Know anyone serving in Iraq?

Now you do!

SSG Dambach (Address and posting below)is one of the many soldiers posting today on AnySoldier.com to get letters and maybe a care package for his unit of 20 men and 5 women. If you want to find a group of soldiers from your home state, from a different branch of the military (SSG D. and unit are from Virginia), just look on that site:

http://www.anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/

A lot of these soldiers are really just kids. Some get no support from home.

If you are so inclined, you can send a package-- some suggested items: cookies, shampoo, books, DVDs,newspapers, popcorn, powdered lemonade, trail-mix, and pop-tarts. Also boxed Christmas cards-- so that this Army unit will have something to mail at the holidays. Otherwise they could use nice letters from Americans back home.

Postage is considered domestic mail, so mailing a package to Iraq is the same as mailing one to a neighboring city. USPS "flat rate" boxes cost just $7.70 to mail no matter how much they weigh. (Good to know esp. if you're mailing books, shampoo, etc...) (There is a white customs form that needs to be filled out, though, which can be obtained at the post office).

I've made lots of nice friends in the military this way. And I now have a much more personal stake in working to end this insane war.

If you write, please be upbeat. They are on a military mission and you should not say anything to compromise their morale. Don't send pork, pornography or alcohol.



SSG Louis A. Dambach
Attn: Any Soldier
122 CSG CMATT
AN NUMANIYAH
LSA ADDOR SCANIA
APO AE 09331
(Use address exactly as shown.)

Expected to leave Iraq: 01 Sep 2006
Where in Iraq: An Numaniyah, Iraq
Contact for approx number of Males: 20, Females: 5
Unit is from: Virginia

From the Soldier:

15 Nov 2005:

We live in a remote site with no px. We do not have the facilities to cook other than a microwave.

I am representing my section. our base trains Iraqi soldiers so that eventually Americans can come home.

It is much better to give than to receive, especially when those you are giving to are trapped in hell, sent their by a madman with hardly a creature comfort.

EXCELLENT IDEA FOR DUers TO ADOPT A SERVICEMEMBER.

we sank to page 2. Anybody out there, besides BOSSHOG?

thanks.

You really get a slice of military life when reading through the posts on AnySoldier. It gets addictive. I thought this post was especially compelling-- I hope they get lots of letters and packages. I have some beanie-type animals that I'll probably send.

Cesar C. Gonzalez
Attn: Any Soldier
10th COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL
APO AE 09348-1274
(Use address exactly as shown.)

Soldier's Title: 91W
Expected to leave Iraq: 16 Oct 2006
Where in Iraq: Near Baghdad
Contact for approx number of Males: 5, Females: 4
Unit is from: Colorado


From the Soldier:

15 Nov 2005:

Hello...My unit is a medical unit,composed mainly for people from Colorado,but also has several soldiers from all over the states...i,m stationed at Germany...several of us volunteered to be here..i did so to be able to help our people. I'm originally from Mexico and several of the soldiers came from hispanic families , but we all love our country , the U.S.A...

We work at a hospital and some of us live in the building and some of us at trailers...the power it's based at 220v,with steady electricity.

We have washers and dryers but our supply of detergent is always low...also deodorants and body wash are necesary...we have a fixed dining facility but some will appreciate popcorn or some snacks...i will love small toys for the iraqi kids that we see here often..they are always scared and we know that stuffed animals always somehow tend to break the ice...also letters that you send for us will be greatly appreciated because it shows that you are with us in this place.

Believe me...we need this support...sometimes its hard to go thru in this kind of enviroment and any kind of support helps...magazines,comic books,cd's or dvd's will also help to boost morale...females will also appreciate feminine products but be aware they are not allowed to use make-up...please...send us a letter just saying you are proud of us...we sure are proud to be here,taking care of our soldiers.

Thank you for all you do for our troops...bye...

