As you know, contacts often post that there is someone in their group who is going to miss the birth of their child.  I thought it might be a good idea when we notice once of those posts to put a heads up in here so those of us who crochet, knit, quilt baby items or otherwise purchase them that might be interested in sending a little something on an individual basis to the soldier so he can send it home to his wife and child would have an easy reference point.  Also, when we send something to a particular soldier we could make note of it here so all the support does not go to one contact.  I feel it is important that the items be sent to the contacts themselves and not directly to the family because I think asking a contact for their home address is soooo not a good idea...if they offer it, that's a different story.

rosemary

LCPL Kelly Chase has a marine who will be missing the birth of his first child, a boy, in April.

I have sent items to soldiers, with the intent that they forward to their kin.  Keep in mind that some will, but many won't have a box or padded envelope or even the postage to mail back to the US (pkgs aren't free).  What I had done was to purchase the packaging, have that weighed with my item and the postage from their zip to mine affixed to the box.  This worked for me because I live at one edge of the country and figured it wouldn't cost more than that to hit somewhere inbetween; but I'm sure any help - even just the packaging to do the further would be useful. 

Sweet idea about baby love, Rosemary. 

SSgt Willie J. Dennis posted today (3/21/08) that

"Four of my marines will be having children while we are out here. I always ask for them that someone would send a card that they can mail back home to their wives since they cannot personnaly be there."

(This is great idea for a thread, Rosemary!)

--Marilyn 

Hi.  Willie is of my old contacts and he told me about this before he left home.  I will be sending baby blankets and cards for the guys to mail home in the next couple of weeks, although I'm sure that they would appreciate anything  that anyone else wants to send as well.  Willie is a sweetheart and he really doesn't ask for himself.  He's a modest young man with a great sense of humor.

Kathy 

If it is a contact that you are corresponding with already, they may feel comfortable enough to give you an address where stuff can be sent to the new mothers to be.  I have done several like this at it was received with many thanks.

It never hurts to check if the daddy's name is listed on any of the on-line baby registries.  I just found somebody's name on a wish list at Target; the package is shipping to the mom-to-be at Fort Carson but her address is hidden to protect her privacy.

 SSGT Brian Strickland has 3 members of his team that will have babies waiting for them when they return.