What to send in a care package to a soldier in Iraq?

[TechMan]

My wife's cousin's husband has been deploy to Iraq (Camp Liberty).  We are wanting to send him a care package as a surprise.   We got the low down on what not to send but she was not to clear on what would be of use (i.e. Toiletries).  Does anybody here have a suggestion?  Thank you.

[MicroBalrog]

Chapstick.

[Brad Johnson]

Batteries.  Powdered drink mixes, especially stuff like Gatorade.  Hard candies.  Books.  Magazines he likes and may not be getting there.

Brad

[RevDisk]

My wife's cousin's husband has been deploy to Iraq (Camp Liberty).  We are wanting to send him a care package as a surprise.   We got the low on what not to send but she was not to clear on what would be of use (i.e. Toiletries).  Does anybody here have a suggestion?  Thank you.

LED flashlights (assorted, but include at least one "dork light" which is a head mounted LED light thingie), batteries, various beverage powders, beef jerky, books, towels, leatherman, pocket knife (folder, 3 inch max), one of those all in one ratcheting screwdriver, etc.

For toiletries, if you want to make him very happy, include the best toilet paper you can possibly find.  Feel free to smash it flat to make it pack easier.

[Balog]

When I was over, all I asked for was beef jerky (home made from my sisters, delicious) and books. I ended up leaving Iraq with a little over 130lb more books than I started with, and I shipped a lot of books home before the finally weigh out...

[MicroBalrog]

I was serious about the chapstick. In the climate, your lips will dry out and start cracking, and that ain't good. Combat soldiers and people who go on guard shifts in the IDF do tend to use it, and I've read that US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have also taken a liking to it.

[41magsnub]

These guys have some good ideas...

http://www.anysoldier.com/

[Phantom Warrior]

If he's going to Liberty, nothing.  He can buy everything he needs at the ridiculously huge PX there!  Mrah ha!  Seriously, if he's going to Iraq and he's going to Liberty he's not exactly going to need you to send him soap and razors.  I will make a couple suggestions. 

One, ask him what he could use.  He will be able to give you the best answers.  I didn't need soap or TP or Q-tips or anything else when I was deployed.  I did need a small flashlight but not just any piece of crap flashlight.  I asked my friend for an Inova X1 and he sent it to me.  Some random flashlight would have been too big or too heavy or eaten up too many batteries but what I knew what I needed and it was perfect.  I used it all the time for the rest of the deployment.

Two, send him comfort stuff.  The stuff he can't buy at the PX.  My mom sent me home made granola and my best friend sent me a certain kind of jerky that they only make in Minnesota and all his old gun magazines.  It was stuff I enjoyed and it was stuff that reminded me of home in a far away place.

Three, send stuff consistently.  A bunch of people sent me stuff when I first arrived but my mom and my best friend sent me stuff the whole time.  The beginning of every month I knew I'd get a package from my mom with granola, candy, crackers, and all my favorite munchies.  Every two months or so I'd get a package from my best friend with Sugar River Ends and Pieces and about six inches of gun magazines.  Those were a consistent boost to my spirits throughout a long 15 months.

[Dannyboy]

If he's going to Liberty, nothing.  He can buy everything he needs at the ridiculously huge PX there!  Mrah ha!  Seriously, if he's going to Iraq and he's going to Liberty he's not exactly going to need you to send him soap and razors.  I will make a couple suggestions. 

One, ask him what he could use.  He will be able to give you the best answers.  I didn't need soap or TP or Q-tips or anything else when I was deployed.  I did need a small flashlight but not just any piece of crap flashlight.  I asked my friend for an Inova X1 and he sent it to me.  Some random flashlight would have been too big or too heavy or eaten up too many batteries but what I knew what I needed and it was perfect.  I used it all the time for the rest of the deployment.

Two, send him comfort stuff.  The stuff he can't buy at the PX.  My mom sent me home made granola and my best friend sent me a certain kind of jerky that they only make in Minnesota and all his old gun magazines.  It was stuff I enjoyed and it was stuff that reminded me of home in a far away place.

Three, send stuff consistently.  A bunch of people sent me stuff when I first arrived but my mom and my best friend sent me stuff the whole time.  The beginning of every month I knew I'd get a package from my mom with granola, candy, crackers, and all my favorite munchies.  Every two months or so I'd get a package from my best friend with Sugar River Ends and Pieces and about six inches of gun magazines.  Those were a consistent boost to my spirits throughout a long 15 months.

/\What he said. 

[Ex-MA Hole]

Baby wipes.

[Jamisjockey]

My BIL just got back from Afghanistan.  As stated, soldiers are able to get almost all thier needs met in the field at this point.  So it falls back on homey items like snack foods, entertainment, and the like.
My BIL had a work laptop he was able to skype from.  If our grandparents could see that!  My Grandfather was a POW in WWII and all my Great Grandmother got was a yellow telegram!
Anyways, I sent him alot of geedunk. Sorry, junk food  .  Chips, candy, gum, jerky, and the like.  Sent him batteries a few times.  He asked me specifically for a flashlight, so I sent him an LED mini mag and an LED headlamp.  Sent him a cheap pocket folder as a backup knife.  A few books and magazines.  Maxim and FHM were big hits.  I even sent him some of my old magazines (cycling, boating, fishing), which he just left in common areas to share with others.

Before he left he told me he wasn't being issued a drop leg holster, which would make accessing his M9 easier in body armor.  Bought one for him. 

[French G.]

Stuff that reminds them of home, LED lights, multi-tool or SAK all good idea. Might find what they do for phone access, send them some phone cards. If he is not in the field you'd be surprised about how much stuff is available. We take our malls to war. I didn't get to the ground, but I know the Marines that worked for me in '07 were pissed to come back to the boat because their entertainment, food, and internet options were way worse on the boat than they were at Al-Asad.

[sanglant]

any old games movies or books laying around?

[Phantom Warrior]

Might find what they do for phone access, send them some phone cards.

Just as a PSA, I would really emphasize the "find out what they do for phone access" part of this sentence.  At least in Iraq everyone had haji cell phones that they could call home with.  They got minutes on phone cards they also bought at the haji shops.  The phone booths sit almost unused.  Sending phone cards may be a waste of time.

[French G.]

Yeah, got lots of useless phone cards in my time. The useful ones were gold though.

[Antibubba]

From the www.anysoldier.com site:

What am I not allowed to send?
Each Soldier has his/her own description page on the "Where To Send" page, and on it there is a link to show you any specific restrictions to that Soldier's address.
The following will give you an overview:
Obscene articles (prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc).
Firearms. (no kidding...)
Any matter depicting nude or semi nude persons, pornographic or sexual items,
or non authorized political materials.
Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith.
Items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.
Pork or pork by-products.

Look at that last one.  Do you realize this means our soldiers are the only people in the whole world who aren't getting spam mail??
 

[Viking]

Speaking of spam

[Balog]

Just as a PSA, I would really emphasize the "find out what they do for phone access" part of this sentence.  At least in Iraq everyone had haji cell phones that they could call home with.  They got minutes on phone cards they also bought at the haji shops.  The phone booths sit almost unused.  Sending phone cards may be a waste of time.

You guys had cell phones?!?! /jealous

[Cromlech]

Speaking of spam

I remember reading this article. Hehe.