My heart hurts....
 

I just got a phone call and recognized the voice, but couldnt believe my ears.... he kept saying 'you have no idea who this is do you?" and OF COURSE I did... I just couldnt believe I was finally talking to him.

this person?

My baby brother... he is in Iraq, fighting for our country! He has been there since Feb and he was supposed to come home in 19 days. He is now out there with a tentative come home date of Sept 30th, but its not set in stone. Last August He came home after a little over a year in North Korea. He came home to Langley in VA. We live in MA/NH (our family). The military told him they could not deploy him for at least a year after his year stint in North Korea. Low and behold, 1 month after his return, he got his orders. He was going to Iraq (first time since he enlisted, 8 years ago). My family was devastated. We went to visit him in VA for a long weekend, he came up to visit up here in November. That was the last time I have seen him. He left Jan 1 for training in Washington state, and early Feb to Iraq. His orders were 6 months there, 6 months home (VA), 6 months there. Now its going on 8 months there for definate, if not longer... Im afraid its going to turn into a straight 18 months there. How can the military do this to these KIDS?? :mad: My heart HURTS! I want to sit here and just cry my heart & eyes out. He is sooo beaten down and depressed out there. 140+ degree temps during the day. They cannot leave the base. There is NOTHING to do out there, there is NO support, their self esteem is through the floor at this point. :( My little brother always had a quick laugh and a great sense of humor... he was always so positive and a joy to be around!!! He is no longer that person. :mad:

He always said he'd be a lifer in the military. He went in at 18 years old. He fought to get in, due to his eyesight. His first deployment was Kuwait, then to Quatar, then to Kuwait, then North Korea, then Iraq. He has been deployed so many times!!!! It does not seem fair. Each time though he was ok with it. He still said he would be a lifer. This time, he is saying that he has 2 years left and he is NOT re-enlisting!!! No way!!! :(

For anyone who has loved ones out there in Iraq or anywhere in this world, my heart, prayers and thoughts go out to you and your families!!

Thoughts and prayers go out for you and your baby brother.

We just had good friends of the family who just sent their two eldest BACK to Iraq a week ago, both for a second tour. One of them had been in Afghanistan before that.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your brother. I am praying that God will keep him wrapped in the safety of his arms until he is home with you again.

Oh My Gosh, hearing that your brother will now be over there longer is terrible. :( I feel so bad for you and him. My daughter has a friend who's on his 2nd tour in Iraq and everytime she hears from him, she says he sounds less and less like himself. :( I fully support our troops. :) But NOT the war. :mad:

How about giving us his address and us TYr's can send him care packages and cards from our furbabies! I know that lifts the spirits of those wonderful soldiers...

What do you say, fellow YTr's? Are you up for it????

I am!

ARe you serious?? I just had to swallow a lump in my throat!!! and there are tears in my eyes!! I think he would be amazed and excited and just so happy to get a care package. To know that his job and his pain has not gone unnoticed! I think it would help to restore some of his self-esteem and faith that he has lost during this demployment, but really through all his deployments. He is a 26 year old kid who has been military since he was 18.

ARe you serious?? I just had to swallow a lump in my throat!!! and there are tears in my eyes!! I think he would be amazed and excited and just so happy to get a care package. To know that his job and his pain has not gone unnoticed! I think it would help to restore some of his self-esteem and faith that he has lost during this demployment, but really through all his deployments. He is a 26 year old kid who has been military since he was 18.


Sargeant Matthew W. Loiselle
886ESFS
Unit 60508
APO-AE 09375

A care package sounds wonderful!!!...find out what your brother and his friends would like and we''ll put our thinking caps on and make it happen!!!!

Well they are not allowed to get alcohol or tobacco products, nor are they allowed to wear civilian clothing. Other than that I think pretty much anything would work. Candy, baked goods, beef jerky, hygiene products, fun little things and games to entertain them. My brother is BIG into movies. So any dvds esp of new releases in the last 6 months (since he hasn't been to or seen a new movie in longer than that), country music CDs also. I guess anything that can fit into a box! It gets to them pretty quickly. My dad sends him baked goods and they get there just fine in about a week or less!

Notes and cards thanking him and pics of yourselves and your babies! I think that would help so much with his self-esteem right now!

To those of you who think it would be a bit expensive to send a package to Matthew, don't worry. YOu only pay to NY since he has an APO. ;)
I do hope everyone sends this young man a little something. YOu just don't realize how horrible the conditions are and how low morale is.

Fantastic idea! count me in!!!!! Be sure to include pics of you and/or your furkids.....

Count us in! We will send him a card first thing in the morning. This is the Least we can do for him... nything else that you ladies want to do please keep me posted. :thumbup: :thumbup:

I'm in to send him a package! It would make me feel good to help, but what can I get? hmmm def. a card with pics of me and the babies. What does he need?

What a great idea!! Thanks so much for thinking of it! Count me in too!! :)

Count me in. I have a box of hand held games and batteries all ready to go. I am so glad that you informed us about him. Patty

Me too, you women and men are soooo AWESOME!!! This is really going to brighten his days! You all have NO idea how much this will mean to him. Im going to let him know that he's going to be surprised in the next couple weeks! That will keep him guessing! :) :) :)

I cannot thank you all enough!!! Scroll up and I wrote his address and the types of things to put into a package if you want to send a package.

HUGS TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

Just want to bump this up:D

I'll try to get a pkg out from my furbabies by the weekend!!!

