suggestions for care package to female serving in Iraq

[raylarrabee]

I figured somebody on here might have a better feel for this stuff than I do.  A petty officer in the Navy JAG office I worked in my last semester of law school was recently deployed to Iraq.  She's on the ground running legal documents through on convoys between cities.  I believe she drew the choice duty of manning the gunner's seat on her HUMVEE.

Anyway, my fiance and I want to send her a care package, but I don;t have a good feel for what somebody serving over there would want.  Any suggestions would be great (and Davipu, we already decided against a six pack of beer, porno, and plane tickets home).

so far, I thought about:

• sunscreen
• AA batteries
• flavored drink mix packets
• her favorite magazines
• cookies
• other food that won't melt[/list:u]

[davipu]

then what are the batteries for?


I was going to suggest  
chewing gum
oreos
jerkey
a gijoe (so she has someone to talk to on guard duty)
kodak advantix cam with film  for 40 bones they take good pics.
powdered gatorade
vid poker handheld games.

[davipu]

oh yeah,  the one thing you can't live without in the field,  babywipes.

[raylarrabee]

batteries are for her discman.  I can't believe I didn't thin about baby wipes.  Some Gold Bond would probably be money, too.

[TheGoodGuy]

i thoguht batteries were for those lonely nights alone.

i would suggest: flak jacket.

[davipu]

i didn't say it.

[raylarrabee]

i didn't say it.

don't worry Dave, I was pickin' up what you were putting down...buzzzzzzzzz...

[goat]

i didn't say it.

don't worry Dave, I was pickin' up what you were putting down...buzzzzzzzzz...

I don't know what is more disturbing, the fact that you picked up a vibrator that dave used or that you went from MD to CA to do it.

*leaves computer to wash mind out with bleach*

Sorry, I seem to be getting this more OT

[Blueknyt]

just a thought, write her and ask, not to sound sexist, what is her prefered Fem Hygene products?  IE specific pad/tampon size and make? toothpaste,underwear,socks,sunscreen,eyedrops,phone cards,stamps,envelopes?   ok running out of idea.

trying to think logicly, small things make a big diff.

[SuZuki10]

I have to agree with Blueknyt, that was my first thought.  I mean what if that stuff isn't really available there? Have your fiance think of what she uses on an everyday basis that she would not be able to live without...and I don't mean her favorite nail polish, but things that she might take for granted and really need.  The other things are excellent ideas as well, just think about making her comfortable.  

This is a really nice thing you are doing.  Is there a way that the rest of us could help out other people?  I would have no problem sending needed things to someone who is without, but I wouldn't know where to send it. :dunno:   Let us know how we can help!

[pandy]

pre-paid phone cards
pretzels, chips, nuts, seeds
packets of tuna (if she likes tuna?)
lip balm
single serving tea, coffee, hot chocolate
cereal & granola bars
eye drops

[raylarrabee]

I sent my fiance on a "what would you want if you were stuck in the desert" run to the local drug store.  I am good at picking out snacks, but not too money when it comes to picking comfort items for females.  

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Getting the package off today.

[SPDave]

Don't know if I caught you in time, but I wanted to give you some ideas.  

1) Pack everything as though an AD/HD 4 year old will use it as a trampoline.  While deployed, my mom and a few friends decided to send cookies every week.   Mostly, I got crumbs.  Bubble wrap is your friend.  As an added bonus, everyone loves popping bubble wrap.

2) Be careful about sending perishables.  Mail delivery time isn't quite up to FedEx standards.

3) Hand sanitizer.  Personal hygene is VERY important.

4) If you can swing it, Under Armor t-shirts come in brown (so she can wear it under her uniform).  That stuff was a lifesaver over there.

5) One of the best packages I got was a US Cavalry catalog and gift card.  

www.uscav.com

Lots of stuff in there is priceless.

6) For the future, if you know an elementary school teacher, have his/her class write letters.  Those are the best.  Always good for a laugh.

Thanks for doing this.  You wouldn't believe the morale boost those care packages generate.

[natedawg120]

something we always sent to female troops who had been deployed that i don't think has been mentioned is lotion as well and waterless sanatizer as stated above, tissues and non perishable snacks.

[pandy]

SP Dave suggested:
3) Hand sanitizer. Personal hygene is VERY important.


GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!!  

pandy  :mrgreen:

[97gs500e]

then what are the batteries for?

box of dildos?

[oppy00]

My best friend is over there right now, and all he wanted was porn, but if that is out of the question you could just send magazines and crap like that.

Oh, and it doesn't have to be mags she likes, in fact if she gets some stuff she can "share" with the guys it is a good thing.  Aparently it is a bit like prison over there, and I mean there is a lot of bartering.  I sent some old mags (that weren't porn) and they were a big hit.  

Food is probably a bad idea, even non-parishables.  Food is heavy (high postage cost), and it takes 2-3 weeks for most soldiers to get their mail.  Also big heavy packages often take longer to get there.  Maybe try sending several small packages.

I've also been told that all the packages get seached pretty thoroughly, so be mindful of that.  Good luck with the packages, and God bless the USA.

[yamahonkawazuki]

in that area, anything with a digital display, will get funky, display on cd?, it did in phoenix, and phoenix usually is not as hot as iraq :dunno:

[natecoop]

when i was deployed the one thing that there was NEVER enough of is good toilet paper!  sounds silly, but very true.  along iwth that, baby wipes are invaluable!  

things from home to let the person know you are thinking of them and really care means the world to that person!  every little thing i got from home was like getting the best present in the world, just because i knew that someone had to put a little thought, time, and love into getting it there.

soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen - stay safe!

[raylarrabee]

Unfortunately, I think the Navy would frown on a male officer sending a female enlisted woman any porn.  

Thanks so much for all the suggestions.  I would never have thought that having a clean butt was one of the primary challenges of being deployed.

We settled on:
powdered gatorade
granola bars
gum
magazines
baby wipes
hand sanitizer
hot sauce
baby powder