Care Package for Buddy In Afghanistan

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Care Package for Buddy In Afghanistan

Posted: 6/11/2002 3:50:57 PM EDT

Putting together a care package for my buddy serving in Afghanistan. Any ideas of what I should send? I'd ask him for ideas, but that would defeat the "surprise."
Of course I'll be sending some "Field Manuals," but need some other ideas. Bug spray? Toaster pastries?????

Posted: 6/11/2002 3:54:22 PM EDT

[#1]

Put enough MRE's in the box to cover the stuff underneath them!

Posted: 6/11/2002 3:56:35 PM EDT

[#2]

what I asked for was flavored creamer for the coffee. Nothing quite makes you feel civilized like a cup of French Vanilla. Maybe that makes me poofy, but oh well, at least creamy coffee leaves less pronounced DCU stains...

Posted: 6/11/2002 3:59:19 PM EDT

[#3]

I remember hearing that during the gulf war, kool aid mix was a desirable item as it covered the nasty taste of the local water. I can't imagine it tastes much better in afghanistan, but make sure you send the stuff with the sugar already added. Pop tarts are a good idea too. I imagine people stationed there have a very repetative diet so different food are probably welcome.

Posted: 6/11/2002 4:04:16 PM EDT

[#4]

Start a "Thank You" post that we can all add our thanks to. Print it out and send it to him. I'm sure he would appreciate that...almost as much as I appreciate what he's doing.

Posted: 6/11/2002 4:09:40 PM EDT

[#5]

Hey Rob....id send him cigarettes!!!...even if he doesnt smoke he can trade smokes for almost anything he needs (that includes trading to the locals, everyone loves american smokes, preferably Marlboros) also maybe baby wipes, pop tarts are good, noodle ramen is always popular.playing cards...thats all i can think of now, i was a grunt for almost 10 years, and all the above things wopuld be appreciated by any soldier in the field.....oh and send a few copies of soldier of fortune...and send him my thanks for being a soldier!!!!

Posted: 6/11/2002 5:27:52 PM EDT

[#6]

Deodorand/anti-perspirant
High-SPF sunscreen
Bug repellant

Cookies/pretzels/hard candy (nothing that melts)
Red Vines
Chewing gum
Beef jerky
Any kind of ready-to-eat snack food, actually.
KoolAid/GatorAid
CDs/music/recordings of his fav local radio station
Baby wipes (great for "field showers")

-Troy

Posted: 6/11/2002 7:30:10 PM EDT

[#7]

One of these might save his life -
[url]http://www.rmjforge.com/eagle_talon_special_forces_tomah.htm[/url]

GI's in Afghanistan get preference for these tomahawks.

The Kool Aid is a good idea; how about a water purification kit, or coffee filters to filter out the solids from otherwise "purified" water?

Wipes (unscented) should be individually packaged so they won't dry out.

Posted: 6/11/2002 7:43:02 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Deodorant/anti-perspirant
High-SPF sunscreen
Bug repellant

Cookies/pretzels/hard candy (nothing that melts)
Red Vines
Chewing gum
Beef jerky
Any kind of ready-to-eat snack food, actually.
KoolAid/GatorAid
CDs/music/recordings of his fav local radio station
Baby wipes (great for "field showers")

-Troy

View Quote

When my brother (4subslr4) was in Vietnam, Troy's list pretty much matches what bro asked us to send.
Junk Food. They're eating good and healthy but a well-honed American body 'needs' junk food to operate at max capacity.

Posted: 6/11/2002 7:54:06 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Start a "Thank You" post that we can all add our thanks to. Print it out and send it to him. I'm sure he would appreciate that...almost as much as I appreciate what he's doing.

View Quote

I couldn't agree more...

Gum
Chewing tobacco...to trade off (Levi Garrett)sp.
Playing cards
A pill bottle full of American Soil
Pictures of Home
Current issues of Time Magazine
Candy Bars..though they will melt

GIB
[sniper]

Posted: 6/11/2002 7:57:51 PM EDT

[#10]

I'd add to that list anything newspaper or magazine article that reflects on them in a positive fashion.

If our boys know that their work over there is being appreciated, it will make that pack seem a little bit lighter.

Posted: 6/12/2002 3:49:18 AM EDT

[#11]

Current or back issues of Hustler, Penthouse or what ever copy of your favorite porno mag you care to send. Maybe you could ask our very own AR-15.com porno expert Lordtrader what he would recommend [:D]. Come to think of it, we are all experts in this subject.

Posted: 6/12/2002 4:07:06 AM EDT

[#12]

They still make porno in print? [:P]

Posted: 6/12/2002 4:17:19 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Putting together a care package for my buddy serving in Afghanistan. Any ideas of what I should send? I'd ask him for ideas, but that would defeat the "surprise."
Of course I'll be sending some "Field Manuals," but need some other ideas. Bug spray? Toaster pastries?????

View Quote

Robert,
I'd send Beef jerky (its really expensive in the sorry excuse for a PX that is provided for him.) I used to like to get film for my camera. I'd carry a little 110 crappy cam and I'd take pics and just send the undeveloped film back home since I had no where to develop it anyway. When I got back the the US, I had a great photo album waiting for me.
What you send depends alot on what MOS your buddy. If he's a grunt, send things that'll make his life easier in the field. If he's a remf then you can send stuff that makes his life easier...well, you get the idea. Personally, I'd send skin mags and copenhagen.

