Thanks from the troops

[76BARRON]

Most of this I have already posted in V-Drive's over the last few weeks.With
the SANDBAR being a much bigger forum I thought I would post some of it here. I will try and keep it short. Having a family member(billy.b) home from IRAQ for two weeks I learnd there is not much in the way of intertainment over there and what the troop's mis the most other than loved ones is working on,driving ,riding on there toy's Car's,trucks,boats,bike's etc.
What they Do enjoy is watching DVD's of that kind of stuff to hear the engines run and stuff like that to remind them of toy's at home.After V-DRIVE VIDEO (Jerry Griffin)heard of this he donated a bunch of DVD'S to the troops over there! FYI DVD's are best as they watch them on lap top computer's.
Since Billy's Return to IRAQ his truck has hit a land mine the truck took most of it but he still broke several rib's and lost his eye sight for a few days,he is recovering well now!
Today a thank you letter came from Iraq for V-Drive Video and along with it a couple of pic's of the troops that recieved the DVD's.
Kindvater will post them for me later as I dont know how :mad:
One pic is the troops them selve's the other is Billy's 2 vehicle's. The one on the left has since hit a land mine and is out of commission along with the driver(billy). Billy's unit is the 557th Recovery out of Barstow, CA
What they do is whenever somthing gets blown up they have to Recover
(clean it up) including bodies and while doing this often the bad guy's shoot at them.As you can see in the pic,s these boy's have alot of guns and
BELIEVE ME they know how to use them! Watch out dirt bag's! :D
Sorry if this went to long :redface: Pic's will follow soon.
76Barron

[Kindsvater Flat]

http://www.schoutenranch.com/miscboat/cfw/my%20two%20babys.jpg
http://www.schoutenranch.com/miscboat/cfw/V%20Drive.jpg

[piper]

Great pictures. Keep posting anything you get. These guys need our support.

[hoolign]

KUDOS!! Great job V-Drive Video..they deserve it!! Looks like theys packin da power!!

[SummitKarl]

have your friend download this link and slap it on a DVD for me
4thgearstart135mphburnout (http://www.onesummernighthavasu.com/100_0127.MOV)
anything to suport those that supply my freedom
Thankyou to all our troops
Karl

[mike37]

our troops owe us no thank its us that need to be thanking them

[OGShocker]

our troops owe us no thank its us that need to be thanking them
Every damn day!

[JustMVG]

Have been sending over some magazines and will start sending some of my motocross and wakeboarding dvd's and stuff like that.
Thanks come from myself and my friends everyday to the troops.
MVG

[Badger301]

Whats the best way to send stuff? Is there a central location to send it?

[Longtime Lurker]

Whats the best way to send stuff? Is there a central location to send it?
My nephew (Anthony) is also serving out in Iraq. We exchange emails on a regular basis. he has mentioned a web site (www.anysolider.com) where you can adopt a soldier. Some of the things Anthony said the soldiers really can use are baby wipes, batteries (especially 9volt, AA, and AAA), phone cards and these drink mixes. They are made by crystal lite, and they come in individual packets that can be added to a bottle of water.
Anthony is a 2nd. Lt. and distributes mail for his guys. If anyone can guide me on the best phone cards to use from Iraq it would be greatly appreciated. Anthony uses the phone cards as rewards for his men. He has just recently began his stint out there (he shipped off at the end of may) and says it's going as well as can be expected. He has sent some cool pictures. When I figure out how to post them, I will.
Keep him and all our soliders in your thoughts and prayers.
Longtime Lurker

[rivergoer]

good phone cards to send out there are mci and at&t..i know this from first hand experiance im a marine overseas right now for the freaking 2nd time. if you guys need i deas let me know ill help you out..some off the top things are magazines like (stuff,maxim,four wheelin,truckin hot boat ;) , etc) doesnt matter if they are older ones because the ones we do have we read over and over...other things like snacks such as chips candy packaged goods..it good to get a break from the mre diet and great chow hall food. black socks because they are always getting worn out and hard to come by sometimes. cheap sunglasses,bateries, stationary and stamps. pens pencils, stuff like that i can come up with a s h i t load of things but yeah if you need i deas for care pkgs just pm me and i will let you know... oh a big thing is beef jerky makes for a quick pick me up in the mid day when you are starving and dont have time to eat. (GOLD BOND it is great for heat rashes) always goes quick :mad: ...well anyways. im here for ideas. thanks for all the support and care guys!!

[Red Horse]

Some items to send
hard candy
tea bags
canned goods
pre-sweetened Kool-Aid
pre-sweetened orange juice powder
slim jims
chewing gum
Ramen noodles
mixed spices
beef jerky (grade A USDA beef labeled *only*)
hot sauce
sunflower seeds
peanuts
trail mix
crackers
powdered hot chocolate
canned soup
canned tuna
(Make sure they're not in glass containers, or they might break!)
books and magazines (no military-related topics)
CDs or cassette tapes
DVD movies
additional socks or underwear
vitamins
hand-sanitizer (may not contain alcohol!)
baby wipes
chap stick
laundry marker (writes on everything)
disposable camera
Icy Hot or similar sports crèmes
foot powder
shaving supplies
envelopes
eye drops
Vaseline
skin lotion
spare boot insoles
shampoo
conditioner
flypaper strips
Neosporin
sun screen
pre-paid calling cards AT&T
board games
hand-held games
shower gel
tooth paste
Ziploc bags
dental floss
Nerf toys (footballs, etc)
pens & pencils
socks
underwear (colored ones, they don't show dirt)
Gold Bond medicated powder
cigarettes & other tobacco products
Duct tape
superglue
electrical tape
deodorant
aloe vera
throat lozenges & cough drops
Aspirin, Motrin or Tylenol
athlete's foot ointment
mole skin
laundry soap
sunglasses
film for cameras
comic books
insect repellent
Polypro shirts (it gets cold in the desert)
gloves

