Thanking a soldier

[WS6]

http://www.letssaythanks.com/

I figured maybe some people would like to know about this website and take the time to say thanks.

[Matt@RFR]

Pfff. If you really want to thank those guys, send them some porn, or those ready-wipe packets, or some toothbrushes. How about some toilet paper. Something usefull.

I was there x-mas '98-'99 and would've used those little thank you notes as target practice.

[Texas Bob]

In my experience while over there I would have loved more pop tarts for mornings on patrol or when I didn't feel like eating T-Rats (same as an MRE only in banquet size).

Baby wipes are good but tend to dry the 'ol arse out after awhile, so anyone who really wants to say thanks should send some rolls of Charmin.

The Cyrstal Light individual packets were great for breaking up the mondane luke warm water bottles stored in the sirring heat.

Just my 2 cents.

[OHCbird]

Porn can be real tricky there; many CO's have outlawed it even outside the borders of the middle east. With the internet, it's become a real touchy issue- there are handfulls of soldiers and sailors getting booted for surfing on company machines.

For me, knowing that my wife & kids are safe and happy back home, that's always been enough for me. Anything else is whatever life sends your way.

[go-fish]

I am active duty and have gotten my boots sandy on occassion. Twice actually and probably a third time coming up pretty soon. They never tell you until you're down there getting you're dessert cammies from supply.
Anyway, I get a kick out of it when I see some of the sheep running around town with the neat little magnetic ribbon on the trunk lid, "Support the Troops". Ask them how they do it, the magnet isn't support ladies. Try to talk to some of your friends about the GWOT and they'll flip to another topic faster than you can say, "Rumsfield is an idiot and Cheney is a war profitier." I don't agree with everything we are doing in the foreign diplomacy dept. but I am with the cause no matter what.
So just tell your kids to go down to the mall, don't worry about anything but strangers. There's somebody out there that hasn't showered in 2 weeks with 1 uniform , hoping his wife is still faithful, and his baby girl is healthy. He is the reason muslims in Boston have the right to congregate and spit hatred toward this country in the name of free speech, God Bless America.

[Bill Howell]

Well said Go-fish. All of it!!!!

[muthstryker]

hmm how can i send them magazines and stuff? i have maxims every where around the house haha. you know gold bond baby wipes wont dry you out they do wonders, here where i have to work in 110 degree weather your nuts start chafing or waht ever, slap some gold bond baby wipes and you can work 15 hour days with no problem.

[muthstryker]

oo and this cool little thing called zip fizz might be cool too lol

[ullose2]

My mom sends brownies and fudge pie everyother week or so to one of her freinds son who is over there right now. I will tell suggest the gold bond wipes and crystal light packs to her.

[Mkelcy]

I am active duty and have gotten my boots sandy on occassion. Twice actually and probably a third time coming up pretty soon. They never tell you until you're down there getting you're dessert cammies from supply.

Okay, I went on line and there are 50 organizations claiming to "support our troops" with unknown politics and agendas. How do I send some grunts some necessaries without contributing to an agenda I may not subscibe to? All I want to do is help a soldier.

[BRIAN]

I had tried to get a collection going to send some Hot Rod type magazines but never really got a reply. I sent quite a few on my own but would really like to get a huge supply sent over there. There are plenty of gearheads there who are defending our right to be on this very site and building our cars.

Anybody interested in setting something up shoot me a PM. I will even pay shipping costs if needed and donate the first couple hundred myself if there is interest???? Instead of buying that $10 part or whatever you can make a difference in a soldiers day.

[go-fish]

I will talk to my caplain and/or Morale Welfare and Recreation Officer today and find out if there are any that do magazine's and if there are any that have no agenda other than support. Some of the ones I think of off hand are Operation Hero Miles, where you donate fequent flier miles, and Stevie Nixx's Ipod thing. There are plenty started up by wives, mothers, and churches. The thing is finding one that sends what you want to send, i.e. a church sending a Maxim is unlikely. Matter of fact call or write Maxim, FHM, and the like to see if they do something. Those mags are as close to porn as you can get in some units. One big thing I notice guys getting alot is Copenhagen and smokes, there aren't many places to buy it over there unless you're at Anaconda or another big camp.
The very best thing to do though is to be educated. Know who we are at war with. Plan and simple, Muslim Extremists. Alot of them are extreme. People don't want to call it what it is, why? Know that Pakistan is not as good a friend as most think, Iraq IS in a civil war, Somalia and other African nations are foaming at the bit to donate bodies to the cause of bringing us down. Education is the best weapon against a culture war.
Sorry to get idealistic but it isn't just about setting up a stupid government in Iraq.