I know a couple of his buddies who are there with him. My nephew is due to get out in 2 months, but I am nervous they will keep him.

tour of duty. And he's in the Reserves on top of that. It's really scandalous what BushCo is doing to the military.

The holiday season is especially tough on them, let's all keep that in mind.

K&R

I was 4 and I was hoping someone else would give it a rec!

are asking for a string of Christmas lights and other heart-breaking requests. This is the first time away from home at the holidays for some of these kids. Very sad.

Some of them just want to get a letter, or are asking for little toys and pencils that they can give to Iraqi children.

I have cornered the Houston market for garage sale stuffed animals, and they know me well at the post office.

This is a great way not just to reach out but also to get to know these people.

I have a few young people over there and in Afghanistan already on my list, but there's always room for more.

in the Military Familes Group!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x35837

Thanks........

I'll also throw in some hygiene stuff for the women and some snacks.

I wonder if they hand out anything other than stuffed animals to the Iraqi children.

Thanks for posting!

I'm an army spouse. Husband in Iraq from 2003-2004. I'm an old hand at care packages.

Now that my son is in Germany,and they are taking their time operating on him(which means he'll be there for months),I will gladly send a care package to this soldier's unit.

My grown kids always ask me what I want for Christmas, and really, anything that I really want, and can't afford, they can't, either. This year, I'm going to suggest that instead of giving me gifts, they give me either money, or articles to send to the troops.

That would make me happy, and hopefully let some of our men and women overseas know that those of us who oppose the war still support them. I'm bookmarking this, and again, thanks!

Give it up for the troops!

how's Ben? Has he gained back a little of the weight he lost? I was planning to shop for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I'm cooking for the family, so I'll enjoy grabbing goodies off the shelves to share! Any personal recommendations, or should I just go with whichever group I adopt? I don't mind sending their own list, and anything else you think would be especially good.

and please send them items of necessity and comfort.

Thank you for posting this. I will certainly be getting some packages out.

:patriot: I'll pass it on!!! :hug:

It's hard to pick where to start. I was looking at the older list and all the entries that said "not heard from in 50 days". Makes you wonder if they are okay. Hopefully, it's because they went back to the states.

I guess I will scan and read to find a group that calls out to me.

It is addicting. Just the reading. I hope I can get something sent out for them in time for Christmas.

lap of luxury, while lying his ass off about why he sent them to fight and possibly die. :grr: Has Pickles or the bush twins sent a care package to these troops? Has Barbara "Why should I waste my beautiful mind" bush sent a care package to these troops? Sorry for the :rant: Thanks for the info. My family isn't buying christmas presents for each other, I think we know what to do instead.

I have alot of xmas decorations I need to give away, and I'll bet those guys would love them, but will they arrive in time?

My cousin-in-law has been there since January, but he'll be home before Christmas!!!!

All hte packages we've sent have made it in about 10 days.

This is really supporting the troops!!!

:patriot:

It's shocking how people who SAY they support the troops really don't.

Around fourth of July, I made up dozens of "kits" so that other people could be encouraged to send soldier packages. I clipped together a USPS "flat rate" box, an AnySoldier posting with the soldier's wish list (all different), the white customs form which I had most of the way filled out, and mailing instructions.

Almost all women who I talked with (especially those with children) took one of my kits. But I could get few takers from men over about 50 years of age. I know from being posted outside a grocery store (with a good sight-line into the parking lot) that a number of these refuse-niks had cars sporting W stickers, Bush/Cheney or yellow ribbon magnets professing love for the troops. One very wealthy looking guy who I saw emerging from a Mercedes (with "W-Still the President" on the back window) very rudely refused a kit. He looked at me like I had asked him for his left kidney!

Really, I couldn't believe it.

One of my cousins just went back two days ago. My nephew just went back last month. It's the second tour for both of them. My nephew came home a month after his first baby was born, and went back before she was a year old.

Next person that tells me I don't support the troops is getting a backhand in the teeth.