Posted: 6/12/2002 3:42:35 PM EDT

[#14]

Thanks for all the input. I posted this last night before I went to work. Unfortunately, I'm on my way back to work right now but came up with some more/same items while brainstorming last night:

Stationary
Pens
Disposable Camera
Powdered Drinks other than Kool-Aid(MREs have some kind of Kool-Aid, I'm thinking of powdered Gatorade)
Jerky
Granola
Magazines
Suntan lotion/ Sunblock
AA batteries (for walkmans during off-duty)
Stamps
Non-aerosol Bug repellent
Mrs Dash or similar spices
Phone Cards

Sent the list to some friends and family and hope to have something together next week. Been thinking of volunteering for the effort thru my Reserve unit. It would mean putting off promotion for yet ANOTHER year.... but, we'll see.
Thanks for the input!
Robert

Posted: 6/12/2002 6:01:12 PM EDT

[#15]

1) The monthly field manuals should have centerfolds!

2) I would also send a shampoo bottle filled
with Jack Daniels.

3) you can never have too many 168 gr HPBT.

Posted: 6/12/2002 6:16:10 PM EDT

[#16]

How bout a couple of tan wool watch caps that go with his camo much better than the black ones the army issues.

Posted: 6/12/2002 7:24:46 PM EDT

[#17]

If he is from the South (below Tennesee) send some single serve tea bags and SUGAR for some sweet tea. Make sure he has a way to boil water. Lipton makes some bags for a glass of tea in individually wrapped packets.

Where can we get info to send thing to people we don't necessarily know? I would like to send something, it doesn't matter who.

Posted: 6/12/2002 8:12:49 PM EDT

[#18]

AA batteries
WD-40
CLP
Cleaning patches
Disposable cameras
Thoughtful food treats (mustard pretzels, nuts, some kind or hard candy of sugared fruit)
Gatorade
Frisbee
Horseshoe set
Spare parts for whatever weapons and vehicles they have (because the logistics system probably isn't working real well) [:D]

Posted: 6/12/2002 8:23:01 PM EDT

[#19]

A MRE with a note saying "Ha Ha", lol...

seriously though.. umm..

Some good unscented lotion with aloe in it.

I bet he's sunburnt, or at least his hands are pretty rough..

or CHAPSTICK! That is what I would ask for! I would be lost without it!

A pair of levis? Bet he could trade them for something good

Jelly beans (eating them now, mmm..!)

Smokes

Porn

Mentos

Gum

Etc

Posted: 6/12/2002 8:24:38 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
1) The monthly field manuals should have centerfolds!

2) I would also send a shampoo bottle filled
with Jack Daniels.

3) you can never have too many 168 gr HPBT.

View Quote

Cuervo looks an awful lot like Listerine. I'd would've certainly appreciate a large, price-club sized JUG of senor 1800!

Posted: 6/12/2002 10:55:36 PM EDT

[#21]

Snuff. If he doesn't dip, it barters easily, I assure you.

Send "Copenhagen type" snuff, but not Copenhagen. It dries out much too easily.

Send Redwood , Red Seal, or Timber Wolf. Much cheaper than Copenhagen too.

Make a third of it mint flavored if you want, but the vast majority needs to be plain tobacco flavored.

I know the above from experience!!!

ps - Hustler is the best "field manual" [;)]

You are a damned good buddy, RIM!!!

Best of luck to your friend.

Posted: 6/13/2002 12:20:50 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
1) The monthly field manuals should have centerfolds!

[red]Of Course!![/red]

2) I would also send a shampoo bottle filled
with Jack Daniels.

[red]Maybe[/red]

3) you can never have too many 168 gr HPBT.

[red]Agreed[/red]

View Quote

Posted: 6/13/2002 12:30:23 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Where can we get info to send thing to people we don't necessarily know? I would like to send something, it doesn't matter who.

View Quote

Glad you asked! The following link ought to help you.

[url]http://www.uso.org/pubs/8_20_25.cfm[/url]

Contacted a Major I used to serve with and they may have a slot for me if I piggyback with a unit from California. Maybe I can bring the care package in person!

Posted: 6/13/2002 4:00:54 AM EDT

[#24]

I just returned from Afghanistan (Mazar-e-Sharif) The following were desired:

Chew and smokes

Gatoraide

black socks

Current mags (The PX mags are outdated by about a month or two!)

Porno (very desirable)

And the thing I most wanted was a 3-point sling for my M16A2. It's easier to carry it and we have to carry them everywhere!

I'm starting to post some of my Afghan pics at:
www.gungrabber.com

Later,

Dave Johnson (SSgt/USAF)

Posted: 6/13/2002 4:22:25 AM EDT

[#25]

Where's the best place to get a 3-point sling, and are they authorized? I realize the AF is pretty lenient when it comes to personal comfort, do you think the Army will/does approve of them?
Thanks for the input and thanks for your service.

SGT Robert Ostrander USAR

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Care Package for Buddy In Afghanistan

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