Mounting up, Karmah, Iraq 2007
Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines Karmah, Iraq 2007-2008
May 2009, Al Asad, IraqHopeRadio interrupts the current thread of whining, self discovery, tech addiction,parental angst and general narcissism to say: Basta!
Enough.
Enough.
So.
Here's what I need:
MONEY.
Money for shipping care packages and mailing letters with little things like drink mixes, flat kinds of candy, stationary I make with my printer for them to use for family and friends, pictures/funnies I find online, DVDs of things I and mamas like Little Grasshopper, one of my commenters and her husband dub for me from television or radio etc.
Couponing has in the past made it possible to gather stuff like this:
I try to have fun stuff in there as well as necessities. Yes, many have access to a PX, but it depends on where you are as to how good of one and how much time you have to stand in line that day or whether you are in the vicinity and like many, many of my adoptees say: It's not what's in the box or letter. It's knowing someone knows your are there and cares that you are as well. Luckily, half the battle is won. Couponing is what gets me what I will need, but the shipping is what really gets hamstrings me sometimes.
Summer is upon us.
For us it means rushing in from the hot parking lot as fast as we can to get to inside the nice cool mall or the supermarket bulging with whatever it is we think we need.
It means picnics, BBQs and vacations.
It means grouchy kids hungry for lunch, but refusing to get out of the pool.
It means in-law angst about the reunion trip you swear this year you weren't going to as you pack for it anyway.
It means counting down til it's back to school and things get back to normal.
Well-- that's what it means for some of us anyway.
Basra, Iraq
For my milfolk it means, 130 degree heat with 0 humidity, insects that insist on treating every human they meet like a Golden Corral, all-you-can-eat-buffet. It means 80 to 100 pounds of gear on patrols in long sleeved uniforms, working in hangars to get planes and helos back up and running and in garages to keep vehicles doing the same with NO A/C. 
It may mean dragging along supplies and working out of hot Bradleys or HMMVs or whatever other vehicle I'm not well versed in enough to mention and never being in the same FOB or outpost for more than few days. It means banging down equally hot, dangerous roads to to gather information, track down the worst of the worst or to repair the special equipment that helps keep our troops safe.( above pic from Sgt. Grumpy)
It may mean dragging along supplies and working out of hot Bradleys or HMMVs or whatever other vehicle I'm not well versed in enough to mention and never being in the same FOB or outpost for more than few days. It means banging down equally hot, dangerous roads to to gather information, track down the worst of the worst or to repair the special equipment that helps keep our troops safe.( above pic from Sgt. Grumpy)Insurgent activity is higher in the spring and summer. The operation tempo in general is crazy. Longer hours, extreme conditions, heat I'm told you really cannot fathom unless you have been there. I'll take their word for it.
Bottom line is had you ever considered hitting that PAYPAL button up there in the past, TODAY is the day to do it.
Sand fleas, flies and beasties will be biting them and possibly leaving more than scars from shrapnel or ordinance. Illness from just being there is also an issue. There's some diseases these folks catch from bites or inconsequential scratches which cause treatments like chemo to be needed when they get back or long periods of antibiotic therapies.Alot of these folks get rashes and acne exacerbated from constant states of perspiration and irritation from wearing their Kevlar vests. The acne and or rashes get infected and cause all sorts of pain and trouble for them. Not to mention scarring. Even when it's not to the extreme of facing serious illness, I know of young men who refuse to go swimming without a shirt on now because they are ashamed of how they look when they get back. The soldier pictured above is a mechanic who as the caption cites, was not in a vest. I only wonder what the friction, weight and additional heat of a vest and other heavy gear would have done to the cysts on his chest and back?
They come back with an array of possible maladies tht can be avoided if they are able to protect themselves. Here's a list of issues, the military tries to make it's personnel aware of post deployment.
Bottom line is this:
I need you.
They need you.
They need you.
