Asking for Help

[oseaghdha]

All,
As you may or may not be aware, my son is active duty USMC. He is currently stationed stateside.

Though our efforts at burning off excess nervous energy during his multiple deployments, my wife and I have met and maintain a rather large circle of contacts concerned with the wellbeing of our sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers out there on the pointy end of the stick, as it were.

My wife, Katherine, received this (see below) note yesterday.
While our wounded troops receive the absolute best medical care in the world, they are left to their own devices when it comes to personal items, things we all take for granted.

They don't have the chance to pack, if they are sent to Ramstein.

If you would like to help, just PM me and I can Forward contact/mailing info.

Regardless of your political beliefs, these people deserve the best we can offer.

Thanks and Regards

Dan



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From: **********************
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 7:29 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: Landstuhl Hospital in Need


I've just received word from my friend Diana (the wife of a Marine Corps Master Sergeant, living in Germany) that Landstuhl Hospital is again in desperate need of supplies to help our wounded troops.

Landstuhl Hospital is the medical facility in Ramstein, Germany where most of our wounded troops are sent. Diana works closely with the Chaplain there, trying to make sure that our troops have what they need during their stay in Germany and for the return trip home. The Chaplain is very specific about what is needed and will only accept what is specifically on the list, as he keeps these supplies in his office.

Below is Diana's note detailing what is needed. If you'd like to send a box of supplies to Diana, please e-mail me for her address. If you'd like to help but don't have time to do the footwork, I'll be happy to accept contributions and do the shopping on my end.

Thank you for your continuing support of our military men and women. Your help, as well as your prayers, for our wounded heroes is appreciated more than you know.

Kathy

Here's Diana's note...................

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heya all,

the donations made to wounded marines in 2004-07, along with the donations from others, helped immensely to keep the cupboards stocked with everything the wounded needed...

it isn't the waning economy as much as the waning popularity of our wounded that has led to a shortage of goods in the chaplain's closet at landstuhl...this closet provides toiletries and clothing to the wounded...they arrive in the only set of clothes they have, and these clothes can't be worn again...they arrive with no toiletries...

everyone is aware of the economic hardships many people in the states are suffering...this is not a request of those who cannot afford it...please know that cards, letters and prayers are of equal and often higher value...please trust me when i say the wounded LOVE getting cards and letters - especially the ones that talk about everyday kinds of things and that let them know they're being thought of...if this is something you'd be interested in doing, please let me know.

the chaplains and liaisons are specifically asking for unused, packaged items of:

• clothing in a variety of sizes: men's boxers or standard whites, white t-shirts, white socks, and white or gray sports bras...more male underwear is needed than female, but female underwear is needed...

• all toiletries in travel sizes only: toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, deodorant (male and female), nail clippers, q-tips, lotion, shampoo+conditioner (not separates), body wash, disposable razors (packages are fine), shaving cream...if you send floss, please send the kind that could be used with one hand!

• unused jackets and green or black backpacks

diana

[wa407mpp]

I know several groups who regularly send packages to the troops, I'll see if they can help out.

[fredintoon]

Cheap bastards

- - - While our wounded troops receive the absolute best medical care in the world, they are left to their own devices when it comes to personal items, things we all take for granted.
They don't have the chance to pack, if they are sent to Ramstein. - - -
Dan

Hi Dan,
you mean that the US government is too stingy to supply personal items for wounded military personnel who have been transported without them?
Even the cheapest of cheap airlines will do that if they have lost your luggage.
Reminds me of a scene from the WW2 U-boat movie "Das Boot" where the ship's engineer is attempting an emergency repair and says:-
"The Admiralty can spend 40,000 Marks for a torpedo but cannot afford 10 pfennig's worth of copper wire to keep the boat from sinking? "

[Toolmaker Tim]

Landstuhl Hospital

Hi Dan,
Hope you don't mind, but I made a copy of the letter and sent it to my Congressman. I am presently laid off, but I'll see what I can do.
Tim

[cywelchjr]

Hi Dan,
you mean that the US government is too stingy to supply personal items for wounded military personnel who have been transported without them?
Even the cheapest of cheap airlines will do that if they have lost your luggage.
Reminds me of a scene from the WW2 U-boat movie "Das Boot" where the ship's engineer is attempting an emergency repair and says:-
"The Admiralty can spend 40,000 Marks for a torpedo but cannot afford 10 pfennig's worth of copper wire to keep the boat from sinking? "

That is typical of militaries throughout time. Those toiletries are items that military personel are expected to provide for themselves (I know having served for 7 years) and at no time were those items provided (ok, the underwear was provided initially on entry, but after that all replacements were my own responsibilty, even uniforms after initial issue).

[wa407mpp]

I talked to some people, now we need contact and delivery information, I think you need to send it to the right place, with the right credentials or the military will destroy it. Email me at wa407mpp@yahoo.com or pm me, either one.

[oseaghdha]

I talked to some people, now we need contact and delivery information, I think you need to send it to the right place, with the right credentials or the military will destroy it. Email me at wa407mpp@yahoo.com or pm me, either one.

Sent you a PM with the info.

Thanks