[ProTouring442]

I have a very large collection ov nice motorcycle magazines (most of them center on vintage brit stuff) that I would love to donate. We are a little short on cash at the moment, but a more worthy cause I can not think of. If someone will let me know where to ship them, I will do so.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"

[va72mlibu]

There's an organization called "Take a Soldier to the Movies". They sent us movies and stuff when I was in Iraq. Pretty much everyone has access to a DVD player (personal/portable, laptop, Company CP, etc) and it's pretty cool to get a bunch of movies to help pass the time. Plus, this organization really has no agenda that I can see. Check out www.soldiertomovies.org (http://www.soldiertomovies.org)

[Texas Bob]

So just tell your kids to go down to the mall, don't worry about anything but strangers. There's somebody out there that hasn't showered in 2 weeks with 1 uniform , hoping his wife is still faithful, and his baby girl is healthy. He is the reason muslims in Boston have the right to congregate and spit hatred toward this country in the name of free speech, God Bless America.

Isn't that the truth! Well said.

[go-fish]

I am in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, NMCB 74. Rember John Wayne in "The Fighting Seabees"? Any former or current Marines will know who we are. Our mission is to support the MEF, Marine Expeditionary Force and MAGTF, Marine Air Group Task Force with engineering and construction needs. We do 6/7 months deployed 10 months home and are part of the Navy but in name only. I don't think any Seabee's have ever been stationed on ship. Green Navy is SEAL, Navy EOD, and us. Blue Navy is the "squids" or ship type. We were some of the first ones into Bagdhad, behind two echelons of Marines. Ten months after we got back we were right back at it in Al Falujah during the hardest stint for the Marines, I am sure you remember Falujah from the news in '04. Ten months after that deployment we were supposed to have some downtime and deploy to Okinawa for six months. Well, right after Katrina hit our home in Mississippi there was a bad earthquake in Pakistan, we went to Pakistan to do disaster relief, one of our specialties, with an Army MASH. Before we got off the C-5 we were instructed to leave our weapons on the aircraft and depart. We walked down to see the Pakistani Army, locked and loaded, with 50 cal. heavy machine guns drawn down on us. As we were offloading our dozers, roadgraders, and ass haulers, we spoke with some of the guys about why the "security" posted on us. Basically what we got was, "We hate Americans, but since you are here helping us we don't want to kill YOU." No ****, really happened. So now for this next six/seven month run I am going to be in Guam for the purchasing of parts for the HMMWV's, CAT's, John Deere, and other stuff to send on down the line to somewhere hot. I am still wearing green so that is a good indication of where I'll be. Other's are wearing tan. Alpha Co. is our transportation company, mechanics and operators, so there are alot of gearheads. If anyone wants to send mags or anything like that I will get it in the right hands and get it on a plane to the guys in a box of parts or something. Don't worry about me though, I'll be scuba diving during any free time I get or buying 'cuda parts online. the address is:
NMCB 74
Alpha Co. Attn: CM2 Carter
Unit 60253
FPO AA 34099-5021

[Damn True]

Hey Petty-Officer Carter.

Thanks.

Sincerely,
[Former] Petty-Officer Tourtillott, USCG

[go-fish]

" I run the engines. All the rest is a show for the officers." -Steve McQueen, The Sand Pebbles

Circus Monkey 2nd class, err uhh, Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Carter

[justanova]

what if a guy were to send a subscription to that address? to get a steady supply of reading material to the guys that are protecting our way of life. or would that be a no no?

