My brother just went to Baghdad for the first time. He is a mechanic with the Air Force. He said he wants some Halloween candy, so I will send that to him. I just don't know what else might be good to send. Should i send lots of letters or packages to him? I just don't know how he is feeling there and I worry about him. He was pretty miserable when he went to basic training and I figure Iraq is probably worse...I'm just worried.
Thanks.
2007-10-31 04:21:52 · 20 answers · asked by tulane2007 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Please don't leave rude answers like "Porn, cigarettes and spam." This is a serious question. Unfortunately...if my brother hadn't recently told me that having pornography in the open was an offense- I wouldn't have known- and at his age...I would have considered sending it. So PLEASE don't leave comments that could get him in trouble.
2007-10-31 04:29:02 · update #1
Letters, pictures, newspaper clippings, things like that.
2007-10-31 04:26:04 · answer #1 · answered by mustagme 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Here's a list of things I enjoyed while I was in the Marine Corps. You might want to find out what his current air field is like. They might have refridgerators and microwaves. I'm not really sure. I didn't have much of that since I was basically on patrol most of the time.
beef jerky
peanuts
gatorade powder mix
hard cany (chocolate could melt from the heat)
magazines
sunflower seeds
pringles
crackers
toothpaste
wet wipes
socks
cd's
batteries for cd player, ipod, etc.
disposable cameras
He may even have access to a tv and dvd player so you could send movies. Find out from him what he has available to him. When at the store just look at stuff and think if it would make the trip to Iraq and not melt, rot, or make a mess of the other stuff in the package.
There are many more things that can be sent. Make sure you write him as much as you can and have other friends and relatives do the same. A simple letter could make his day. Anything that could make a mess of other stuff should be packed carefully and in zip lock baggies. My mom used to send homemade cookies and would pack them inside of empty pringle containers. Just make sure when you bake them they are small enough to fit. They stay fresh much longer that way. Please thank him for his service for me!
2007-10-31 04:30:14 · answer #2 · answered by Brian C 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hello there, I feel an empathy to you. Hope he's OK there as I heard the situation in Iraq is quite stressful.
Additional to some Halloween candies as he requests,why not sending him some good entertainment stuff. If you know what his favorite movies or novels or magazines are, then you might have a clue about what to send. Then include a card containing your sweetest words with big humour (but avoid something cliche).
Wish him the best in Iraq! Wish you the best, too!
2007-10-31 05:00:31 · answer #3 · answered by jr hawson 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Any kind of home made goodies, water, juice in bottles, my son enjoyed getting the powdered drink mixes he could put into water, shave cream, disposable razors, soap, deodorant, tooth paste, shampoo, paper and envelopes, stamps, music and most definitely letters and packages as often as possible. Photos of the family just nothing suggestive it is a Muslim country after all. Cards and games if he's into that or stuff he can use on the computer if he has a laptop. Our son says that everything is appreciated and what he can't use he shares with his friends, also we send stuff for Christmas like a small tree and ornaments, garland etc to decorate with and we included little tiny stockings with razors, toothpaste and tooth brush and some hard candies that he could give to his buddies....Tell your brother thank you for me and God bless & Safe Seas
2007-10-31 06:56:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always sent my husband stuff like snacks that don't go bad, or foods that were 'just add water', like ramen noodles, easy stuff, junk food like pringles, gummy worms, basically the food they get there is terrible....and MRE's-yuck. Also, pictures, or if he has a computer there, dvd's or slideshows with his favorite music and pictures of family, friends things from 'back home'. FYI- if you send cookies, make sure you put a few peices of moist white bread in the container, this will keep the cookies from going stale on the 2+ week journey overseas. The more things he gets from home, the less alone he will feel. Soldiers who are alone, think...a lot, this can lead to emotional breakdown. Sending him stuff, even if it is things that you may think are stupid, are going to mean so much to him. I sent things to brian every week. Some weeks every other day.
2007-10-31 04:47:05 · answer #5 · answered by Tawny A 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I tell ya what I liked over there, cigarettes, porn and spam...just kidding, well about the spam and porn. But I am a smoker and the cigarettes over there that you get from the Iraqis are horrible, but for $5 a carton you get used to them. I like drink mix, beef jerky, ramen noodles (cup or package), music, jack daniels in the small bottles hidden in other stuff, twizlers, sunflower seeds, copenhagen, all sorts of gum, local sports page etc..., send lots of mail, its a big deal when you get mail, I ordered cd's all the time so I always had something I know was coming, family sent alot, but just in case I ordered a lot of cd's and dvd's. Mail often to him, he will appreciate it. He will have ample opprtunity to get porm from the Iraqi's.
2007-10-31 04:40:17 · answer #6 · answered by smokering420 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Brian C has said pretty much everything. Just no porn or liquor. Even if others have gotten liquor, you don't want to chance your brother getting into trouble.
Besides letters & packages, email him jokes, funny little family pictures, email cards that are just for fun.
My three kids asked for silly string for News Years. I found my kids asked for things they never would have asked for here at home. My daughter asked for these suckers on a necklace that blink. I sent about 50 of them. I have sent a waffle maker and tons of waffle mix. The kind you just add water and oil to. During the winter I have sent chocolate and cheese. But, I waited until they told me it was cool enough to send.
A book of Suduko games, they have electronic one also. If he does things like putting together models, send some to them. Our one son had remote control vehicles sent to them and they had races.
For Christmas I send a small tree, ornaments, Santa hats, garland to decorate their rooms and enough homemade cookies for their friends.
Good luck and thank your brother for us. We have a daughter in the AF Reserves that is in Afghanistan right now. I know it's not easy, but try not to worry.
2007-10-31 06:06:12 · answer #7 · answered by Diane 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Letters are the most important. See if you can ask his friends for some short notes saying "hi" .
A risque but really cool gift would be a flask of booze. I see a large variety of "hidden" flasks made to look like books, cell phones and cig packs at the package store.
2007-10-31 05:21:28 · answer #8 · answered by Mike M 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Send him a variety of candy! That way he can pick out what he doesn't like! Also you should write him a letter from your family about how much you miss him. I would send a package that way you can fit more candy in there and hopefully lift his spirits as well!
2007-10-31 04:27:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Send him and ipod filled with his favorite music or messages from podcasts. Send him a small book of God's promises and in the front a prayer from you for his safety and his friends safety.
2007-10-31 04:28:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
how about a letter. so often people do not relay their true feelings until it is too late. a photo from childhood with friends or family or a funny, embarrasing moment. anything that gives them a glimpse of home without the reality of war.even a kit to start a new hobby. you should be proud of him as i am for his service. thank him for me.
2007-10-31 05:13:43 · answer #11 · answered by BRYAN H 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