What are some good ideas to send to younger soldiers in Iraq ?

Here's a list that my fiance and a bunch of my friends have told their wives and girlfriends. It's compiled from 40 guys.

* Duct Tape

* Electric Tape

* Zip Ties

* Cold Weather Clothing

* Hand and Feet Warmers

* Candy (not chocolate)

* Canned Food such as Chef Boyardee & Ramen Noodles

* Cookies

* Crackers

* One A Day Vitamins

* Magazines (no pornography)

* Peanuts

* Pistachios

* Sunflower Seeds

* Gatorade or Propel drink mixes (for water bottles)

* Powerbars

* Cliff Bars

* Beef Jerky

* Basic toiletries such as tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, & baby wipes

* Cheap tube socks

* Hiking boot socks

* Chewing gum

* Moleskin (for blisters)

My recommendation is don't send any home baked goods unless it looks like it couldn't have been tampered with and nothing that can melt. You can find military specific boxes and flat rate ones on the USPS website they are helpful and free to you. Good luck!

Depending on what his mission is I'd taylor the gift to that. If he is "in the rear" he has access to supplies and other sundry. So books or activity related items would work well there. On the other hand if he is in the field the simplest of items will be well received. I was deployed to Iraq in 1991 and contrary to popular belief it gets quite cool at night. So the best care package I got included Kool aid (sweetened). What I would do is mix some in my canteen that evening and bury it. The next day around mid day I'd dig it up and it was still quite cool. Made for a really nice treat and won't break the budget.

as much as i might like the assumption of the president getting off his *** and assisting with the conflict rather of insulting human beings and ignoring the Katrina subject, i don't have self belief it would do us any good. If the president have been given injured or killed interior the conflict, we does no longer be to any extent further advantageous off than we are actually.

Food, I always wanted something good to eat.

Picante sauce to put on the crap you eat, or homemade things like cookies were a favorite of mine.

My 25 yr old nephew likes to get snacks from us as he does not have access to "junk food" where he is at in Afghanistan. We also freeze dry fruits and send to him.

Shaving stuff

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A good Bar of Soap

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A magazine or two that they like

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And a couple of photos of people and things they like back home

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Then a dumb card that makes fun of life the kind ya find in the rack easily

Ya know the what we call dumb cards

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Lots and lots of Copenhagen.

books!