Hello!
A friend of a friend of a friend (!) was activated. I'm not sure where he's been sent, but it's in/near the Sandbox.
I'm trying to convince my friend that it is totally fine to get his mailing address and write to him, send him e-mails, care packages, etc. She thinks it's kinda weird since she doesn't actually know him. But I seem to recall that you used to be able to send stuff to ANYONE in the service - and I would think that those serving would be happy to get letters & stuff - even if they don't know the sender personally.
Can you give me some insight? Am I stuck in the "old days"? Or do servicemembers receive things like this sometimes?
THANKS!
2007-03-16 05:32:38 · 13 answers · asked by tigglys 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Responding as a retired sailor and father of an ex-sailor and friend of many sailors, WE LOVE MAIL!! ALL KINDS OF MAIL!! EVEN JUNK MAIL!! MAIL, MAIL MAIL!! LETTERS, 'CARE PACKAGES'! WE DON'T CARE. Just show us YOU care. Get your friends and relatives to write, send cards, packages, clippings from the home town newspaper. Schools are letting classes write to soldiers, sailors and Marines and I've read of times when that person comes home and visits the class to personally thank them for their caring.
I had my Sunday school class MAKE cards and write in them to send over to Iraq, Afghanistan and some ships over the past few years.
When I was in Viet Nam, a shipmate gave me the address of a girl he went to school with. We kept in touch for years and a few years ago, I was visiting my in-laws in s.w. Mo. The girl lived across the state line in Ok. I got a phone number and it was her mom's (REAL small town). Turns out, the girl lived in Springfield, MO. I called her and she invited us to come up ...and my wife and I drove up and spent all day Saturday with her and her family.
You never know the outcome of showing you care to a U.S. military man/woman.
(USN, retired/in-country Viet Nam vet)
2007-03-16 15:57:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to send something - you must have a name. (which I'm sure your friend does)
You can no longer even send letters to 'any servicemember'.
The friend of a friend - have her help her friend send the friend a box - and her include at least a letter the first time - and that way if the other friend sent a box - at least the one in the sandbox should know the name. (see what I mean?)
2007-03-16 12:44:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Whena servicemembers recieves a package marked ANY SOLDIER it means more to them than when their family sends things because they know they have the support of a completely anonymouse person. It makes them feel like they are fighting for more than jsut their family and that people really care. Send as much as you can to as many as you can, they need the support wiht all the liberal troop hate speach going on now adays.
2007-03-16 12:44:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are right. My husband is in the Marines and they all love to get stuff. It just makes things a little easy to get a piece of the normal life. I hope that you friend take your advice and does send something. Anything that she wants to send is great. She should send a letter too. It gives them a great feeling when they hear people support them.
Thanks for Supporting Our Troops!!!
2007-03-16 12:55:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Due to sick people sending sick stuff to "Any Soldier" the military will not allow those type of care packages to be sent. You definately can send a care package addressed directly to the friend of a friend of a friend. It does not matter who it comes from, it will be appreciated. If you don't have an address, go to the nearest recruiting office and ask them to help. No, they won't force you to sign up.
2007-03-16 12:58:14 · answer #5 · answered by dadof7n2001 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you've got an address, go for it (use same US postage
as usual). For things other than letters, like care packages
there are a few things that can't be sent -- check at your
local Post Office ----------otherwise, have at it
2007-03-16 13:06:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Any Soldier/Sailor" mail is appreciated !!
I was on the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf over the Christmas of 1996... our Division got several packages from nice folks in the states... and for those of us who were single it was a godsend !! Cookies, writing paper, gum... one wonderful grandma-type actually sent 12 STUFFED Xmas Stockings !!
We also got a good dozen Christmas cards, and decorated the ASW-Analysis office with them.
I retired in 1999, and have been sending notes and packages out to my shipmates... Army, Navy, AF, & Marines since 2002.
THANK YOU for your consideration !!
2007-03-16 19:37:38 · answer #7 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would definitely be appreciated. She could write and explain why she chose him to send stuff to, and who knows, she may find out they have a lot in common (I've known sailors that have got married after meeting someone through similar circumstances). If nothing else it will remind him (and his buddies) that there are still people here in the US that think about them and wish them well.
2007-03-16 12:43:16 · answer #8 · answered by kerfitz 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We received all kinds of packages from people we didn't know. One kid in my squads Aunt worked at a company and his Aunt would take up collections and hand out our addresses to all the people in her company and they mailed us stuff. She (I never met her) used send me things personally just because I was her nephews squad leader. I assure you every one correspondence is extremely appreciated and very welcome.
2007-03-16 12:52:54 · answer #9 · answered by Centurion529 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
my husband is deployed and loves getting letters from anyone/ he has a second grade penpal the child is from his chiefs daughters school he has loved it all you need is the address and know someone who knows the person as the guys are a little nervous with stuff from people they dont know or know of
2007-03-16 12:43:54 · answer #10 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