I was wondering, what are some things that I can do for the troops? When my cousin was deployed, we sent him letters and care packages and he said it made all the difference. What are some things that our troops need/want? \n\nAmerica's past and present soldiers: Thank you for protecting my freedom!! God bless.
217299
my husband was on deployment not too long ago.  letters are great, try to keep them positive.  don't go on and on about how awful the war is and how stupid bush may be...they will either agree or disagree, but it doesn't change the fact that they are there.\n\nalso, black socks, underwear, t-shirts, toothpaste, handi-wipes etc. all help.  there was a period of time when my husband was without a shower for a month or 2 because their water resources were blown up.  so, showers came from handi-wipes or wet nap, ya know baby wipes.  get things that are unscented, though.  snacks are good, granola bars, nuts, cookies, chips, etc.  someone mentioned non-melting things...that's best since it can get to 120 degrees by 9 am.  also, movies, books, magazines, cds...my husband's biggest complaint was boredom alot of the time. they spent a lot of time swapping movies and music. \n\nalso, if you are writing to some troops, ask them if they have any friends that wouldn't mind a care package.  my cousin got lots of packages, but some of his buddies didn't get any at all....he shared, but it wasn't quite the same.\n\nthank you from all of the loved ones of the troops over there for being so compassionate to their personal needs.
402874
The soldiers at Fort Campbell have actually been coming home now since July. There are a LOT of people here so it has been a huge ordeal. It takes a lot of time, manpower, and patience to get 20,000+ soldiers home from Iraq. While they are in the process of redeployment they stay very busy and it's hard to get in touch with people. When my husband was on his way home I didn't hear from him much the last week or so - he called from Maine to let me know what was going on with his flights. I know that from the time he got to Kuwait to when his flight landed at Fort Campbell was about 4 days (it was the same both times he was deployed). It is not unusual for it to have been a week since you heard from him. Also, several incoming flights this week were delayed by a few days. I don't know how that affected everyone else, but it may have backed up everyone by a few days.\n\nOnce he gets to Fort Campbell, he will have a mandatory 7-day reintegration period. This is a post-wide requirement, everyone who comes home must go through it. If his flight lands after 6 pm, he may have the next day off (at the commander's discretion) - otherwise, reintegration starts the next day. The 7 days are half days, and the rest of the day he should have off. At the end of those 7 days, he will get a 4-day weekend, then back to work for normal work days. Once a certain percentage of the brigade has gone through reintegration (I think it was 75% for my husband's unit), they will release them for up to 30 days leave. My husband got home at the end of July and didn't get leave until September 18th, so it may be a while. (It shouldn't be that long for the guys who are coming home right now though.) \n\nPlease keep in mind that he will be very busy in the next few weeks. They have a lot to do when they get home, and even after leave is over they will still be dealing with post-deployment things. I am sure he will contact you when he gets a chance, you just need to be patient.
539863
Thanks for sticking up for the military population Candycane. We owe you one. \n\nSo that I have to say it again. The military protects ALL OF YOU. Not just the rich as ses. But you all as well. I know I can't get all of you libs to stop. But ask questions that don't pertain to downing the soldiers of past, present and future wars. Because you know, it just ain't right. They die, they get wounded becase WE PROTECT YOU. And thanks so much for being so grateful for LIVING. \n\nAlex B. Ph.D Its not offensive alright? She has her rights, and you have yours. But putting down US Soldiers for protecting this nation is OFFENSIVE. Not what Candy cane did. \n\nKen, As much as you are right...how would you feel. After 18 months in a shi t hole like Iraq, come home, hop online and see questons like that? When you saw your buddies get shot and killed by the enemy? When you know whats thats like. Come talk to me. \n\n\nSloppy She isn't violating the community guidelines for calling out and insulting anyone. If its ANYONE thats insulting anyone, its the person who posted all the questions against Soldiers. They VOLUNTEER to serve protect and defend this country, and is this how you guys repay them? For those who died? For those who continue to fight? \n\nCandy cane isn't insulting anyone. She's standing up for what this country believs in. Our soldiers. And even if you don't believe in the war. Good for you. GOOD FOR YOU. But don't take it out on the messengers, the soldiers, who fight the damn war. Unless you're fighting it yourself, stop. Because one day it'll come back at you. And when this country is in WWIII, or any other conflict, and there is a draft, or you're scared out of your mind that another nation will bomb the F uck out of this place...you won't be calling on the libs. You'll be calling on your soldiers.
73454
I support our troops all the time! I have never forgotten about them for one second! I had 5 uncles who served in WWII, 2 of which served in the Korean conflict, then later on, I had 2 uncles who served in the Viet Nam war. BTW, the people who served in Viet Nam were spat upon and degraded so badly that I felt ashamed of how our country treated them when they came home! Anyway, I won't get hostile, but I am very proud of our men and women who are serving in all divisions of our military. I do DJ/KJ shows quite often in an American Legion Post, and there is never a night that we don't all hold hands and sing "God Bless the USA." Yes, I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, AND AM TRUELY GRATEFUL TO OUR TROOPS...PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE!