Here's what I send in the summer:
Tea tree oil, Like I said, its great for everything from keeping bugs off to dealing with infected bites and scrapes. Iraq is not known for it's sanitary conditions.
Lots of rehydration powders like Gatorade and Powerade.
Cooling pillows--when they need to cool down quick this little pillow can be placed at the back of the neck or under armpits to get body temp under control. Heat stroke is a major enemy for our troops there. It can cause organ damage and failure.
Well made socks-- Walk a 5 mile patrol in socks with poor seams and you wind up with nasty blisters.
Peppermint lotion--cooling on the feet! It's amazing to realize how something so simple can do so much for someone's morale and performance.
Moleskin--to cover up owies already acquired.
Good boot inserts--remember, gear for these folks is generally from the lowest bidder
Blank CDs and DVDs to dub TV, radio and music. Easily sent and personalized, inexpensive and the can share it and trade it for other things when they are done.
Good pillow cases and sheets. The guys we take care of are in their second month of deployment at Ramadi and Al Asad. The laundry has officially destroyed any soft factor to linen by now. I buy irregulars at a factory outlet so I can get a really high thread count. Irregular usually means a color issue or a little longer sized situation. Most of the time I can't figure for the life of me why it's less expensive. They don't care, either.
Hard candy and gum--the good stuff--Jolly Rancher and caffeinated gum.
Good quality foot powder and antifungals--read up, if you forgot what I said about the heat. Or read this.
Magazines- Susan ordered some for me last year and they still come to the house, I would like to get more though. Best place to buy is Half Price Books I'm finding. I can get them for pennies on the dollar.
Wipeys and hand sanitizer-The cleaner they can get the less chance of illness and infection.
Tea tree oil, Like I said, its great for everything from keeping bugs off to dealing with infected bites and scrapes. Iraq is not known for it's sanitary conditions.
Lots of rehydration powders like Gatorade and Powerade.
Cooling pillows--when they need to cool down quick this little pillow can be placed at the back of the neck or under armpits to get body temp under control. Heat stroke is a major enemy for our troops there. It can cause organ damage and failure.
Well made socks-- Walk a 5 mile patrol in socks with poor seams and you wind up with nasty blisters.
Peppermint lotion--cooling on the feet! It's amazing to realize how something so simple can do so much for someone's morale and performance.
Moleskin--to cover up owies already acquired.
Good boot inserts--remember, gear for these folks is generally from the lowest bidder
Blank CDs and DVDs to dub TV, radio and music. Easily sent and personalized, inexpensive and the can share it and trade it for other things when they are done.
Good pillow cases and sheets. The guys we take care of are in their second month of deployment at Ramadi and Al Asad. The laundry has officially destroyed any soft factor to linen by now. I buy irregulars at a factory outlet so I can get a really high thread count. Irregular usually means a color issue or a little longer sized situation. Most of the time I can't figure for the life of me why it's less expensive. They don't care, either.
Hard candy and gum--the good stuff--Jolly Rancher and caffeinated gum.
Good quality foot powder and antifungals--read up, if you forgot what I said about the heat. Or read this.
Magazines- Susan ordered some for me last year and they still come to the house, I would like to get more though. Best place to buy is Half Price Books I'm finding. I can get them for pennies on the dollar.
Wipeys and hand sanitizer-The cleaner they can get the less chance of illness and infection.
Sunscreen and insect repellent- NO explanation needed here. lol
Batteries and battery operated fans- Even Mike , now on a less physically demanding deployment will soon see what happens when everyone on an FOB tries to use their AC at once. We've all heard about the KBR electricity issues. All the AC in the world is pretty useless if the power grid is down.
and yes, brownies, lots of brownies...ha.
Okay I'm done.
I need some help, folks.
See what you can do.
Blog linking this article would be humbly appreciated. On average about 10 percent will respond to this post and 3% will donate, so if you are one of the 90% or 97% and have to keep it that way, I would love it if you could spread this message. That would be helpful and not cost you a cent.
