My husband, David, at the time my fiancée, spent 18 months serving in Iraq, with the United States Army. While he was there, I made a point to send him a package every week and a half. After a while, the men in this unit knew if he was opening a package, there was always enough to share. I sent everything, and I mean everything, to Iraq; from baby wipes, to a chocolate birthday cake!
There are two very common misconceptions about soldiers serving in Iraq. One: They get everything they need and then some. This is not the case. Any personal products, clothing, snacks, etc. are paid for by soldiers, and items are purchased at the commissary Two: If you are in Iraq you are making lots of money. This maybe true in some cases, but in many cases soldiers are supporting families, and if you are a grunt, you aren’t making a lot of money. (Many soldiers live at the poverty level, if you can believe that.)
A discussion with some soldiers helped narrow down exactly what they need/want. Any items marked with a (*) can be found at your local dollar store. Top ten items that fall more into the “need” section include:
1. baby wipes*
2. medicated foot powder*
3. cotton undershirts
4. beef jerky*
5. powdered drink mixes (i.e. iced tea, raspberry tea) *
6. unscented baby powder*
7. coffee*
8. real, soft toilet paper
9. hand warmers (the kind you pop and stick in gloves) *
10. anti bacterial gel*
Ten items that fall more into the “want” section include:
1. personal care kits* (The kind with mini scissors, nail clippers, nail file, etc.)
2. games
3. scented shampoo*
4. scented soap*
5. candy/gum – especially chocolate, since chocolate in Iraq contains no sugar*
6. letters
7. medicated face wipes
8. hand lotion*
9. books (fiction and how-to books are popular) * or magazines
10. movies
For those with a little more money to spend on care packages, a much loved and well used item are “Under Armor” clothing. They can be found at: http://www.underarmour.com. Their “Cold Gear” keeps body heat in for cold nights and circulated the heat all over your body. Iraq gets surprisingly cold at night. Their “Heat Gear” keeps the sweat from sitting on your skin, and the shirt doesn’t get damp like a regular undershirt. All Season Gear” works and changes with the temperature of the body and the environment They ship to APO/FPO addresses. They also offer a 10% discount to all military personnel and to anyone who is sending a care package. Please check their FAQ section for discount information.
In Staten Island, New York there is an organization called, “Support Our Staten Island Soldiers.” This wonderful organization will send a soldier in the area a care package once a month. They work out of the local armory. You can check with your local armory for this type of support system. Many of these organizations can help you get a discount on shipping boxes.
Operation Gratitude, http://www.opgratitude.com, is another wonderful organization that will send your soldier a one time package of various items. From what I’ve been told the boxes are filled to the brim and the items are exceptional. The founder, Carolyn Blashek, has been known to email people directly, amidst all the packing and sending boxes.
Many items are not allowed to be shipped to Iraq. For example, my husband is Catholic. I was allowed to send him a bible and a rosary But, I would not be able to send a box of Bibles. The same rules applies for other religious items. You are allowed to send enough for the soldier, for the religion s/he practices You cannot send religious items in hopes of converting someone.
You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT send liquor, medication or drugs. Though, it sounds like common sense, you will be surprised what people try. Many boxes are inspected. You don’t want to get anyone in trouble, just so they can have a drink on their birthday.
There was a time when you could mail a packaged marked, “To Any Soldier” and it would be given to a unit in need. Due to security risks this is no longer allowed. If you are interested in adopting a soldier use, http://adoptasoldier.bigjohnmiska.com
Letters are wonderful ways to support soldiers. Even if you don’t know the soldier you are supporting/adopting, you can just tell about yourself, what you do, etc.
For soldiers that are known to you, there is a very special type of “letter” you can send them. My husband was my best friend for 14 years before we began dating. After all that time we would still talk for hours. When he was gone, I had all this empty silence that was maddening. I went to an electronics store and purchased two tape recorders, and a half dozen tapes. Since I had a long commute, every night I would click on the recorder and just talk, as though he was sitting next to me. There were times when, due to bad phone connections, our calls would end in the middle of a conversation. I would finish them on the tape. I would even finish an argument, and that way, I would always win! He didn’t feel left out of our everyday lives. That is the one thing that is a constant from soldiers. They realize they are missing the everyday conversations, accomplishments, arguments, and love. Those tapes kept him company, kept him close, and kept me sane By the time he came home he had dozens of tapes. One tip though, make the tape, and do not replay it back. It was a promise I made to myself when making them. Most people don’t like how they sound on tape, and will keep going back and reworking it. Don’t. Be yourself, chatter to your hearts content, and mail it. Don’t play it back.
Soldiers that are home, but are hospitalized due to injuries, always appreciate both letters and packages. You can help support injured soldiers by visiting: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org New technology is coming about with voice activated options for laptops for soldiers who are injured. For additional information go to: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/adoptrequest.php. The project is known as Project Valour-IT , (Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops.)
When you pack your boxes lay your items out on the floor, and put things away in a Tetris like fashion. The more you move things are, the more you will be able to pack into a box. Keep in mind, you do not pay to have your box sent to Iraq, they are mailed within the United States. After inspection, they are separated and sent to their proper destinations.
When it comes to perishable goods, there are a few tricks do help food “keep.” I had sent a double chocolate cake to my husband for his birthday. There are several ways to do this type of mailing. (Do NOT send meat, milk, juice or fruit.)
1.Find a very strong and sturdy box.
2. Freeze the cake.
3.Use the frozen gel packs to surround the cake’s container. But, put the gel packs in zip lock bags, just in case they leak.
4. Stick packing peanuts in every available inch of space. Packing peanuts help prevent melting, and helps the cake box from moving all over.
5. Mail it via 2-3 day or 3-5 day mail. It will get to the US destination sooner. It doesn’t guarantee it will get to Iraq sooner, but it helps.
6. Mark the box, “PERISHABLE” in large, red letters all over the box.
My box arrived about 8 days after it was mailed. Alas, my husband grabbed the box, tossed it on the back of a HummV and went on a mission. That box sat on the back of the truck for 3 more days, in the heat. He somehow missed the large red perishable letters. Despite this, when he opened, the cake, though beat up, was edible. It happened to arrive on another soldier’s birthday and the entire unit chowed down. They all thought I was crazy, after seeing it. The cake box remained stable inside the mailing box. The cake itself, bounced around inside the cake box. If it was to be done again, fill any loose space in the cake box with something edible, like cookies. Cookies will give the cake less space to move, and more to feed your soldier and his/her buddies.
The cake mailed was purchased at Costco for $15, and feed roughly 15 soldiers. For David’s first birthday home, I went to Costco again, and found a man mulling over the same chocolate cake. I told him it was very good, and gave him the story. He promptly asked how I mailed it, since his son was in Iraq and he didn’t want him to miss a birthday cake.
Pictures are another favorite. I moved into our apartment, painted it, and fixed it up all on my own. With a cheap, throw away camera I took before, during and after pictures of the apartment. Again, David felt as though he was a part of the whole moving process.
Separation either break you up or bring you closer. Many soldiers need to be reassured that you aren’t going anywhere. Do not get involved with an active soldier if you are not in it for the long haul. If you are adopting a soldier, you also must be in it for the long haul. Many times you will be the only support an adopted soldier is getting. Even if you don’t get letters back, that doesn’t mean you words are unappreciated They may not have the time, or the words to express what they need. But I guarantee, they stash your letters some place safe, and read them over when they are lonely.
