His wife's blog: "Something I found (for all those girls whom feel this way!)"

"Surviving the Sandstorms"- Eye wash; Nasal spray; Chapstick; Bandana; goggles/sun glasses; etc

"Laundry Load" Soap to pack in their clothes if no washer; Fabric sheets; clean socks & undershirts; Febreeze

"A Day at the Beach!"- sunscreen; beach towel; beach snacks; flip flop sandals (shower shoes); aloe vera gel;

"Medicine Cabinet"- band-aids; Neosporin cream; A&D ointment; cold medicine; alka seltzer; Rolaids; etc.

"Staying Healthy"- nutrition bars (ex: Powerbar; Tigers Milk); vitamins; Nutri-grain bars; Gatorade

"MRE Survival "- restaurant Size packs of: bbq sauce, mustard, ketchup, mayo, salt. Pepper, taco sauce, ranch

"Correspondence Carton"- notebook paper; stationery; pens; pencils; stickers ; envelopes, address book, camera (with a note to send back once it is full);

"Action Hero's"- Powerbars; squirt guns; Red Bull drinks; small Army figurines; comic books; Gatorade; etc

"To Be A Kid Again"- silly string; bubbles; small bouncy balls; hacky sacks; brain teaser toys (rubix cube, etc); deck of cards; dominoes; slinky, Frisbee's; Pez w/ dispenser; Nerf balls; sand box toys (pail, small shovel, etc);

"Toiletries"- TOILET PAPER; razor; foot powder; bar soap; washcloth; travel Size shampoo; toothpaste; brush;

"Ruck Sack Pack"- favorite snacks. Doritos; M&M's; nuts; chips; dips; crackers; jelly beans; beef jerky; gum; etc.

"Breakfast on the GO"- mutrigrain bars; instant oatmeal cups; small boxes of cereal; pop tarts; donuts: muffins; cocoa;

"Stress Reliever"- back scratcher; bubble wrap; yo-yo's; bubbles; squeezy tension ball;

"Sloppy Kisses"- since we know chocolate melts over there….send a bunch of Hershey's kisses. Bound to be "sloppy kisses!"

"I'm Nuts About You"- peanuts; cashews; pistachios; peanut butter cookies; any candy or cookies with nuts in them; Nutter Butter's; Peanut Lover's Chex mix; Fiddle Faddle with peanuts

"Chili Today, Hot Tamale"- hot tamales (candy); salsa sunflower seeds; Cajun flavor Pringles; Spicy chex mix; Boston red hots; peppered beef jerky; taco bell hot sauce packets; Extreme Doritos; chili powder; nacho cheese sauce in a can; Tums/Rolaids, Jalapeño Ritz

"And this little piggy went to the sandbox"- (foot care kit)- foot powder; Dr, Scholl's boot inserts; foot lotion; foot file; fresh, clean socks; toe nail clippers; scrub brush; odor eaters for shoes/boots; foot soaks (either include a small bucket or large Ziploc bags to soak feet it)

"How do you eat your OREOS??!!"- regular Oreos; peanut butter Oreos; double stuff Oreos; low fat Oreos; chocolate filled Oreos; chocolate covered Oreos; holiday Oreos

"Muchas Gracias…Nachos Supreme"- Doritos &/or Frito; Mexican Velveeta; salsa (wrapped in bubble wrap); nacho cheese dip; jar of jalapenos (wrapped in bubble wrap); taco seasoning; small paper plates or bowls (so they can make their nachos); taco sauce (especially easy are those condiment packets from Taco Bell); You could also send the sauces from the various Mexican dinner kits Taco Bell Nacho Supreme kit

"Sweet Tooth"- Nerds; Gummy Bears; Laffy Taffy; Bubble Gum; Tootsie Rolls; Lolli pops;

"For the Fisherman"- Goldfish crackers; tuna pouches; canned smoked salmon; cans of sardines; gummy worms; Go Fish card game; Field & Stream magazine; electronic fishing rod game; Sponge Bob Square Pants stuffed toy; fishing game toy

"Say CHEEEESE!"- disposable cameras; cheese dip; Doritos; Cheetos; Cheese nips; Better Cheddars; Velveeta;

"Kick Back & Relax"- Dominoes; playing cards; magazines; books; music cd's; crossword puzzles; jigsaw puzzles; word searches; hand held electronic games; squirt guns; water balloons; bubbles; hacky sacks; Nerf balls; board games (Axis & Allies, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, etc);

"Christmas in July"- wrap everything in Christmas wrapping paper; peppermint flavored hard candies;