[go-fish]

NO, The FPO AA adresses you see like that are basically mail depots that collect mail until there is enough to put on a plane, wich doesn't take long these days. I am not a mail expert but it works something like this: you send it in the mail, USPS sees FPO and sends it to the govt. mail depot # after FPO AA, every military command is given a Unit # so it gets seperated by Unit # at depot. The mail is x-rayed just like at USPS and sent to the unit. I am Alpha Co. but my battalion has nine companies, about 150 to 250 troopies per Co. depending on that company's tasking. The Battalion has Postal Clerks that handle it from batt. to co. level so it is important to put a company and a name. This works the same whether the unit is deployed or at home. I will get some names and intrests so you can get in touch personally with the guy. I don't mind collecting a bunch of stuff and sending it in bulk but this would be better so the two parties can communicate together. I already have HotRod and PHR for two years but some guys might want Fluffy Bunny Monthly or High Lites or something, lol. I'll get a list of names and thier company with a particular intrest on monday and post it if there are guys that want to do this for NMCB 74.

[go-fish]

http://www.seabee.navy.mil/
Our website has been updated and looks pretty good. Go down to NMCB and click to get a description of what we do.

[shmoov69]

Here is a reply from one of my buddies that I asked about the mags. I will try and find out more and let you guys know also.



We are in the states again, but for not much longer. We have a mission to deploy in the beginning of this December, but we never know. We might be in Baghdad, but that’s no big surprise with all the stuff going on there right now!

There’s a lot of different organizations who have sponsored different units who can put you in touch with the right people. Just to name a few, here’s a list from Tara’s website: http://www.armywifetalkradio.com/links.shtml (http://www.armywifetalkradio.com/links.shtml)

Scroll down just a little bit and you will see a lot of links that “Support our Troops Links”. Pick one or a couple and just ask how you can help donate the mags! Those are some of the most popular mags over there! The troopers love the cars!

Hope all is well with you and the family. We are good here. Also, my parents sent me a newspaper cutting about Chris and Tara’s KID! WOW, how did that happen???

Kevin

[LoPro67]

I just returned from my two week mid tour leave or I would have posted sooner.

I am currently in Baghdad and I will gladly take any and all magazines, DVD's or anything else that you might want to get rid off and place it into the hands of guys risking thier marbles on a daily basis.

I thank the originator and the support on this thread as I know this war is getting older by the minute and media had done its job of running it into the ground, but there are still bad things that happen to good people here every single day. The summer heat does not make the day go by any faster either.

Just PM me for my address, and I will do the rest.

Jason

[AAW]

Nice thread...
We adopted a local soldier (Lance Corporal Anthony Peters) while he was in Iraq for the last year & a half. We sent him huge boxes every few weeks! Everyone here donated alll kinds of things to him. Magazines, food, toothpaste, bandaids, mints, games, cards, brushes, soap, deodorant, socks, ... you name it! When he heard from him that he was able to come home - we offered him a job. He took it! He's been with us for about 6 months now.

[justanova]

I'll get a list of names and thier company with a particular intrest on monday and post it if there are guys that want to do this for NMCB 74.


that would be cool, I know of several people that would be interested in something like this.

[go-fish]

I've got one so far, I haven't had a chance this morning to talk to the Iraq guys. Alot of those guys are off in the woods right now. The one guy is Construction Mechanic 3rd Class(E-4) Bandon Burrow. He is a Georgia boy, has a crappy 5.0 but is getting more and more into diesels. He said he would like some of the Diesel tuner type mags if anyone has'em. PowerStroke stuff. Adress is:
NMCB 74
Alfa Co. CM3 Burrow
Unit 60253
FPO AA 34099-5021

[zero g]

My son is in a ****hole named Patrol Base Courage. It is a real slice of heaven.
They like the cups of Ramen Noodles, just add water and set outside, no cooking. The Crystal Light packets that you add to a water bottle. DVD's, comedies preferably. Cooling neck wraps. Anything else to eat that can stand the 112 degree heat. Many Thanks to anybody who responds.

Dustin Armstrong
ACO 1-22 IN, 4ID
Unit 42506
APO AE 09344-2506