The husband of a friend was just shipped over to Iraq for a 15-month assignment. Understandably, my friend is having a rough time with it, and wants to keep herself busy to help make the time go faster.
My husband suggested that she regularly prepare care packages for him, because the receipt of correspondence or a package that reminds him of home were the things that were most important to HIM when he was overseas.
Assuming that's true, what do soldiers in the field most want to receive? Is there anything you can think of that is difficult to get in Iraq, that is legal to send from the U.S. (so forget the alcohol and porn suggestions) and that would really make a soldier's day? Candy? Soap? Magazines? Pictures? Crosswords? Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Also, with email so readily accessable, are hand-written letters still appreciated?
And finally, to those of you who have served (or are serving) our country, a heart-felt THANK YOU!
2007-04-24 03:57:40 · 4 answers · asked by Bubbles 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I am an army wife and I have been through 2 deployments with my husband. First, it is important to just send mail. Mail call is a feeding frenzy, and to not get mail is a real let down. So when my husband is deployed, I send letters every day, and a care package a week. Sometimes it is stuff from the dollar store, but always includes toys, personal hygiene items, mission munchies (prepackages food items that can transport easily), pictures.
I send letters daily, emails often. We talk via instant messenger almost daily, but as I said, mail is important for morale. Also, you cant take your computer with you to read those emails while out on missions, but you can definitely stuff those letters in the pockets!! My husband is in trainup for his deployment in California. Right now, in his front left pocket, is a letter that I wrote him while he was here. It is called "20 reasons why I love you" so that he can pull it out anytime and remember my words. You have no idea what that means to someone who is away from his/her loved ones for such long periods of time.
So, tell her to write letters, send cards, send care packages, send emails, send instant messages (offline ones too)!! I wish her the best of luck, and I appreciate you looking out for your friend and trying to help her in the ways you can. Take care!
2007-04-24 05:05:05 · answer #1 · answered by an88mikewife 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like all the guys have said before it is important to send handwritten mail to the guys as its more personal than an email i used to spray some perfume on the letters to my ex so that he had a little reminder of me. Also i sent him a recordable card the ones where you can record a message so when he was on a mission he would take it with him and open it up just to hear my voice. Its the small things that count and they really do love it. It will be tough for her but maybe she can get together with other military spouses that r in the same boat. Keep busy with her as well. As far as care packages send cookies, not chocolate it will melt before it get there. magazines also she should get a group of people together and record a home movie on to a DVD also send pics and stuff like that. One of the other answers said that she went to the dollar store what a great idea i used to send surprise presents where i would wrap a present up like a million times and he would finally get to it it would be a joke present or it would be a expensive present i jut wanted him to know i was thinking about him.
I bless everyone of the US troops even though i am english i have huge respect for the US military and am proud that some of them are my friends.
2007-04-24 05:45:32 · answer #2 · answered by british gurly 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They last time our guys/gals deployed down range, they came up with a shopping list for those of us who wanted to send care packages. Some of the items we didn't even think about were:
Wet wipes
QTips
Feminine hygiene products
Purell
Gum
Life savers
Playing cards
They love the wet wipes and purell. They say they have a hard time getting clean and feeling clean playing in the giant sandbox, and those help alleviate the icky dirty feeling they get.
2007-04-24 05:24:04 · answer #3 · answered by usafbrat64 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You got alot of good ideas. I've heard phone cards, MP3 players, bug repellant, sun screen....there was even a request for silly string...(guess they spray that in through a doorway and it helps detect traps so they don't trip them) Might be nice to send the local paper. Disposable cameras. I'm sure everything is appreciated.
2007-04-24 06:55:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