"Italian Stallion"- Italian cheese Ghardetto's; Pizza-licious Pringles; Pepperoni pizza Combo's; small Boboli pizza bread; pizza sauce (for dipping Boboli); canned Ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, etc;

"American Classics"- Pez with dispensers; Cracker Jacks; Lifesavers; Necco Wafers; Pop Rocks; Nerds; Good & Plenty; Candy Necklaces; Candy cigarettes

"Deployed on Thanksgiving"- canned turkey; instant mashed potato cups; hard breadsticks; gravy in a jar (wrapped in bubble wrap); Hostess apple pies; small can of corn (or other veggie); something special to cheer them up on
**Thanksgiving (pictures from home; magazines; tape recorded tape; small scrapbook; etc)

 

 Packing 101

Packing
Put anything that could leak or melt or has a scent in an zipper-Style bag (zip lock bagging something along that line). DO NOT include food items in a care package with ANY hygiene items or chemicals of any type.

Use a sturdy box and cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or adherive labels. Fill all extra space with foam, peanuts, newspaper, bubble wrap or popcorn. Double tape all seams with strong packing tape.

I suggest using the USPS flate rate boxes. DOES include any APO/FPO mailing address as well.

You can also request a "CARE KIT" for mailing packages to the military by calling 1-800-610-8734. The kit contains 4 Priority Mail boxes, 6 Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, 10 Priority Mail labels, 1 roll of Priority Mail tape, and 10 customs forms with envelopes. There is no charge for the kit.

Send in easy to handle boxes (say under 10 pounds). Use heavy packing tape on all corners of the box, and wrap the tape so it goes all the way around in every direction of the box. Packages must wiegh less then 70 lbs and be smaller the 130 inches in total length and girth.

Take your package to the post office and fill out customs declaration and dispatch note. Postal services form 2976-A (Customs Form) is required for all mail weighing 16 ounces or more. customs documentation on any potentially dutiable mail addressed to an APO or FPO regardless of wieght.

All mail is subject to X-ray so fill out a customs form accurately.

In the upper left corner, write your complete return address.

It is recommended that you stop sending packages to your troop one month before they are expected home. Military bases usually stop all mail one month before redeployment.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING CAN NOT BE SENT:

Pressurized items

 Pornographic material

Alcohol

Religious Material

Anything that contains PORK

 No WAR type materials or toys

 

         Something that was givin to us, I read it and its pretty funny how this poem so describes my baby! I miss you and love you so much baby! The first deployment always sucks as a couple, but to sit back and think of all the little things these guy/girls do for us! Thank you all!

         There is nothing like a Soldier. His emotions are impenetrable yet his shoulders are soft for those that need someone to lean on. His hands are firm yet know exactly where they need to be. If he has his arms wrapped around you you're either in the last moments of your life or the safest place you could ever be. He's stubborn but will let you have your way just to see you smile. Hes deadly with a rifle and gentle with a child. He plays poker with the devil but guards the gates of heaven. He curses like no other but is a perfect gentleman. He has a thousand yard stare but when you look into his eyes Its the most comforting thing you've ever felt. The Army trained him as a weapon but raised him as a lover. He knows every part of an M-16 as well as he knows every curve of his woman. There is no other man like him. Whether you love him or hate him both is a privilege. He could be your worst nightmare or your sweetest dream. He is in the United States Army

9 WORDS WOMEN USE (1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up. (2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house. (3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine. (4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It! (5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.) (6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake. (7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a 'whatever'). (8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F@!K YOU! (9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must Have stung quite a bit. The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A. M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated. The response: Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12a.m. , a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

Baby I know It's hard to be stuck in this trap called 'WAR' With nothing to show besides dead bodies and souls, Just ask that asshole George Bush he knows! It's our people that are dying but it's his WAR so let him fight the fight... I know this is the job you signed up for, But it's wasn't on the contract that you'll be sent to fight a meaningless WAR I'M pretty sure there other ways on solving this matter. Instead on sending our soldiers to IRAQ, Having there families Cryin, Hoping and Praying for them to come back. But I guess what's done is done even if it's with a Rifle or a Gun. I cry at night my silent tears Wishin and Prayin you were Here. Unfortunately your deployed that's something I wish didn't happen to my soldier boy I know you are well because you told me so... Thought out all this pain there's only one thing that remains the same MR. Laboy I LOVE YOU in every single way and please know I will never take your love in vain. Your my soldier! My life! My heart! My world! I'm so proud to be a SOLDIERS GIRL : -)