Author Topic: Want to write to some GIs? (Read 3620 times)

wingnutx · « **on:** October 17, 2006, 06:29:32 AM »

My best friend Ruben just went back to Iraq as a corpsman with a Marine unit.

They took their first casualty on the 10th, though thankfully he'll recover. A sniper shot him through the leg and shattered his femur. Luckily he had a great doc like Ruben near him.

If you want to write to a bunch of jarheads and sailors then send to this address, and Ruben will share the letters.

Munoz, Ruben
1st Battalion, 24th Marines
A Company, 3rd Plt.
Unit 43585
FPO-AP 96426-3585

Just a note of support would go a long way.

Thanks

Art Eatman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2006, 06:52:08 AM »

The December issue of Soldier of Fortune magazine has three addresses of ladies who send stuff to our GIs. Personal small stuff of the toothpaste, etc, sort; cookies, and other items. If you have some loose cash, these are "real" people, not any sort of scammers.

Art

Stetson · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2006, 07:51:13 AM »

This came at just the right time.

Mom and Dad have asked that we send stuff to our guys over there in their names instead of buying Christmas presents. Do you know of anything they need or do you talk to them on a semi regular basis? I need to gather a list so my wife can go shopping.

wingnutx · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2006, 08:04:30 AM »

This the list I got from Ruben (but just plain letters would be great):

Coffee (Good coffee)
Greene tea, Earl gray, Irish breakfast tea, English royal, and assorted flavors&.
Spices (misc).. Garlic powder, minced garlic&.
Hot sauce& Green Tabasco, Chipotle, Habanero Tabasco , Cholula , other misc smaller hot sauce company products.
Combos (cheese pretzels)
Cambells Chunky soups.
Soup mix for broth
Roman noodles
Tang, Gatorade Assorted flavors (21 oz containers)
Muscle milk (assorted)
Protein bars
Assorted nuts (Cashews, peanuts, almonds, Walnuts)
Blank Holiday cards
Black pens
Candy for kids / Good intel
Tuna
Trail mix
M&Ms and other chocolate
Socks (black or white)
Gold bond medicated

Iy you know any school classes or groups that want to send letter, this is a good candidate.

Again, thanks a ton!

280plus · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2006, 10:52:37 AM »

Thanks guy, I'll write and I'll pass this around too.

Lee · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2006, 02:49:48 PM »

Ditto....thanks!

wingnutx · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2006, 04:07:55 PM »

Thank you all very much Cheesy

280plus · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2006, 04:31:39 PM »

hee hee, I passed it to all those I know with extesive broadcast lists. We're probably talkng hundreds of people by the time we're through. Cheesy

wingnutx · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2006, 05:52:45 PM »

Good! I think some of them were feeling a little lonely and forgotten, even though they are just beginning this tour. I'd like to deluge these guys with mail. I sent about 50 lbs worth of goodies today.

When I got married 2 years ago, Ruben was training for his first deployment at over at Pendleton. They let him come in from the field a day early, he walked for an hour to a rental car place, then drove all night to get here (Phoenix) to be my best man. He's a sterling individual.

I deployed at the same time, and we managed to hook up in Baghdad right before coming home. That's him on the ~~left~~ right:

http://www.punk-rock.com/iraq/meandruben.jpg

It really bothers me that he's over there and I'm not. Thanks for the help.

280plus · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2006, 02:21:53 AM »

Quote

It really bothers me that he's over there and I'm not.

I've heard that before. It's just as bad , maybe worse, for those of us who are too old and/or effed up to go at all anymore. Thanks again for your service.

wingnutx · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2006, 09:32:53 AM »

Ruben saves a puppy:

280plus · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2006, 10:41:05 AM »

letter sent btw, can't vouch for anybody else I'm afraid. Promised a gedunk package to follow shortly. Wink

wingnutx · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2006, 11:01:35 AM »

You da man.

280plus · « **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2006, 03:33:19 AM »

Wingnut,

How will the chocolate hold up to the heat and shipping? I'd hate to ship it and have it end up being crap at the other end.

Also, I'm thinking boullion cubes for broth, unless you think they'd prefer the little envelopes.

thanks...

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2006, 04:32:41 AM »

Quote from: wingnutx on October 17, 2006, 05:29:32 AM

My best friend Ruben just went back to Iraq as a corpsman with a Marine unit.

They took their first casualty on the 10th, though thankfully he'll recover. A sniper shot him through the leg and shattered his femur. Luckily he had a great doc like Ruben near him.

If you want to write to a bunch of jarheads and sailors then send to this address, and Ruben will share the letters.

Munoz, Ruben
1st Battalion, 24th Marines
A Company, 3rd Plt.
Unit 43585
FPO-AP 96426-3585

Just a note of support would go a long way.

Thanks

Does he have internet access there?

Phantom Warrior · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:32:07 AM »

Two thoughts from a deployed GI...

1) If you write a letter, make sure your hand writing is LEGIBLE. It's sweet, but perplexing to get a letter in scrawled cursive that you can't even read. Take the time to write neatly for the best effect.

2) Whatever care packages you send will be abused. They will get thrown around, shipped in the back of a 5-ton on bad roads, they will be in 100+ degree heat for days (higher if they are traveling around inside a conex, which they will be), and it may take several weeks for them to get there if the mail isn't running for a while (which it often isn't).

Choclate bars (M&Ms hold up alright), cookies (esp the harder ones), chips, etc will arrive melted or in pieces. And definitely don't send anything that can spoil. I haven't received anything like that, but there was an article in the Stars and Stripes that mentioned fresh milk getting sent and spoiling.

Also, be sure it is well packed. My mom included a Ziploc bag of peanuts in a care package and they ended up all over the box. They were delicious, but it was a pain to have to pick them out of the box.

wingnutx · « **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2006, 08:03:15 AM »

Dark chocolate seems to hold up a lot better than milk chocolate. I'm only sending hard candy right now.

IIRC, it will be pretty freaking cold in Baghdad by the end of the month. I'll send some chocolate then.

For soup I sent ramen. Envelopes or cubes are great.

Lots of socks.

My next box will have a bunch of blank Christmas cards for them to use.

Phantom Warrior, be safe man.

280plus · « **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2006, 10:01:49 AM »

Yea, Grandma sent me one of her pumpkin breads when I was deployed. It was green by the time I got it. It was a sad day...

Thanks for the info, I kinda figured certain items would fare better than others. I happen to have a slew of blank Christmas cards for some reason, I'll send some of those too.

What kind of socks? Synthetic / natural? Thick / thin?

Calling cards?

wingnutx · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2006, 10:40:45 AM »

I wouldn't send calling cards, since they use different ones over there, and different bases have different vendors.

I send bulk packs of medium thickness athletic socks from costco.

280plus · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2006, 04:24:48 PM »

Good enough, I plan to get something off to them by the end of the week. Thanks for the help.

wingnutx · « **Reply #20 on:** November 06, 2006, 05:53:48 AM »

I think I'm the one who should be saying "thank you" here grin

280plus · « **Reply #21 on:** November 06, 2006, 10:57:24 AM »

No thannks necessary here either, I'm glad to help.

280plus · « **Reply #22 on:** November 08, 2006, 01:32:01 AM »

Wignut, check your messeages here...

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Author Topic: Want to write to some GIs? (Read 3620 times)