Anita, it's hard to tell what Vegas needs because they haven't been able to get much of their mail at all since the helicopter went down in January. The items always requested have been food and cigz. Mail cutoff isn't till April 15. I do know the tv special focused on Restrepo and prior to the mail backup, Vegas wasn't getting overwhelmed like that outpost was, really amazing support but not climbing over it. One of the guys on Restrepo called it "epic edible proportions" !!! haha

KOP and 2nd got a whole lotto mail last week, so maybe some's on it's way out to Vegas soon too!? Hate that they aren't getting much of it the last couple month.... Cross your fingers.

Sorry it's kinda a non-answer, s'all i know .... Shelly

Shelly, thanks, you always seem to have pretty good info.  I have a feeling when Vegas starts getting mail it will be enough to last them til they leave.  I was sending to a few different guys there.   Have you heard from Concho lately, since he switched units I haven't heard from him?  

Anita

Joshua Adams has updated and so has Steve Brewer

hi everybody!

Just wanted to post that Firebase Restrepo was featured on Dan Rather Reports on HDnet- 3/19/09 "A Border Runs Through It" You can download the eposide from itunes for $1.99  Go to http://www.hd.net/danrather.html  you can watch the 30 second clip for free. This is 1st platoon B Co. 1-26th 3-1 BCT - Restrepo is featured from 12:12 thru 26:26 and then at the end Dan Rather interviews Lucian Read, the photographer/videographer who was at Restrepo (about an hour long overall, also discussed the Pakistan border region and ETT's in the Kunar provonce)  I recognized a bunch of 1st platoon! Lt Burkey is interviewed for a few minutes, and you get to see the guys opening mail and cooking up some interesting food combos. Even the rice cooker is highlighted.  Def recommend the $1.99 itunes price....

 The morale is starting to dip at the KOP because time has slowed down since the end is in sight. I would not recommend mailing any more packages, but I'm sure some funny cards or a postcard would cheer them up a little. If you have sent something prior, the address is the same and all the prior Korengal Outpost AS contacts are still there, except for Jeter.

oops, and I just noticed Sgt Longakit at firebase Vegas updated 3/26. I see he is still requesting packages...not sure about the delivery times. Shelly-are you out there? What is your opinion?

Joanne 

P.S. Go Tar Heels! (that's for Bob!)

Usually around here somewhere...haha hmmmm, mail opinion? it's a crapshoot, especially to Vegas i think. Cutoff is April 15 but they're still gonna be there a while. I'm takin a shot at it and sending a last couple of mil flat rate boxes this week with socks, sun & bug stuff for em since it'll be mighty warm before they split. Last year it was 100 degrees by the end of May. I wouldn't send anything bigger at this point for sure. I'm still going to put redirect to Command to distribute so hopefully it's at least on the outpost and not back here in a couple months. I def think cards & letters are still great to send all the way up to the 15th!! Gotta be tough to stay focused right now... words of encouragement and pride will mean a lot!! Great idea

Hi - I wanted to get advice on Longakit.  Did you say that cutoff is April 15th or did that refer to the other firebase?  I thought Longakit was going to be there through the summer.  i just started to put together a package, but I'll wait for some forum feedback.  Thanks!

Mail cutoff for sending to all the firebases there is April 15. That gives it some time to get out there. But it's cutting it pretty close with what we know about transit time for packages. When new troops start to arrive we'll get additional contacts so you can continue sending out there throughout the summer and into next year if you like. No one will post dates of troop movements on the forum for their security - until DOD makes the info public. hope that helps!

Thank you for the info.  I never would have realized that the cutoff would be 5 months before the exit date.  I'd better look  up a couple of my other contacts.

For former supporters of the 2-503rd 173rd Airborne, this past week there were Medal Ceremonies for the Battle at Wanat from July 2009. See the report, photos and videos at http//tankerbabelc985.vox.com/

Remember  the Sky Angels!

