what to send a buddy's brother who is stationed in Afghanistan?

[joehahn]

My buddy sent this email to me and I got all pumped up to write a letter and send a "care package" but it felt kinda corny. Like: Hi, I am your brother's friend and wanted to send you a nice letter and cookies, sincerely Joe.

I therefore decided to make the letter part brief and the package part better but need some ideas on what to send. Anyone recently back from over there (or still there?) and have some good ideas?

Here is the email: (i hope i am not divulging any info, if so tell me and i will yank it)

"Hey guys. It was great seeing you all over the fourth. It was also great to hear of your interest in my brother's well being.
I apologize for how long it's taken me to get you all an update on what's going on with him, but finally, I have listed it below.

I may have mentioned much of this when we last spoke, but he arrived in Afghanistan in March and
anticipates being there until early fall of 2005. He's a second Lieutenant
leading a platoon of about 25 infantrymen and will become a first Lieutenant in Oct. He was originally stationed
outside of Kabul at a relatively modern base. His month there seemed pretty
uneventful. However, in April his division (the Army's 25th) was sent to
relieve the Marine base that was recently created on the Pakistan boarder in
Kabul Province.

This base was created as part of Operation Mountain Storm which is an
offensive effort by the US Coalition troops from the North and the Pakistan
troops from the south to root out the remaining Taliban. From what I have
been able to find online (it's amazing how little we hear about Afghanistan
these days) and from what I have heard from Kenny, this is where most of
fighting with the Taliban is taking place.

His new base in Kabul is apparently a very different situation. There are
no tents, they sleep between two ponchos on the ground. When I spoke to
Kenny last, I could hear mortars going off in the back ground. However
they were just precautionary illumination mortars sent out from his base.
The good news is that no one in his platoon has had to fire their weapon
yet. He called having just returned from a day of guarding the camp's
boundary's with his platoon. He had spent the entire day underneath his
Humvee as it was the only shade he could find. The temperature reaches 130
in the sun. Apparently he's never sweat more in his life. What didn't
occur to me until he mentioned it, is that the water they drink is upwards
of 100 degrees! Upon returning from his patrol he received his weekly mail.
He told me that he had just finished reading another friends' letter with a
flashlight underneath his poncho and he was all fired up about having
received it which brings me to my request.

If you can find the time to write Kenny a letter it would mean a lot to me
and a whole lot more to Kenny. From what I understand they all look forward
to their weekly mail and every thing they get helps. So, if you have the
time to send a little package with food or magazines or even just a post
card, I know he'd be psyched. I've attached his address below. Because
it's a APO address, if you do send a package you need to fill out a simple
customs form at the post office.

I would certainly appreciate anything you can do"


thanks for ideas and, what form do i fill out at post office? what is an apo address?

thanks.

joe

[Rot 911]

APO is his military address. Unless things have changed, you do not have to fill out a customs form for packages sent to an APO. APO addresses are typically New York or San Francisco. You pay shipping to that area and the military picks up the freight the rest of the way. I have a couple of friends in A-Stan. I'll ask them what would be something good to send.

[techweenie]

I found this site: booksforsoldiers.com linked from Michael Moore's site.

If you look at the requests, you'll find a wide description of goodies they need from 'home.' I've sent CDs, DVDs, tapes, books, magazines and miscellaneous heat-resistant snack goodies.

[mikester]

Ipod Batteries are not replacable outside the factory.

I did a couple of car packages to Iraq recently where I sent extra batteries (AA), baby wipes (lack of showers), some cookies (hope they made it), some phone cards (not sure they can use them but eventually they will be home and can - i hope), as well as a few other odds and ends.

My note was brief as I do not know the soldiers;

Dear So and so,

I hope the cookies made the trip but all in all I hope you can make use of these items. Our household appreciates what you are doing and if we can send anything more please send us a note and we will be glad to do what we can.

Sincerely,

The mikester and family.

[vash]

brownies!

[joehahn]

IPOD a bit too much for me to swing! My secret sources (thanks Kurt) have indicated that socks, drink mix, and headlight are the ticket. Thanks to my wife we get nearly every single magazine that is published today so I will throw those in there as well. My dad got a card from a friend stationed over there that was written on a c-ration box! No postage needed correct? Is it the same deal mailing TO soldiers?

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by joehahn
No postage needed correct? Is it the same deal mailing TO soldiers?

Nope soldiers can mail home free from combat zones. You have to pay the freight to the APO when mailing something to a soldier, regardless of his location.

[vash]

actually, if i was over there, i bet a simple letter from home would be better than anything.