Per my post on the "SSG Carroll/Hansen/Plate Carrier & Ghillie Suit" thread ....

I asked 1Lt. Concho Moore (whom you may remember as the "beans and bullets" guy at the remote eastern FOB in Afghanistan) if he and his team would prefer tactical gear over the microwave I was going to send, and I gave him examples of what the other soldiers were requesting.  I got back a big "Yes, ma'am!" (he calls me ma'am, isn't that cute?), with an initial request for Casio Pathfinders.  When I asked for details and numbers, I got the following (which I should put in a quote, but I don't know how).  Looks like he and his team put a lot of thought and time into this request.  Some of his links don't work, though!

Concho says:

I do apologies for taking so long to get back with you, several expected
yet unscheduled events have taken place over the past several days.  You
must understand that my platoon and I am extremely humbled by you and
your team's support for the men and women of the Armed Forces.  I have
met with my senior weapon squad leader and platoon sergeant on this
matter, and we have come up with the following specific items that would
be extremely useful to us:

Eye Protection ( www.usstandardissue.com

This is a list of tactical equipment that would be extremely useful (in
no particular order).  Again thank you so very much for your support and
I want you to know that you are not obligated by any means to purchase
anything for us, and what you have done for us so far is more than most.

I have asked Concho to clarify quantities for each.  Based on the price, only a few of the Suuntos, but I'll bet they would all like the Oakley glasses, gloves, the knives and either a Surefire or a Petzl. 

I know we're all really being taxed with this special tactical gear, some of which costs about as much as a well-filled care package, but some of which is quite pricey (why oh why are these men still being deployed without the equipment they need and why are they all being deployed at once!), but can anyone help out with this?    

Thanks Jeannine, I think you and I share a couple contacts :)

I found the watch on ebay for $38. I purchased two for Concho's team. There are 3 left at that seller http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150277317090&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

Shelly

Shelly,

Thanks so much.  I'm trying to decide whether to send those three watches or two of those SureFire helmet lights from ebay, which -- although pricey -- look like they might save a few lives.

If we're supporting the same troops, maybe we should try to coordinate what we send a bit?

Best, Jeannine 

Okay, I'm volunteering to coordinate who is sending what to Concho.  He's and the other 30 members of his team are at a small, remote, primitive FOB in Afghanistan within a few klicks of the Pakistan border.  They've asked for a lot of things, as listed on Concho's AnySoldier post, but they have specifically requested a number of tactical items (he'd like 31 of each, where possible, except for the Suunto and the tents).  Here's what I know so far about what's been asked for and what's been ordered: 

Eye Protection ( www.usstandardissue.com) -- 31 total needed
- SI Flak Jacket XLT 11-004
- SI Half Jacket XLJ 11-101
- SI Half Jacket XLJ5 11-091

Watches -- 31 total needed
Casio G-Shock DW 9052-IV (2 sent by STL)
- Suunto X9Mi

Tactical Illumination -- 31 total needed
- Surefire Helmet light HL1-B-TN
OR
- Petzl Tactikka XP E89 PD

Cold Steel -- 31 total needed
- Columbia River M16 Plain Edge Knife CRM16-01K

Hand Protection -- 31 total needed
SI Assault Gloves, Desert 94025-323  (2 sent by BlueStarX)

Ear Protection -- 31 total needed
SureFire Ear Pro EP4 Sonic Defender Plus SF-EP4 (6 sent by BlueStarX)

Tents -- # needed?
small 2-3 person tents (3 sent by BlueStarX)

Pillows / Sheets
3 pillows & pillowcases (sent by Jeannine)
2 sheet sets and 2 fitted sheets  (sent or committed by Cathi)

Mess Kits -- 31 needed
1 sent by BlueStarX -- you go, girl!

Misc.
1  12-cup Mr. Coffee coffeemaker, filters, 3 lbs Starbucks, creamer  (Jeannine)
1 32 ounce electric hot pot  (Jeannine)
Hundreds (thousands?) of baby wipes  (Robert)
2-3 FRBs of CANDY (Robert)
1 battery-operated touch light (Cathi)
Hygiene items  (Cathi)
Batteries  (Cathi and Robert)
Craftsman wrenches  (Cathi)
1 DVD (Triple X starring Vin Diesel) (Jeannine)
Gun oil  (Jeannine)

Please keep me posted on what you send and I'll do my best to keep the list current.  Let's keep these boys safe and, if possible, fed and comfortable, too!

