Here is the correct link for Operation Paperback
I got a soldier! I got him from operationmilitarysupport.com. But I have a question: How do I address him in his letter? If he’s a PFC in the Marine Corps, do I call him Private Jones? Mr. Jones? Bobby?
I’m excited to make him a care package. I’m going to send Oreos. And some other stuff, too. But I’ll bet he’ll be happy about the Oreos.
I like getting suggestions as to what to send. I know that the military is well-supplied, so I have no idea what kinds of things are already supplied and what kinds of things will be really appreciated.
Green Bean, You call him Bobby. You’re not in the military, so you don’t need to address him by rank. He’s probably only 18 or 19, so keep that in mind when you send him stuff.
I would first send letters, or something that will fit in a small shipping envelope. Packages of any size aren’t going to be delivered for several weeks as most of these units are on the move, unless your guy is “in the rear with the gear”. Letters and news are what most people are craving. Send sports info (the NCAA Championship brackets are probably good), and if you know what unit he’s in you could look for any news about that unit on the web, print it and send it. Just ask him in the letter what he wants.
He’s probably going to ask for alcohol, but that is forbidden in Islamic countries. Popular items right now are sunglasses, and good quality razors. The troops are required to shave everyday so their gas masks fit well, but they’re given crappy disposable razors. The Red Cross supplies shampoo, soap, etc, but it too is crap. Buy the travel size of these items. Remember, anything you send has to be dragged around with them. Food is always good. I usually send jerky. If you do send food, make sure it’s the stuff that well. If you have a vacuum sealer, then seal it. Playing cards, and news magazines are always good. There’s a lot of “hurry up and wait” involved, killing time becomes an art form.
Stuff that will be thrown out: anything that is big or heavy. Anything fragile. Coffee, sugar, or other condiments (these come in MREs).
That should have said “If you do send food, make sure it’s the stuff that travels well.”
Some other things I just thought about. Cigarettes are currency. If you want to make him really happy send cigarettes. Even if he doesn’t smoke, he’ll trade them. Small cans of fruit. A treat, with fluid, as a bonus. If he’s in the infantry, he’ll want a speed loader for an M-16. They’re about $20.00, and you can get them at a gun store, or order on-line. This is another form of currency. If he already has one, then he can trade it.
Delia Smith is in Kuwait? I’m guessing she’ll be needing some fresh eggs, some flour, baking soda, maybe some spices, and of course a really big spoon. 
(For the noncognoscenti, Delia Smith is the name of a famous British television chef, who always seems to be using a big spoon on her shows)
Delia Smith is in Kuwait? I’m guessing she’ll be needing some fresh eggs, some flour, baking soda, maybe some spices, and of course a really big spoon.
(For the noncognoscenti, Delia Smith is the name of a famous British television chef, who always seems to be using a big spoon on her shows)
Oh poop.
thanks, i’m heading out to target tomorrow. a good excuse to shop.
I got myself a penpal in the Marines! Now I just have to write a letter and send it. I told all my coworkers, too. Most of them aren’t motivated enough to get their own penpal, so my guy is just gonna have like six people tossing notes in his care packages, I guess.
What does LCPL mean?
LCPL Lance Corporal. It’s an E-3. Which means it’s the third enlisted rank.
The rank structure is: Private First Class --> Private–> Lance Corporal–> Corporal etc…
Y’know, just this morning, my almost-12-year-old daughter was saying to me, “mom, I don’t think I do enough for charity. Should I clean out my dresser and donate all the clothes that don’t fit me anymore, or what?” I am going to suggest that she take some of her allowance, and pick up a few things for our troops overseas. Will be getting a package together in the next week to send to Ft. Meade.
**Bluesman ** This is fabulous.
I have a question, and it is more for **Tripler ** and **Airman ** What kind of extention cord. Standard household 2 prong kind or the three prong kind?
Well in that case what the point of even living?
OK, now I’m having the same dilemma as Green Bean. I’ve got a letter written, and some photographs of the Beautiful Nature of Middle-Of-Nowhere, New York to put in the envelope, and it’s all stamped and addressed, but I have a blank line for the salutation. He’s LCPL Richard Lastname, and I don’t want to call him Richard because he’s a stranger, but I don’t want to call him Mr Lastname because he’s not really a mister, he has a rank so his title would be different, and I’m not sure what title I would use, and I’m all confuzzled.
Make up sumpin’ cute to call him, like, “Cute Buff Super Hero in Desert Camo.”
I know I would dig that.
DAM’, y’all, this is gettin’ GOOD! GO, Dopers, GO! Let’s follow through, and give these guys some love.
I just got back from a hellacious shift (not a great war day, was it?), and I’ve got to do it again tomorrow. Can’t post anything else, I’ve got to get my six hours QUICK! Wake-up just seems to get earlier every drag-ass morning.
But I want to post more, and answer intelligently, because YOU guys are putting some time (and money) in, and I owe it to you for coming through when I asked you for something. Better effort tomorrow night, if I’m not unconscious by the time I get home.
Now I’m worried because I didn’t even think about that when writing my two soldiers – I just addressed them by their first names. Does anyone think they’ll be terribly offended that I didn’t use their respective ranks/titles? Of course, I wasn’t even given a rank for one of my soldiers, so I suppose I’m safe in that case. My other soldier is a lance corporal – just like racin’s Richard Lastname – and only 21 years old; for some reason, I feel a little awkward calling anyone who’s so close to my age by a title, especially considering that I hope to be friends with this young man. Miss Manners, help me!
Seren, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve just been raised to be overly formal. I have no indication as to Richard’s age unless you can assume a certain range from his rank, but regardless of his age he’s still a stranger, and I have an innate dislike of addressing people by their first names unless I’ve been asked to. I suppose that since I am, after all, in the minority on that - especially in the given situation, where I hope to become a friend to him, and the letter itself is written informally, I should just write “Dear Richard.” I’ll add a postscript that says “Should I call you Richard? Rick? ‘Hot Stuff’? My friends all voted ‘Hot Stuff.’”…
Trust me, your Marine will not be offended by the use of his fist name. In fact, by now he’s probably dying for someone to use it. I am continually amazed at how few of my husband’s troops know his first name. They all just call each other by last name, or rank. I think my husband probably thinks his name is “gunny” (for Gunnery Sgt) right about now.
If you want to call him by rank, which is of course always appropriate, he would be LCpl Lastname. Ranks are rarely spelled out. One thing is, for Green Bean You definitely don’t want to call your guy a private. That’s a promotion to the next rank, and could conceivably get him in trouble.
You can get a pretty good guess at age from the lower ranks. Your LCpl is probably about 21 give or take a year. The Marines move pretty quickly through the lower ranks, and assuming he got in at 18, and hasn’t had his rank busted he should be ~21.
My daughter goes to kindergarden right next to an AF base.
A majority of the students there have parents in the military.
Today we were watching CNN, and out of no where she said, “mommy, did that man on tv just say “Iraq”?
Me: “yes babe, that is where the soldiers are now.”
My daughter: " I know about Iraq. Austins dad came to school yesterday to pick Austin up, and he told everyone all about Iraq, and he told us all about it. He even let us look through his night vision binoculars, and it was all green.”
Me: “Wow babe, that’s so great, what else did you learn?”
My daughter: “He told us that he was scared there, and all the soldiers in Iraq wish they could come home. Everyone in my class is making American Flags, and we are going to tell them we love them so they feel better.”
Just thought I would share that with everyone.
I love how innocent children are.
My prayer are with everyone fighting in the Middle East.
Support our troops!