Care packages

[CValiquette]

Anybody feel like sending some care packages to my roommate and me in Mosul? Neither one of us get much mail due to our small and basically poor families so I hate to sound needy but a little mail is nice now and then besides stuff we order for ourselves.

 

[JGamble]

Gents,



I was in the same predicament, if you are interested some ideas:

1. Socks

2. Beef Jerky

3. Tobacco Products: American Copenhagen or other smokeless tobacco or cigarettes (believe me, it IS different)

4. TDR magazines

5. Diesel Magazines

6. Chewing Gum

7. Beef Jerky (lots of it... . doesnt necessarily need to be the expensive stuff..... but... )

8. Good books for guys... ... no romance novels (that is what FOX, CHERRY and PENTHOUSE is for... not to mention it is ILLEGAL in most theatres)

9. Letters from local children outreach programs thanking them (Big Brothers/Big Sisters, church groups, school groups, YMCA/YWCA, sport groups/clinics).

10. Hard Candy... nobody can explain how this helps while on convoy(s) or patrols.

11. TDR magazines

12. Letters from YOUR family (explaining how you appreciated their service).

13. Drink Mixes: Like Propell (R) or Gatorade or something as simple as Country Time Lemonade Packets (in various Flavors... . water gets OLD after a while)



If the package you sent out to these individuals, they will send you something that they need..... like what size socks they need (GOD LOVES SOCKS IN THE DESERT) or "I like drink mixes". It means a million.



And to know our TDR community is reaching out, it would reach out to other Cummins owners in the DOD who doesnt know about us. Give it a try... . somebody is out there tonight, watching the line and manning a M2, waiting to go home. Give him/her something extra. Any member asking about this is OBVIOUSLY A OWNER or POTENTIAL owner, so lets hook them up... .



Semper Fidelis,

Sgt Gamble

 

[Buffalo]

CValiquette & Roommate,



First of all, I want to thank you guys for what you do. I really appreciate your willingness to do what it takes to keep us free, here at home.



I'm an Air Force Veteran from the Vietnam era. Never was in combat or went overseas. I went where they needed the skills they taught me & that was stateside. I was a medic/dental technician & worked as a dental tech. while in the service. Still do that same work 43 years later. So, I can only imagine what you guys go through. This Country produces some pretty remarkable people & you guys are pretty close to the top of the list, in my book.



If we want to send letters, or such, what is your address?



BTW, I've got a 1991. 5 W-250, also. It's White with Silver sides although, most of the paint has fallen off. I've got about 183,000 miles on it & bought it new in Aug. of '91. It's been a good truck.



In June of '02, I took it up to Denver, CO. & had an ATS transmission with a Triple Lok torque convertor installed. It was the first one that they had done & has worked very well. Also, installed a 16 sq. cm. turbo housing, which, made a big difference in eliminating the turbo lag that was awful with the 21 sq. cm. housing. Had the pump removed & re-calibrated, which, made a big difference in power, also. Installed a Banks exhaust system, early on. That was about all that was available, at that time. In the late 90's, I had a massive bumper system installed on the front & back of the truck. I got it from Brown's Welding in New Braunfels, TX. TX is loaded with those types of bumpers. Still have this truck, 18 years later!!! It's been a good truck. Just doesn't shine-up as much, anymore, but then, neither do I.



Bought an '03, 3500, 4X4, 6-speed back in '03. Nice truck, also. Tows beautifully (25' travel trailer).



JGamble,



Your reply is very informative. For those that have never been in a combat situation, it's kind of hard to know what a soldier really needs or likes. Thanks for your service, also. In fact, thank you to all that served our Country.



Joe F.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

JGamble: I see some things never change, well one did, back when the C-rations were made in 1955 and we were eating them in 1969/70 at least they had cigarettes included. You'd be suprised how good a 15 year old smoke could be

Stay safe.

 

[CValiquette]

Thanks guys.

Joe, I'm a grunt and I'm on my 3rd tour so I've seen plenty of stuff, most things I wish I could forget but it comes with the territory. Most soldiers/airmen/marines/sailors in wartime that aren't in combat support those of us who are so it is always appreciated. It's good to hear you've gotten so much use out of your 91. Just can't kill those 1st-gens. Funny you got your bumpers from New Braunfels, I live about an hour and a half from there and it's one of my favorite spots in TX.

My address here is:
SPC Valiquette, CJ
A co 3-8 Cav
FOB Marez
APO, AE 09334

If yall are going to send anything our way, let me know so I can look for it. Sometimes they lose a package or they have it up at battalion hq and never pass it out so I have to go up there and check or ask our mail guy. As far as books go, I'm a big history guy so history books are a plus.

Thanks again for the replies
Val

 

[WDaniels]

CValiquette,

Do you or anyone else like the water and sailing Let me know. I've over 2 years worth of sailing magazines I was going to throw away. If anyone there likes sailing(Some nice specimens of the opposite sex on and in them, but not a lot) I'll box them up and send them your way. Just let us know what you would like and need( I live right next to Ft. Wainwright here in Fairbanks and can get anything that the Military Clothing Sales and PX sells.

I too am in the Air Force and I just came back from my last deployment in the military. My first contingency was the Iran Hostage Crisis back in 79 and my last is Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom, 09. After 28 years, I will be retiring the first of Nov. Of course, the Air Force desert isn't anything like the Army's desert. But a desert is a desert.

Let us know what you need.

THANK YOU!!!

WD

 

[CValiquette]

WD
Sure you can send them. I get a bunch of mags and even if I don't read them or after I get done with them I can put them out on the picnic table and someone will grab them up or I can bring them up to the MWR when I get done with them and they'll put them out in the pile on the tables there. The only thing I can think of that I could use from Clothing Sales is some tan t-shirts (L). Some of my t-shirts end up as gun rags for my . 50 cal so new ones once in a while are nice. Also PT shirts because somehow mine keep disappearing. That's all I can really think of at the moment. If anybody has any old TDR mags they don't want you can send those this way too. Food is always good. I have a little microwave so any microwaveable stuff or snacks would be appreciated.
Thanks again guys.
Val