Troops in the Middle East, Part 2

Starting a new thread...We only have 7 more soldiers to find Pen-pals for....8ftbed will be along soon to post all the names here....and the mailing address. Jo

Old thread: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/466254/

This message was edited Dec 6, 2004 1:24 AM

Hi Blaine, since I started this thread and even though I have sent packages to the guys in my sons squadron I will take one of your names. Please assign me one.

Thanks,

Vi

roadrunner.......I will take a soldier for a pen pal and will shop and send a package out to them.....

Deann

I found some beautiful note cards with envelopes that have American flags on them...I also have yo-yo's & beanie babies. The other stuff is sort of the regular request items....I did find some of that ice tea mix that comes in individual packets that you put in a bottle of water...got rasberry tea and lemonade tea...thought that was pretty neat. Several kinds of hot sauce, beef jerkey,honey roasted nuts, life savers and some jalapeno pepper rings. Now need to go write my letters.....

(name only)
380 ESFS / SFO (A/B)
APO, AE
09853-5000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rank Name (F)emale volunteer DG Santa!!
------ ----------- --------- -----------------------------------
Amn Miller, C (F) ................ justmeLisa
SSgt Brakeville ................ Horseshoe
Amn Macdonald (F) ................. kell
SrA Lawson (F) ................. Brugie
A1C Freeman .................ncgardenaddict
TSgt Sweitzer (F) ..................ilovejesus99
A1C Winters (F) ..................AlohaHoya
SRA Cruz ..................MaVieRose
SSgt Ventura ..................MaVieRose
A1C Johnson (F) ..................Dea
Amn Masterson ..................roadrunner
SSgt Smith, K. (F) ..................Kachinagirl
SSgt Rodgerson ..................earthling
A1C Shafer ...................earthling
A1C Nesbitt ..................MsJen(son)
A1C Andrade ...................MsJen
SrA Skillman ..................WaterlooLily
Amn Hurt ..................NikKal
A1C Cady ..................yardbird
SrA Armour ...................melody
SSgt Bauer ...................melody
TSgt Cushman ...................Shirley1md
A1C Hamilton A. (F) ...................lhughes
A1C Hamilton D. ...................lhughes
A1C Western ...................woodspirit1
A1C Ferrer, T. (F) ...................Carol7
SrA Reeder ...................BjsBloomers
SrA Canabe (F) ..................Pollygardening
SSgt Remaley ..................Pollygardening
SMSgt Gartner ...................earthling
SrA Schaffer ...................Tnbolin
Amn Bennett ...................8ftbed
A1C Nesbitt ...................8ftbed
TSgt Isaacs ...................JodyC
SSgt Quinley ...................JodyC
SrA Reynolds (F) ...................JenniferG
SSgt Ho ...................JenniferG
A1C Finn (F) ...................JodyC
A1C Simpson (F) ...................roadrunner
A1C Mohn ...................brugie
A1C Davis ..................roadrunner (Rhonda)
TSgt Neal ..................loudigger
SrA Randall ..................loudigger
SSgt Brenhuber ..................Brinda
A1C Phillips (F) ..................Brinda
A1C Carrmullen ..................poppysue
SSgt Booth .................poppysue
SSgt Bussey .................Dea
A1C Ferrer, E. .................Dea
TSgt Kobler .................Dea
TSgt Smith P. ..................roadrunner
SSgt Frazier ..................vic
A1C Hartman ..................vic
A1C Lion ..................Shadowgirl
A1C Nagel ..................Shadowgirl (DH)
A1C Dagnese ...................melvatoo
A1C Therrian ...................JoanJ
Amn Tutt ...................Dufus1
SSgt Hoerter ....................roadrunner (DS: Jane)
SSgt Rochon ....................Stetchworth
SrA Tyre ....................deann
A1C Miller J. ...................kooger
SrA Rogers ..................AlohaHoya
SSgt Wheelis ..................AlohaHoya
SSgt Rohda ..................JJsgarden
SSgt Rhude ...................Melody
SSgt Smith, L. ...................Melody
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


This message was edited Dec 6, 2004 5:39 PM

Vi and Deann, I've selected names and they're at the bottom of the list now.

ALL - I made the last changes to the old thread here as well, and moved the list of names to this thread.

Thanks blaine

Wow, looking at that list this morning made me tear up!!!

Okay, I'll take Miller. Down to 6 now!

Down to 5!! Great...Jo

Here is the skinny on the new Priority Mail boxes...
I called our post office and they said they had two types...one like a shirt box and the other a square box....you can put as much in them that will fit in...up to 70#....for $7.70...and yes,,,,they can be used to go overseas.

Being a small town P.O....I asked to talk to my carrier and he will bring me 3 of each today....nice guy! Jo

Thanks Jo, I'm waiting for one of the flat rate boxes to hit our Post Office. She said maybe tomorrow. Then I'll get the box off asap.

the USPS here is so lame...I have to order them and they come, of course, by ship...maybe for next Chrismas 2005. I don't care...it is the least I can do for someone over there.

I will take 2 more soldiers...we have decided that our two grandsons have far too many toys and doting parents, so our gift to them will be helping one of the guys!!! And will write them all a letter.... So, please, if you have two more left...I wann'em!

Thanks,

Carol

DONE! Frazier & Hartman stuff is on the way. It was actually cheaper to send Priority. Sent mostly food/snack, personal hygiene, reading material (Reader's Digest), and a word search game type thingy. Also sent a letter of introduction in the Christmas card.