174497
Did you see that last posting about Military Personnel should refrain from making posts?  WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!  Just about everybody on the face of this earth is wondering what the HAY we are still over there for.  I like the way the other guy tried to give an explanation which still does not make sense to me.  To answer your question, I (Army Spouse) find no justification in this "war"!!!  And neither does my husband, but again he is doing his job!!  Would hate to lose good ol' Tricare for not doing his job!! (Tricare is military health insurance.)  I'm not anti-army just anti-war.  There's a difference.
546784
that is hoping for to much, my man is deploying in march, and 3 other neighbors in may 2007 all in different units. this wont happen until a vote is cast on a specific date etc... however how about pray for the safety of our troops more? that is always appreciated, even by the people who dont believe in God. (sorry)
484149
We adopted three soldiers thru operationAC.com. 2 were MPs and one was a fireman. We were happy to send them care packages, but it was weird to never hear if the packages arrived.\n\nA more useful thing to do is to send a package of goodies [nothing that will be affected by heat - jerky is good, chocolate is bad] to Operation AC and ask them to send it to a unit. We did that and got a note from the unit commanding officer, so we know the packages arrived.
211771
My husband is currently in Iraq on his 2nd tour..He calls when he can I understand he's busy over there..you just have to have faith and be positive..I find myself angry at him when he says he'll call but then does'nt I tell myself "when he calls again he's gonna get it" LOL but when he finally does I'm just so thankful he called and is ok therefor i totally forget about him not calling and I'm not upset with him anymore.Your cousins are fine,I'll be praying for them and for their safe return as I do for all of the service members deployed across the globe especially the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.Try to stay busy being around family members help...and try not to be glued to the news stations as I find myself doing more then I should...lol..the motto is "No news is good news"\n                                     101st Airborne Division\n                                        Fort Campbell,KY\n                                           "RAKKASANS"
443833
I am totally against the war in Iraq, but I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of years packaging up care packages for the holidays to send to them.\n\nDon't worry too much about lunatics that make those kinds of remarks.  We can all feel what we feel about the war itself, but the fact is that many of our soldiers are over there actually making life better for some of the Iraqis.  \n\nWhat I did was I scoured the paper for articles about local family members with loved ones overseas.  At this time of year, there are a lot of personal interest stories, since many of these families will be spending their 3rd or more Christmas without their loved one.  I'd then go to the phone book or 411 and get the phone number for the family.  I'd introduce myself and tell them what I wanted to do.  They would give me the name and address of their soldier and I'd send a care package.\n\nYou could also call a military base near you and ask if they have a "clearinghouse" for holiday cards.  They may have something set up where you can take the card/package there and then they'll forward it.\n\nI also asked around at my church.  Many many people there either had family or knew people who had family overseas.  They're a great wealth of knowledge.\n\nIn Tampa we have a group that does shoeboxes - people take a shoebox, fill it with everything from toothbrushes to Visine and take it to the Shoebox headquarters.  Those shoeboxes are then sent over to the troops.\n\nIf you're interested, a great shoebox would have:\n\nDiaper rash ointment\nVisine\nHard candy\nCrystal Light\nMagazine(s)\nSomething from your hometown (a city guide brochure, postcard, whatever)\nA picture of you and your family\nMoisturizer\nGum\nA restaurant gift certificate for when they come home\nCDs \nA handwritten message\nBaby powder\nSoap\nToothpaste\nToothbrush\n\nUse your imagination!  Imagine yourself stranded in an awful, hot, sandy place with nothing to do - what would you like to get? \n\nJust remember, cookies will be shattered to pieces by the time they get there and chocolate will have melted.  Try to keep any treats to hard candys, Twizzlers, gum and stuff like that.\n\nGood for you.  Regardless of your feelings about the war, many of the men and women over there are good, kind and decent human beings.  It means the world to them to get something - even just a card - to let them know they're remembered.\n\nIt was really cool - I sent this HUGE care package to a young man who was a platoon leader - I wrote him a note saying that he was to "play Santa" with the box and hand the stuff out to his buddies.  I had gotten his name from the paper, contacted his mom and gotten the address (I stood up at church one day and asked people to bring stuff for the box - and BOY DID THEY!!).  Anyway, several months later, I got a phone call from a local reporter.  This young man's mom had called him when I did the package and told the reporter about me.  \n\nIt turns out that the young man was coming home, LOL, and the reporter wanted to arrange a meeting between us :)  So, we met at my church and they did a little 60-second segment on the meeting.  It was very cool :)  It was nice to meet the young man and know that the stuff that was sent was needed and appreciated.\n\nIt does make a difference :)
620480
it's nice to hear the air force is treating you well ... I was a army wife and it was not" 90210 "like you explained ...{thanks for the dumpy comment }, My husband was a GRUNT in Bosnia and in Afghanistan ... It was sheer hell for me and our 2 boys .. Im thankful for Ft. knox they did all they could do to make it as easy as they could for us during my husbands deployment... No matter what branch all these men and women are HEROS ! I was not aware that there were people who did'nt support our troops ... I just thought it was Bush they did'nt support ! being a "army" wife is very hard!!{ there is no fun and games at war} maybe I should have had my husband Join the airforce so we could not appear to be so dumpy!!! My husband is a hell of a man and Im very proud of what he has done for our country.. HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
60941
if you want to support them directly, adopt a soldier.  all it means is just send them some letters and care packages.  it means the world to them.  \n\nif you have kids, see if your kid's class wanted to have some as a pen pal.  its helps everyone.  \n\nyou could help at a uso.\n\nif you know someone who has been called up, offer support to their families.  \n\nall the money from those $0.99 yellow rubber band bracelets go directly to uso's\n\nthere's a million ways to show your support.  some take as little as a hand shake and a thank to a returning troop.  thank you for supporting the men and women who serve now and  who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
232309
Yes, 100% my husband was over there the first time, it is a hard thing, and you give up much while you're over there. You are what makes this country great. You should be commended and thanked for your great service not only to the American people but to the people of those countries over there. I think that people can't grasp what it's all about unless they've been part of the military and lived in other places. It is when you are given those opportunities that you understand just what it means to have the freedoms that we have. THANK YOU for your SERVICE to our GREAT COUNTRY!!!!!