[OGShocker]

Here is another list.
The following are suggested items for future donations - individual, personal, small serving sizes please, but no canned foods. (highlighted items are preferred for care packages):
FOOD ITEMS (Individual or travel sizes please)
Pre-sweetened powered drink mix (Koolaid, Gatorade, Crystal Light, etc)
Hot chocolate mix (packets preferred)
Apple cider mix
Tea bags
Coffee mate packets
Sugar packets
Tuna Creations or Chicken (packages that already have all the mayo and condiments mixed in)
Mac & Cheese (microwave kind)
Trail Mix, nuts
Protein bars
Microwave popcorn
Pringles or other canned potato chips
Cereal (individual serving sizes)
Cereal bars, breakfast bars
Pop Tarts
Instant oatmeal or Cream of Wheat (Individual Sizes)
Crackers & cheese
Crackers & peanut butter
Cookies
Candy, hard preferred (please, no chocolate for the summer)
Gum
Breath mints
Again, please no canned foods
PERSONAL HYGIENE (Individual or travel sizes please)
Shampoo, travel size
Conditioner, travel size
Lotion, travel size
Soap
Dental floss
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Brush ups
Mouth wash
Face cleaning pads
Anti-itch cream (Cortisone, Calamine, etc.)
Kleenex packets
Baby wipes
Shaving cream
Razors
Nail clippers
Baby powder
Foot powder
Antibacterial hand sanitizer
Q-Tips
Chapstick
Deodorant
Pipe cleaners for cleaning weapons
Eye drops
Socks, heavy, white and black
Cough drops and/or throat lozenges
Bug repellant
Sun screen
FOR WOMEN (in addition to above items, Individual or travel sizes)
Feminine hygiene products (tampons, panty liners - also used as helmet liners, sanitary pads)
Nail clippers
Emery boards
Small mirrors
Shower sponges/loofahs
Body wash
Body spray
Hair gel
FUN THINGS (Individual or travel sizes please)
Hand held games
Board games
Travel games
Playing cards
Dice
Puzzle and word game books
Stationary
Pens, pencils
Batteries AA, C and D
Whoopie cushions
Paddle balls
Disposable cameras
Prepaid phone cards - AT&T (AT&T is the only one that works!)
Hacky Sacks
Frisbees
Comic books
Yo-yos
Jigsaw puzzles
Nerf footballs, basketballs, etc
Velcro darts
Stuffed animals and Beanie Babies
Music CD’s
Any DVD’s
Squirt guns
OTHER
Snack, pint and gallon size zip lock baggies
Small flash lights
Febreze fabric and clothing sprays (small sizes preferred)
Hanging air fresheners (like the ones you put in your car)
Flip-flops or shower shoes
Gel insoles
Neck Coolers (camo colored)
Hand held battery operated fans (with or without misters)
Small American flags
FOR OUR WOUNDED
T-shirts (various sizes)
Men and women cotton briefs (various sizes)
Sweat pants, shirts and shorts (various sizes)
Things not allowed:
Religious articles
Pork products
Pornographic material
Home baked goods
Perishable foods

[rivergoer]

now red horse by tea bags do you mean???? :idea: you know as well as i do those are being issued on a night by night basis regularly :jawdrop: ;)

[Panic Button]

If anyone want's to send anything, PLEASE see the list of needed items.
Here are a couple of address' for Air Force personnel, but just address the package to Male or Female Service Member:
Taji:
Service Member
557 ERHS
APO AE 09378
Al Udeid:
Service Member
1 ERHG
APO AE 09309

[76BARRON]

For those of you interested in sending a care package to the troops, later today I will post an address for the 557th so things can be sent direct to them.........

[Panic Button]

If sending prepaid phone cards, only send AT&T cards, MCI has pulled their trailers with phones from all the locations in Iraq & Kuwait. The MCI cards are worthless over there, take it from someone who sent my wife about 50 MCI cards from Costco....

[rivergoer]

well sorry man i guess bad info....but last time i was over there that was what was being used......i guess ill stock up on at&t for this second trip over there...

[Panic Button]

well sorry man i guess bad info....but last time i was over there that was what was being used......i guess ill stock up on at&t for this second trip over there...
No problem, MCI starting pulling thier trailers on April '05. Get the rechargeable military cards they are better, and you can buy them online http://www.usa.att.com/military/index.jsp

[rivergoer]

cool thanks man..

[76BARRON]

Should anyone be interested in sending anything to the troops in IRAQ this is the address for the 557th in the photo above........
SPC BRANNIN
13TH CSB 557 MAINT. CO
OIF III FOB SPEICHER IRAQ
APO-AE 09393
Billy will distribute anything recieved among his men or you can change
the SPS BRANNIN to "ANY SOLDIER"
Please feel free to send cards or letters as these boy's are starved for new's
from home and MAIL CALL is the MOST exciting time of day for them!
I'll be sending stuff out next week! :)

[Red Horse]

Thanks PB for putting up the address.
RG, when you goin next??