Hi there,  I am Dianna.  My son Andrew is in Korengal now.  If you want to email me at home, TDNordwall@aol.com , I can give you a little insight on what to expect.  Once you are there, I would love to send you stuff.  I am here in Colorado.  There are so many great supporters on this website.  They are all AWESOME.  You will get a lot of great information. 

Dianna

 PFC M. -  first off , thank you for your service,  secondly - if your unit is not already signed up with AnySoldier , hopefully you'll be able to have internet service and get signed up as a contact to receive letters and care packages from folks back home.   God be with you!

 ManchuMile, thank you SO much for your service! You guys are awesome. As  you can see by this site, we just LOVE all you guys, and this thread loves our KOP heroes. :)

My org (in my sig) sends blank cards for soldiers to write home on---and if you get there and find they have boxes and boxes of them in a corner, be sure to let us know if you can. lol. I don't hear back from the KOP contacts much at all, so I never know if we're sending them more than they can use or if they're just darned busy! So that's my selfish request. Hopefully it will only pop into your mind if you see a stack of boxes with  "CARDS FOR HEROES" stickers on them.   And of course if you or anyone out there needs more, just say the word and we'll get ya covered. We have a signup form on our site now.

I'll be praying your prep for deployment goes well, that you have all you need and learn all that's necessary in quick order--and that you stay safe throughout your tour. Keep in touch with us! God bless you real good!

Love the name  have you participated in the Manchu Mile?     As you've read, the supporters at anysoldier are the best.    Most have been at this through several deployments, and are good resources.    As we keep telling people, Afghanistan is not Iraq ! ! !     Things are improving, but that's not saying much.      The Korengal has received some good media attention, so there is quite a few pictures out there.     I'm still getting used to so much internect connection.     People will laugh at that, but it actually is better.      FACEBOOK is going strong.     If you would like, sign on to become my friend search Haole Wahine, and I'll use the friend to suggest some other supporters, and some of the guys that are already over there.   I am not kidding, we can hook you up.    Oh, yeah, email is HWahine2008@aol.com, and HaoleWahine.vox.com.  We're even getting some tweets on Twitter from the Korengal.  You might be interested, Michael Yon has some posts up From Afghanistan, and Scott Kesterson (a photojournalist from Portland, Oregon) has just arrived in country.     He was a twitter fanatic for a while, and was having great luck with his blackberry.     He has been in country for 6 day; and, left Kabul for Gardez, by way of Bagram, yesterday.    Please sign up on Twitter, and check his tweets    Scott_Kesterson   is his twitter call sign.    It's his 3rd Embed, and while not in your sector, has more experience in Afghanistan than Iraq, so he know of what he speaks.    I'm not kidding, he became a Twitter Fanantic.     He's down to 2 or 3 a day, now, because he's having to use his computer.      For everyone else, check out Scott.    He's doing some stuff on Anaconda, but hoping to get to other sectors, too.    He's working with Bouhammer very closely.    Scott has several blogs up, but will be and has posted to his blog.    http://kilroyredux.blogspot.com/     There are lots of changes happening in Afghanistan, so things like these will help all of us.   Communications are really supposed to pick up even more, very very soon.      And they are bringing in the metal huts to use, instead of so much plywood, or mud huts.     Hard to imagine, but yep they seem to be planning to send some out the the COPs, and OPs.     They are adding COPs and OPs every day, so we really are going to need a scorecard soon.    The Stars & Stripes are going to be flying over more and more sites in the Korengal.      Good news for all of us.

ManchuMile, please keep in touch with anysoldier forum.     If history tells us anything, they'll probably be a new forum for your unit and supporters Hint,  Hint,  Hint.

Oh, yeah, encourage your FRG's and families to check anysoldier, and especially the forum.     There is a lot of support here from some great people who have been in their position before.     Support for the families, and the soldiers.     

With all our gratitude and prayers,  for you, your commrades, and all your families and friends.