Jeannine

I just went and reread Concho's post to see if there was anything I might be able to help with, as I am not financially able to help with the tactical equipment right now.  There are several day to day items listed in his post that I have on hand though, so I requested his address and will be sending out a box ASAP. Perhaps with you all providing the tactical, I can see to some of their creature comforts.  Lynne

Lynne,

That would be great.  As you can see, they need A LOT, although my office mate just sent him several boxes of candy and a gazillion wipes.  Even just a couple of pillowcases or some cleaning supplies or a few Rubbermaid containers would be helpful at this point. 

Let me know if you have trouble getting his address.  He told me a few days ago that he'd updated it on the site, but I think he is currently past the 50-day no contact period for AnySoldier. 

Best,
Jeannine

Just in case y'all weren't on Concho's first email, I wanna share part of what he had to say about his guys and what your support means to them ... this is one AMAZING contact

They all have various backgrounds and different points of view on just about everything, but they have in common the most important trait that makes them a great Infantryman.  They can not sit there and watch as others suffer and struggle.  It is different in how they approach the situation from most people, I'll try to explain.  If there was a person stranded outside in the freezing rain, they would take their coat off, throw it away, and through a lot of effort would ensure that they were stranded outside in the freezing rain with him, and together they would be stronger than anyone could ever be alone that was not freezing and wet.  They would feel good knowing it was them that got hurt and nobody else, and would feel horrible if someone else got hurt and they didn't.  If you wanted to break their heart, send someone else into harms way without them.  They are also very good at loosing and breaking things.  The things that they do are never for themselves, but for others.  Some would say we do not have much to show for all we have done, but to us and others like us we have more than anyone else because those we help have more now due to the fact that we have less.  I always tell the men that there are only 3 things in this world that can never be taken away from you.  What you say, what you do, and what you eat.  So say what you mean, do what is right, and eat well. 

You may think that you are not doing much, but we see someone like us who gave what they had away so someone else would have more.  You brighten up our lives with your generous donations, but most importantly you have reminded us that you care with the donation of your time and efforts.  Like you, we love to hear stories and how ya'll are doing.  We love pictures of the people that put the smiles on the Soldiers faces.  You would have thought it was Christmas here today and we were going home tomorrow.  What you give the Soldiers, no one else can. 

Midwesterner:  It could just be me and i don't mean to step on any toes, but I wouldn't be comfortable posting that much info on their location.

Hats off to those of you stepping up to this challenge.  My Marine is heading back to Iraq shortly.

Good lookin out Anna! She's good tho, the Eastern Afgh/ Pak border is several hundred miles of ground. The bad guys aren't that good :) It's a good description for dozens of bases that are in remote areas and take high contact with the enemy so we can identify the contacts that most need this tactical type of support when they're in these border areas. It's not a specific place.

Keep us posted on your Marine! We'll keep him in our prayers :)

Shelly

WOW Shelly, you're so right.  Pretty introspective guy.  Nice to know what we do does make a difference for them. 

Anita

STL:

They all have various backgrounds and different points of view on just about everything, but they have in common the most important trait that makes them a great Infantryman.  They can not sit there and watch as others suffer and struggle.  It is different in how they approach the situation from most people, I'll try to explain.  If there was a person stranded outside in the freezing rain, they would take their coat off, throw it away, and through a lot of effort would ensure that they were stranded outside in the freezing rain with him, and together they would be stronger than anyone could ever be alone that was not freezing and wet.  They would feel good knowing it was them that got hurt and nobody else, and would feel horrible if someone else got hurt and they didn't.  If you wanted to break their heart, send someone else into harms way without them.  They are also very good at loosing and breaking things.  The things that they do are never for themselves, but for others.  Some would say we do not have much to show for all we have done, but to us and others like us we have more than anyone else because those we help have more now due to the fact that we have less.  I always tell the men that there are only 3 things in this world that can never be taken away from you.  What you say, what you do, and what you eat.  So say what you mean, do what is right, and eat well. 

What an INCREDIBLE email.  Thanks for sharing -- and thanks for your donations!

Jeannine 

AnnaS,

Point taken. 

We all need to be aware of security issues in our posts, even on this forum (unfortunately).  That said, I thought long and hard before I posted what I did.  I was torn between wanting to share information with the Forum and keeping Concho & Co. safe.  In the end, I modified what I was going to post and included what I did because, as Shelly noted, the Afghan/Pak border is hundreds of miles long and the info I posted is less than anyone can find out in five minutes on the Internet using Google and just looking for FOBs in Afghanistan.  The border with China would have been a different story.  

Thanks for keeping me alert, though!

Best, Jeannine 

Concho's update is up!!! Mom, make sure you got the newest address!

Found the knives for $24.49!! I haven't ordered any yet but thought I'd get the link out..

http://www.sportco.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=159&idproduct=48748