# Christmas in Iraq **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 13, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881 "2005-11-13T19:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![metj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@metj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metj)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/1 "2005-11-13T19:30:50Z")
What should I get my soldier Brother-in-Law for Christmas? He’s in Iraq until next fall. In his spare time he watches movies (on the computer) and plays computer games. He doesn’t have a community TV or Game System. We were thinking about a GameBoy, but that is a little over budget. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/2 "2005-11-13T22:02:07Z")
> [@metj](#): > > What should I get my soldier Brother-in-Law for Christmas? > > He’s in Iraq until next fall. In his spare time he watches movies (on the computer) and plays computer games. He doesn’t have a community TV or Game System. We were thinking about a GameBoy, but that is a little over budget. > > Any ideas? According to this link , you only have a couple of weeks left to ship , for the package to arrive in Theatre [linky](http://news.mainetoday.com/war/homefront/041122iraqxmas.shtml) Some suggestions from the site > [@](#): > > Welcome gifts include snack foods, reading material, calling cards and personal hygiene items such as lip balm, soap and Wet Naps. Many soldiers do not have room for larger items. I am sure many more links will come online as the season approaches . Declan ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/3 "2005-11-14T00:58:08Z")
When my cousin was in Iraq the family got together and sent a huge package to him. I think it ended up being 70 bucks to ship or something crazy like that. What I remember being sent is: candy that won’t melt (no chocolate), cartons of cigarettes, DVDs (he had a small personal player), other food, books, calling cards, and other minor things noted in the second post (chapstick etc). Basically anything good to eat and things that will keep him from getting bored - cause as far as I know, you’re either out in some shit or you’re bored as shit over there. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/4 "2005-11-14T03:45:07Z")
When my brother was deployed in Afghanistan, the chow was great so he really didn’t need food items, although the case of Thin Mints Girl Scout cookies made him the most popular guy in Special Forces! 😉 Portable DVD player, with a selection of his all-times favorites and any new stuff you think he’ll like. And a big-ass extra battery. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/5 "2005-11-14T04:03:53Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > When my cousin was in Iraq the family got together and sent a huge package to him. I think it ended up being 70 bucks to ship or something crazy like that. It costs _money_ to ship a parcel to a serving member overseas? My son is in the ADF and is overseas at the moment (not Iraq, fortunately for him and for us) and any parcel \>2kg is sent at no cost to the sender. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/6 "2005-11-14T04:06:18Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > It costs _money_ to ship a parcel to a serving member overseas? My son is in the ADF and is overseas at the moment (not Iraq, fortunately for him and for us) and any parcel \>2kg is sent at no cost to the sender. Um, make that > [@](#): > > any parcel **\<** 2kg :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/7 "2005-11-14T12:42:19Z")
Why not pick up some new release DVD’s and some bargin bin stuff that he might like. Maybe some books on CD or even an MP3 player loaded with a bunch of songs that he may like. Personally, I would probably send a bunch of lip balm. I am never more than inches away from a tube of petroleum based crack. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-in-iraq/330881/8 "2005-11-14T20:35:57Z")
Send a bunch of little candy canes so he can share with his buddies.