221729
K-9!(ex "Former Military)! What's this?!!! I don't believe it... the statements you made sound so-o-o-o much like me. Wow!! It's so refreshing!!! I'm proud of you. People and times change but then again some people don't. I still run across some that wish they had gone to VietNam (right) and others that sure try hard to be a Wanna-be Nam vet. I know damn well what they were doing in the 60's and 70's. I was a professional soldier who bitched but only after the mission was accomplished. I enlisted, was not a draftee and did as ordered. I was a hard-ass to my men but I never let them down and nobody messed with them. I fought for them and them for me. We shared everything in our lives together at that time and I mean everything. To some I'm closer to than my own family and always will be. To the women who ignored and ridiculed us... their loss. To the one who has stood beside me for 30+ years... she deserves a medal as do all veteran wives. In 1969 I was on my second tour. I didn't appreciate the protests because I knew that most didn't comprehend what that war was about as a lot now don't. I leave my thoughts of this war in my own mind and fully support the troops who really have no choice in the matter as I didn't. They have enough to do and worry about without having to consider what the people back home are thinking as I did then. I just thank God that America still has young people who are willing to fight for others freedom as I did. We don't have the most perfect form of government as we all would like to see but out of the 45 foreign countries I've been to it's still the best and that flag, the piece of cloth, so many disgrace is still the most beautiful one that I have ever seen for I realize what it took to fly it and to keep it flying. Most women...don't!
255249
I am a military wife and proud of my soldier.  He is deployed now.  Yeah we have lost people but those soldiers we have families who wish they were still with us.   you may not care about those who have fallen but i sure as hell do.  you need to remember what country you are in  before you go bashing those who is fighting for your freedom.
114718
I love you guys ! you are generally respected. my son was a Lance Cpl in the Marines and did three tours in Iraq. he came back the last time with PTSD. he sought help but not the way he should have.and they didn't do anything to help him. he began drinking then a while later began to use drugs. he was reduced to a private and dishonorably discharged. the way our government and the military is handling the guys who have served our country is what is disturbing to me.I don't agree with the mission but you guys have a job to do and I respect what you are doing and why you are doing it. I don't respect the governments position.  my son was a wonderful happy young man before he went to Iraq. God Bless You and Keep you safe ! You Keep your head held high, what you are doing is an honorable thing. and you should be Proud, we are proud of you !
289511
As a veteran and recent retiree, I always thought it was funny that the people that always had the most negative things to say were the one that never had the balls to serve themselves, yet they criticized and ostracized our fine young men and woman fighting in the service of our country. I joined immediately after the Vietnam conflict and we were really hated, But we went on and did our jobs to make our country free and help others throughout the world. The lack of appreciation that Americans show for their military personel is mind boggling. My son just got out of the army and was fortunate to not have gone to Iraq (he went to Korea instead) yet he still gets flak all the time. Unfortunately with all the negative remarks in the media lately some people think that all military personnel are assholes and don't realize there is such a small percentage of soldiers that have ever caused any type of problems. I feel for you. as for the abuse, report it throught the site moderator and see if that helps. Good luck to you and thankyou for your service to our fine Nation.
137050
Personaly the "Support our troops" Sticker is not all you can do. I am an american soldier and i do not even own one. I do not think that spending 2 dollars for a sticker saying i support them is enough. I think that the best way of proving that you support somthing is if you go out there and do it. I am still in high school but as soon as I am MOSQed i will be over there fighting with everyone else. I dont think that the soldiers would care if you did not have the sticker on. If you really want to help go talk to a local recruting base and ask them how you would go about writing a soldier over seas and raise there moral.