Hi, Gran.

About a month ago, I sent 10 black watch 'beanies' - knit caps, not fleece.  SSG Carroll has 20 guys in his unit, I am sure he could use some more caps, especially fleece ones.  Please go ahead and send them to him for his guys. 

 

Lilly,

Thanks.  I had gotten some knit caps for some Iraq troops, but thought the double fleece would do better for A'stan.  We will get them out ASAP, with some baby wipes and other small toiletries.

Gran

Box is packed for the PO run Wed. containing 4 black fleece beanies, DVD movie - South Beach, 4 (100 ct.) baby wipes, 12 Schick triple blade disp. razors, 9 travel size shower gel, 5 travel size shampoo, 2 extra dry skin 3 oz. size lotion, and 3 Eucerin tr. size lotion.

Gran

Kristopher posted today.  Looks like they could use a few things.  Anita

I have sent the Grimlocs and Web Dominators to A-Stan before and they were well received.  I use Web Dominators myself.

Hi there, I am new to this, just found it tonight, and had a quick question for you. I have been sending care packages and letters to the troops for many years now. I used to be in contact with many guys and gals and would look forward to coming home to check the mail! It seems lately that I never hear back from anyone and I'm not expecting a response per say, but I'm getting concerned that my packages/letters aren't getting to anyone. Just wondering if you can guide me or suggest to me a unit who is looking for some support! Again, I apologize if I'm a little late to the game but I really do believe it's not enough to say you support the troops but to do something to support them! I appreicate your time and any suggestions you may have :) Brittany

I have ordered 3 of the Petzl headlamps for SSG Carroll and his men.

Twiggy:

I used to be in contact with many guys and gals and would look forward to coming home to check the mail! It seems lately that I never hear back from anyone and I'm not expecting a response per say, but I'm getting concerned that my packages/letters aren't getting to anyone. Just wondering if you can guide me or suggest to me a unit who is looking for some support!

Welcome Brittany,

All  1,965 Army, 647 Marine, 268 Air Force, 178 Navy and 7 Coast Guard contacts on the Where to Send page (those are this morning's numbers) are looking for support.  They all greatly appreciate packages and letters.  Many of the troops have limited email access and limited access to mail pickup.  Replies by letter from the mountains of Afghanistan can take four to twelve weeks to get back to the States.  Of course, they're busy staying alive so they don't always have time to reply during those *windows of opportunity* for communication.

If the addresses you've been sending to are current, and all addresses here are verified at least every 60 days, your packages and letters are most likely reaching your intended recipient.

Those contacts specifically requesting pen-pals are most likely to have the ability to reply promptly.  Include your email address in your letter.  Many of them find email much more convenient, and of course it is much faster.  Those contacts who have had the fewest number of requests for their address are also more likely to be able to write more frequently because they have fewer people to reply to.  Continuing to send support to the same group throughout their deployment also seems to increase the chance of replies, but again this is war so there's no guarantees.

Thank you for your support of the Troops.

jo

Update:

1st Platoon Scouts are good on sheets and blankets. 

They can use balaclavas and neck gaiters of any blendy color (black, gray, olive drab - there are a handful of places with flame resistant ones in olive drab but I haven't looked at them yet).

They now have enough "dog stuff for the next two generations of puppies"

The new Extreme Outfitters code for 10% off VIP10 (Thanks Ruth)

SSG Carroll included a link in his post for replacement hydration bladders from Tactical Taylor http://www.tacticaltailor.com/3lhydrationbladder.aspx coupon code WETSU when you check out for 5% discount.

Please check his update of November 13^th for the revised things that 1^st PLT would find nice and useful.

The Magpul PMAG Magazines have a 60 day shipping delay posted on Botach.  If any vendors are found that do not have shipping delays on this item, please let us know.

 DVD Library - Movies ordered/shipped so far

• Young Frankenstein
• A Fish Called Wanda
• Earth Girls are Easy
• Airplane
• Mr. Deeds
• Napoleon Dynamite
• 10,000 BC
• George of the Jungle
• Pirates of the Caribbean-Curse of the Black Pearl
• Transformers
• Godzilla
• Facing the Giants (some football movie that got good reviews)
• Out for Justice (Steven Seagal)
• Be Cool
• Secret of NIMH (don't knock it. It's a really cool story)
• South Park Movie (Yes, we got clearance for this one before shipping)
• Iron Man (WOW)
• Indiana Jones 4
• South Beach
• Space Balls
• Groundhog Day
• My Name is Earl, seasons 1,2 and 3