See if your friends will be willing to link for this drive on their blog.
Let's see what we can do from the comfort of our home and nation for these folks not home and taking care of of our nation.
It's not politics, it's about people.
Our people.
Live, love, breath.
Oh yeah and DONATE or spread the word!!!
They sure need your help.
(ps. Red, Smitty and T, I'm in the middle of setting up a small blog to report reciepts and purchases from the donations you all made in early May. I'll be doing the same thing for this drive.)
and yes, brownies, lots of brownies...ha.
Okay I'm done.
I need some help, folks.
See what you can do.
Blog linking this article would be humbly appreciated. On average about 10 percent will respond to this post and 3% will donate, so if you are one of the 90% or 97% and have to keep it that way, I would love it if you could spread this message. That would be helpful and not cost you a cent.
See if your friends will be willing to link for this drive on their blog.
Let's see what we can do from the comfort of our home and nation for these folks not home and taking care of of our nation.
It's not politics, it's about people.
Our people.
Live, love, breath.
Oh yeah and DONATE or spread the word!!!
They sure need your help.
(ps. Red, Smitty and T, I'm in the middle of setting up a small blog to report reciepts and purchases from the donations you all made in early May. I'll be doing the same thing for this drive.)
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23 comments:
So do my brownies count even though they came before the request?
Before my little Soldier buddy deployed he made me test out all his body armor in his cool, comfortable livingroom... I cannot imagine wearing all that gear on missions in the summer heat of Iraq! UGH!! You put together a really good shopping list/wish list, Hope.
LG heehee those dozen boxesu dropped off yesterday will be lovingly inhale! Thanks for bringing that stuff over!
Red-im sitting in my ac less car and its not 90 degrees yet, abd still in a shortsleeve shirt I.AM.SWEATING my hiney off! Hmmm wait that might be a good thing! Thanks for your help!
you know I'm not the paypal kinda guy but I'll hook a sister up. :-)
You always do, Sage, you always do. :)
That reminds me. If anyone else wants an address, email me and I'll send one.
Thanks Sage, xox.
I added a link to this post at the bottom of my post for tomorrow.
Visiting via Sage.
Another thing they love to get is football, soccer balls.... Usually schools will donate to whoever is willing to mail them.
I'm putting the word out on the blog tonight girl. Hope it helps!!
I'm donating and I'll spread the word on my blog and on Twisted Pleasures (social site.)
Trav-- THANK YOU!!
April--Yes, I'm in education. It's a usueful profession for this when school is in. You are right! Thanks for the visit! :)
T and Nytebird- Thank you for the blog pimp and donation. It will get a box sent out here by Friday.
Here through Travis, and I will be linking this post on Tursday...
Well done, and I will be back to hit the paypal button next week after payday.
I just put up a quick post sending people your way. Hope it gets you a little more help!
And I just made a donation using my wife's PayPal account...
Hubman! I linked you on the update post. Thanks so much from me and I'm sure from these Marines.
Hugs! hope
Hi,
I've visited via Sage's blog. I admire what you are doing- I will be contributing via PayPal- Please keep my real name private. Thanks and nice work!
Between Hubman and Sage, you'll find my donation in Paypal..
Thanks for doing this!!! :)
(I will ask the same privacy deal as 'lis doux allé').. Again, thanks!!
I am pimping this on my HNT tomorrow. Its my biggest traffic day so hopefully you will get lots of love.
Hey Hope,
Still at it I see (very nice to actually!) Thank God for people like you! You are doing an AMAZEING job keep up the good work, and you will find another donation in the paypal. Just let me know when it is running low or if you need alittle extra for a bigger item the Devil Dogs might need!
Smitty
that pictures of the feet could me my hubby. he is right now on the place you listed (-;
Everything footwise is really appreciated, specially the cooling insert for the boots are a relief.
Excellent post! I'm always on the look out for good ideas and useful things to send to the guys I support. Thanks from one milsupport gal to another!
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