUGH poop'E...
The everclear etc. booze will get someone into deep poop'e , notice that's not a bad word.. if it's found in the US mail.. believe it's screened fairly closely for these contents at the last US mail facility before it heads here.
Your PORK / BOOZE packages mailed from your neighboorhood church by the pastor himself... usually get not even a look !!!!
WINK WINK - NOD NOD !!!0 -
Include a 223 bore Snake in your package. 0 -
I've heard wet wipes are one of the most requested items. Maybe sand repellent as well![:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by MVP
Include a 223 bore Snake in your package.
Excellent idea. Also the .50 cal boresnake and the .30 cal boresnake are good items to have (Our team already has enough right now.)
Rem Oil is pretty good stuff as is Hoppes #9 solvent (if you can get it by customs.)
The Korean ramens (hot and spicy ones) are good
quality coffee (already ground up)
hand sanitizer
maybe a thermos style coffee mug (like the stainless steel ones)
Gum, jerkey, tobacco products like copenhagen cardboard cans, and the goldbond are decent ideas.
any magazines, puzzle books, hell a rubiks cube?
If you have a good MP3 collection, put em on a disk and send a disk or two of music over. (wink wink)
That's off the top of my head, there's a lot of care packages that get sent over here by family and such (everything is appreciated) so before you start sending a bunch of stuff, make sure what the person needs or wants.
As far as the sippin stuff, porn, or pork products goes, whoever said we could get in trouble was right. Make sure the person WANTS that stuff and is willing to chance getting in trouble.
(someone had a 6pack sent over and it busted in the package at the post office. They knew what was in it and were waiting on the soldier to accept it........ jeeez)
Thanks for remembering everyone that's still over here guys. Sorry I haven't posted much lately. They're keeping us pretty busy.0 -
Rogue_Rob:
Hey - where u at over here anyway ?? I'm in Baghdad...
BOOZE in the US mail will get someone a room at the grey bar motel US ARMY style - 4 SURE !!!0 -
Don't laugh at the bacon idea. I sent pre-cooked bacon and a loaf of Wonder bread. Both made it just fine. 0 -
Also, I got with the local convienence store and got a case each of the little packets of mayonaise, mustard, ketchup and relish. They were great and fought over. Hard to store condiments once opened if they are the full size, but those little packets last forever. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by nunn
I found out we weren't supposed to send pork products on account of the Muslims, so I was always sure to send pork rinds and Vienna sausages.
odd, i don't know about iraq, but in kuwait, the locals were serving us bacon in the chow halls. i believe most of them are muslim as well.0 -
I hear a bottle of beer fits rather nicely inside a Pringles can. 0 -
Thanks guys, keep 'em coming. Is there a limit to the size of the package? Better to send two separate? Any advice involving this is appreciated. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by big mango
Rogue_Rob:
Hey - where u at over here anyway ?? I'm in Baghdad...
BOOZE in the US mail will get someone a room at the grey bar motel US ARMY style - 4 SURE !!!
FOB Union 3 in Baghdad. We live inside the IZ but patrol outside every day about.
Shoot me an email.0 -
Hot Rod magazines and Silly String! 0 -
As for silly string - i wouldnt send it. its the pressurized can kinda stuff, cant send it in mail.
maybe some markers, and pens / pencils. handheld games, socks, packs of underwear, etc, ramen, CHEX MIX... when my school wrote to soldiers asking what they wanted, the #1 thing was CHEX MIX, WIPES, and other stuff to keep clean.. They dont get a chance to actually shower, so wipes and stuff is good to clean up0 -
quote:Originally posted by rogue_rob
quote:Originally posted by big mango
Rogue_Rob:
Hey - where u at over here anyway ?? I'm in Baghdad...
BOOZE in the US mail will get someone a room at the grey bar motel US ARMY style - 4 SURE !!!
FOB Union 3 in Baghdad. We live inside the IZ but patrol outside every day about.
Shoot me an email.
Union 3??? There's a place I haven't thought of in a while!! I lived down the road at FOB Freedom. As for stuff. I found porno to be worthy more than gold in trading\bartering with the hajis...0 -
Trial sized toothpaste, we sent a whole box to a co-worker who was over ther last year. All of his guys loved it, small & easy to carry. 0 -
The USPS has a box that they will send anywhere in the US(including military stationed overseas) for $8.95 no matter what it weighs. I am putting a couple of these together to send and appreciate the info.
Just measured the box and they are 12" by 14" by 3.5" thick.0 -
If you know the guys and where they are from, if they are local, send several editions of the local news paper. 0 -
Gold Bond powder is a real treat!! Non-scented baby wipes, powdered flavored drink stuff like gatorade/crystal light as much water is obtained from bottled water at too easy to add the stuff and shake well. AA/AAA bateries. Unscented lotion, athlete foot lotion, socks, and a tee shirt of anything that supports the troops.
Magazines: Car, gun, computer all good.0 -
The big hits on my last go around were as follows:
Crystal light in the little packages...easy to dump in the bottled water and shake up
Beef Jerky
Starbursts
Gold Bond
Baby wipes
Hand sanitizer gel (as medics we had loads and handed it out all the time when we went outside the wire)
Skoal Bandits (those were hard to get at times)
Word search puzzles
Trailmix of any sort...easy to put in cargo pockets
Whoever thought of sending us the ketchup and mustard in the little packets....man we owed them our souls almost...those were like gold
Careful on the magazines though...our mail guys always opened packages and checked them out...any skin showing...they confiscated them to...ummmm...trash...yeah...trash.
What I always had the wife send was tuna in the tear open pouches. Add the mayo in the little packets in to it and you could have a quick lunch anywhere.0 -
Rogue & Patbuzzard:
Was at both of those Freedom and Union 3 and all those camps in the IZ.
Now across from the BIAP at another installation waiting on going back up north and east near te border in a day or so.
I'll keep in contact when I can via GB Message forums.
Keep it real BUDS.0
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