Cool beans Carol - I'll give you the last youngster (candy is easy :) )
SrA Rogers
SSgt Wheelis

Vic, did you have to fill out that form 2076-A? I am looking at it now and not sure just how to fill it out..

is that the white customs form 2976-A ?
starting in the top left corner Sender's Name, street, city, state, zip

then the Addressee's Name lastname
street 380 ESFS / SFO (A/B)
Postcode 09853-5000 city APO, AE

leave Country blank

In the "Detailed Description of Contents" box, I haven't had to get "DETAILED" yet and just ballpark the numbers and don't worry about the putting the individual weights. The P.O. will put the total when they weigh it. i.e.
Candy 9
Drawing Tablets 2
Pens 10

Check Airmail/Priority and Gift

At the bottom, date and sign it.... then go to the counter.

I've sent 8 boxes to this address from 3 different post offices without problems.

Guess you missed my post towards the bottom of the 1st thread for A1C Miller J
Is there anyone left?
Jean

I don't know what a 2076A is but if it's the custom sticker, I just put Christmas gifts down. The lady at the po said it would be ok. Good thing cause I couldn't have remembered all I put in anyway. Not only that, there wouldn't have been near enough room.

I'm sasorry Jean...been a long few days! But think of it..only 3 left...2 after you take one...out of the 67!! OK..how about if JJSGarden takes :

SSGT ROHDA


(only 2 more folks!!)

Did you assign me two more?

Sorry...engage brain before moving fingers!!!

Thanks

I now have five family sponsors for boxes -- any more besides the two I already have? (Canabe & Remaley). We need a total of five.
All the nieces and nephews are collecting cd's , movies and baking cookies.
If not, I'll go to the other requests back somewhere on the first thread.

Thanks Jo...SSGT Rohda will be great! I'll start getting a box together!
Jean

Well, it looks like there are only 2 left when I got home.....I bought stuff for 4 soldiers....so Keith told me that these looks like our soldiers...so the last two are taken... Rhude and Smith L.

I also talked to a teacher friend that I have...and am sending the names to the school.....they're going to get some nice cards and drawings from South Marshall Elementary School too!

WE DID IT!!! This is such a great site!! Such caring for our fellow man...

We can all feel good about ourselves...THANKS!! Jo

I hope this keeps up year round :) We never, ever know what "seeds" we will plant with these folks :)

Don't care if we get thanks or not,
DG'ers are the most caring lot,
We don't just talk the talk,
We're all walkin' the talk,
When they're home, they might join this here plot!

No matter the season, sharing is just so great :)

Congratulations and may God Bless you and yours this holiday season.

Truly an amazing thing from
Vi (stetchworth) opening this thread for such an important and personal subject

Jo (roadrunner) inquiring about a roster of names which is better for all concerned as opposed to just sending to "Any Soldier" which we have learned is not necessarily successful.

A1C Nesbitt for responding to my request for names with an entire roster for this Air Force unit currently operating out of the United Arab Emirates. He also provided a picture which is posted in the original thread.

Finally all of the wonderful people who took personal responsiblity and provided this opportunity to folks not involved with this thread or DG.

Thank you so much,
Blaine

Blaine, I would personally like to thank you because you have done so much. Also to everyone on the list. Thank you!

Vi

Same goes for me, Blaine..


Now Dea...I love the poem!!

Maybe like Dea says...we need to keep this going year round...going to another group of soldiers next time...but I plan to write to mine as long as they wish for me to.

I have some Kool-Ties that didn't get into the packages that my Widowed Support Group sent to our base soldiers....one of our own DG's made over 50....(DSTREKER)...and I included as many as I could stuff in each of the 3 boxes...asking each of my pen-pals to share them with others in their unit.

May God bless us all...and all "our" soldiers too. Jo

Well Dea! Are you the poet or what? LOVE it :-)

I need a couple more soldeirs, I got carried away at Costco. I wonder how I could find out who doesn't get any packages from home.

Blaine, does your son know of a couple more people (actually 3 more) there who are really in need of cheering up and some support? Preferably ones that do not get much from home? Thanks

You can go to www.anysoldier.com and choose your three soldiers.
Jen

Both of my packages are on the way. I actually had more fun shopping for these that some of the other shopping I have had to do. Thanks Blaine and thank your son for us too. This seemed like such a big undertaking when it got started, but once again, the DG members came through. I think everyone needs a big hand for opening their hearts and pocketbooks for this group of guys and gals who are doing such a great job for our country.

I'm late, as usual, but if you come up with any more names, please, send a couple to me, my kids love writing letters and sending things... I still have a good friend from Desert Storm... what are the chances that the "Any Service Member" who got my initial letter would have only lived 60 miles from me?

I am selecting three more names from the above web site; it is a great selection offering. I have to figure out if they know when someone has been selected already.
The US P.O. offers free boxes by calling, or as of now faxing 800-610-8734 (fax - 800 270-6233) and asking for Case kit 04, which contains 7 boxes and forms. HAve no idea what the chances are of receiving them by Friday, tho.
Thank you 8ftbed, roadrunner, and stretchworth for bringing Christmas to our whole extended family!!

melissa,
We're still working on getting our boxes together. If you'd like Andrade, that would be okay. I dont mind sharing!!
Just let me know before i start baking cookies tonight, lol.
Jen

There are still plenty of people who would appreciate mail! Many organizations keep lists of troops requesting penpals and care packages. Here are a couple of informative sites that recommend good ways to support the troops, with links and more:

http://www.defendamerica.mil/
http://www.operationhomefront.org/

And of course I have to leave a link to a site that I help with and plan on adding a forum section about sending care packages. I'd appreciate any suggestions and forum activity ya'll can generate to give the sailors something to read. Especially now while we're planning an early holiday before our own sailor leaves and I don't have enough time to concentrate on it.

http://keystonesailors.com/

msJen, you keep Andrade; I've made my three selections from "Any Soldier".com.

Does anyone know if the MCI phone cards work in Iraq? The post office guy told me that some can't be used over there. If they won't work I need to get the ones that will.
Thanks