• 162 hand warmers - Tane214
• 30 foot warmers - Tane214
• 9 body warmers - Tane214 
• 2 CamelBak Talon - shipped 18-Sep - Ruth
• 30 pair Thorlo Mountaineering socks - Lilly
• 16 cheap toothbrushes for gun cleaning -Lilly
• Snax - 36 EZ Mac, 30 assorted lunchbox sized bags chip-type-things, microwave popcorn, 2 regular size box Triscuits (with toppings) and 1 Wheat Thins - Lilly & joCee
• 3 box Christmas cards (8 or 10 card per box) - joCee
• Bag dog food - Lilly
• 5 sheet sets - Lilly
• 2 fleece blankets - Lilly
• 1 hot pot & 3 "Knorr Sides" to cook in it - AS Junkie
• 1 plush fleece throw - AS Junkie
• 4 replacement hydration bladders - shipped 2 Oct - AS Junkie
• 2 pillows, 2 sheet sets, 2 light fleece blankets -ordered 10 Oct - Team joCee
• 8 lb kibble and 1 medium Kong for puppies - shipped 7 Oct
• 4 replacement hydration bladders - 10 Oct - Kaylynn
• 12 Cup of Noodle, 12 Ramen Noodle - 11 Oct - Maria C
• 10 black watchcaps - shipped 21 Oct - Lilly
• Nong Shim Neoguri Spicy Noodle Ramyun (Korean noodles) - wk of 13 Oct - Lilly
• 12 pk SunDrop Soda - 13 Oct - joCee
• Entertainment Projector (Kohls) - 18 Oct - Team Kaylynn
• 2 fleece blankets (Army Fleece panels with med weight border and backing) - 20 Oct - joCee
• a few Christmas decorations and 3 box Christmas cards - 20 Oct - Team joCee
• 3 sheet sets - shipped 21 Oct - Team joCee
• 1 sheet set, 4 pillows, 2 light fleece blankets - on order - Team joCee
• Iron Man and Indiana Jones 4 - 21 Oct - Lilly

 New Items

• Puppy medicinals - shipped 8-Nov - Debbie (Crossbowhunter)
• Dinty Moore Beef Stew & snax - shipped 8-Nov - Debbie (Crossbowhunter)
• 4 black fleece beanies, DVD movie - South Beach, 4 (100 ct.) baby wipes, 12 Schick triple blade disp. razors, 9 travel size shower gel, 5 travel size shampoo, 2 extra dry skin 3 oz. size lotion, and 3 Eucerin tr. size lotion - shipped 12-Nov - Gran
• 3 Petzel headlamps - ordered 13-Nov - Lilly
• 4 microwavable storage containers with assorted snax (this DOES NOT include Triscuits or Wheat Thins) - shipped 14-Nov - joCee
• 12 Grimlocs, 12 Web Dominators, 1 Balaclava (not warm enough), with 7 microwavable soup/stew, assorted nuts - shipped 26-Nov joCee
• 1 Prince Lionheart wipe warmer - shipped 20-Nov
• DVDs - My Name is Earl, seasons 1, 2, 3 - shipped 22-Nov - Ruth

Dear Folks,

I'm new here and am waiting for my boxes from the PO. I currently have the following items ready to pack and send to SSG Kristopher Carroll et al:

giant box Pepperidge Farm Goldfish

3 pound Oreos

60pk Swiss Miss Cocoa

100 Slim Jims

2 lb almonds, 3lbs ea cashews and peanuts (hope I can fit in lg flat rate box)

6 lb dried fruit and nut mix

40 Xmas cards and Xmas stationery

several packs Halls drops

candy cane tootsie pops!

20 2 packs small warmers

I plan to get some chocolate, too. I have loads of hotel sized shampoo and lotion (my husband takes them to drive me crazy). They're awfully small. Would this group of guys want this stuff? I know to pack any toiletries separate from food, but other packing tips would be appreciated. What is good fill small voids in the boxes?

Sincerely,

linwillo

Some things that are good for filling small spaces:  nail clippers, lip balm, plastic shopping bags, anything travel size like mouthwash, toothpaste, or eyedrops, restaurant condiment packs, writing pens, postcards, combs, nail files.

Happy packing.

Gran

linwillo,

If you are near a post office, you can walk in the lobby and find the large flat rate boxes most of the time.  Or if you ask the clerk at the counter, they will give you as many as you want.  My PO guys give me 25 at a time.

Also good for stuffing nooks and crannies in boxes are individual packets of tissues (Puffs is my preferred brand) and also sweat socks/atheletic socks, whatever you call the white ones they wear for PT (physical training).

Good bunch of stuff you have to send SSG Carroll and his men!

linwillo,

I buy peanuts and other seeds and nuts in those tubes  that they have by the grocery store registers to fill odd spaces in food packages.

I'll put extra travel sized toilet paper in non-food packages as well as travel sized toiletries and I buy shower poofs in two sizes so I'll have the right ones for the space available

I also keep around small toys: matchbox cars, rubber duckies, bendables for an occasional odd space.

More Small Stuff 

The Web Dominators that Kris mentions in his post are also quite small and fit in odd spaces. They're about 1 1/4" wide, just less than 2" long and probably 3/8" thick.  The Grimlocs are roughly 2" x 3" x 1/4" if I remember correctly, maybe just a little larger.  Botach sells them both in six-packs and they are less per piece that way than at Tactical Tailor

Just got a short email from 1st Platoon.  They report all is good and they are just getting accustomed to winter.  Items on last update are mostly just "wish list."  They've received a lot of packages from all over and are well stocked on food for now.

Great work all - sound like they're pretty much on maintenance  

If anyone is able to send any of the headlamps, please let us know.  My team only be sending one more FRB to 1st Platoon before we shut down "Junkie Ops" for December.