Hey guys! Post pics if you can of what you're sending!

I'm so sorry. :( My prayers are with you, as well as everyone else who has loved ones fighting in the war. I am going to send your brother a card. :)

My older brother wants to join the Military. He doesn't understand how much work, etc. it is. He just thinks it sounds like the coolest thing ever, and now he's 16 so the recruiters can talk to him. :( Kevin is getting into the police force now (he's going through the Jr. Acadmey), so I hope he changes his mind about what he wants to do. It scares me just thinking that he'd be off fighting in that war...

I'm sorry, hopefully he comes home to your family soon. I've lost many family members in Iraq (my parents were born there) and it's sad, Iraq is helpless... I don't see how USA is fighting for their country... they've basically taken over. I'm sure he'll come back soon though. God bless. Sometimes I wish there was never Oil in iraq... all this wouldn't be happening, how depressing. Saddam is gone--- they can get out now, right? wasn't that Bush's stragedy in the beginning ? He should pull his soldiers back home, where they belong.

Thank you for Matthew's mailing address.
 

I just read your posting and wanted to let you know we will put a package together tomorrow and send to your brother. Thanks for posting his mailing address.

I am posting a letter we wrote and send to our troops in each and every care package. We do not agree with our being in Iraq but we support our troops and we need to do everything we can to let them know they are not forgotten. I will post a list of items we have chose from in putting our care packages together.
Patti and Jack


This Is For All Our Troops Men and Women
God Bless Each Of You.

This is being sent to each and every one of you to let you know our thoughts and Prayers are with you daily. We sincerely hope the package we have put together are items each of you will be able to use. We wish we could come and take your place so each of you could be with your families and loved ones. I know there are many Grannies and Gramps that share the same feelings as we do. Please keep strong in your Faith and know that Our Dear Lord knows our needs as we strive on each day. I must keep telling myself as the years are upon us both that God didn’t promise us a rose garden without the thorns but HE did promise us Strength for each day and Hope for tomorrow and Eternity with HIM. We continually pray for you and your families and are grateful to each of you for the many sacrifices you make in serving in our Armed Forces. We have constantly emailed our Government Officials and let them know to make sure your needs are met.
We also voice our own view on our being there in Iraq. We don't go along with our government continuing to be in Iraq but we support each of you in our daily thoughts and prayers and hope the care packages help in some way to know we are here for you.
We pray the country there will be able to return to care for itself and you all can return home soon.
We send a big hug to each of you.
Sincerely, Grannie Patti and Grampa Jack

items that can be sent to iraq
 

This is a list that has helped us to put together our care packages to those in Iraq.
Patti and Jack
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Helpful hints for Summer Care Package Mailing:
For those of you who have loved ones deployed to the hotter areas of
the world, as much as they like chocolate, do not mail it! During this
weather chocolate and caramel end up arriving in one goopy mess.
Brownies are USUALLY safe to mail, as long as you pack them
efficiently. However, with brownies being so moist, if they are being
shipped to a tropical region, there is always the possibility of them
mildewing.
This is a good time to send such items as: sunflower seeds, pumpkin
seeds, dried meats, crackers, chips, fruit roll ups, etc.
POWDERED DRINK MIX!!! This can be a lifesaver. Next time you see
PRE-SWEETENED powdered drink mix on sale, pick some up and include it
in your next care package. They can easily be added to a bottle of water or a canteen of water for a nice refreshing treat.

Comfort Items

* Gel insoles * Toilet paper
* Foot powder * Small battery operated fan
* T-shirts * Baby wipes
* Underwear * Eye drops
* Socks * A big fluffy towel
* Glade Stick-Ups * Blanket from home.

Drinks:

* Instant coffee. You can get it in many different flavors.
* Tea bags
* Powdered Gatorade. Don't forget a pitcher, jug or some sort of
container.
* Lemonade mix. (Pre-sweetened)
* Kool-Aid. (Pre-sweetened)
* Powdered hot chocolate. It also comes in many flavors.

Everyday

* Send self-addressed stamped envelopes.
* A roll of stamps
* Calling cards
* Pictures of you
* pictures of family
* pictures of friends
* pictures of home
* Send letters that you've recorded on tape
* Send your loved one a video letter
* Make a mix tape of all your favorite songs

Fun Stuff!

* Send board games-the ones they have made into key chains.

Videotape their favorite shows on TV. Ensure they can watch it.
* Send favorite magazines. Check the postal restrictions
* Disposable cameras.
* Send a few toys. Slinky, squirt guns, etc.
* Theme packages.
* Send pocket electronic games.
* Make and send a miniature scrapbook.


General Stuff

* Dixie cups * Eyeglass cleaner wipes
* Small battery operated light * Padded mailing envelope
* Batteries * Stamps, paper and envelopes
* Cordless electric razor * A stress ball
* Sun block * A small sewing kit.


Non-Microwave Meals: (Ensure that there access to a source of HOT
water.)

* Cup 'o Noodles soups
* Dry cereal. Small, individual serving boxes.
* Instant oatmeal or grits.
* Breakfast bars. Granola, cereal and power bars.
* Bowl Appetite dinners.


Snacks: CAUTION: Spray-cans may explode!

* Tuna in the "fresh pouch". Doesn't require draining
* Beef Sticks such as Slim Jims
* Crackers and a Cheese spread. NOT IN CANS
* Potted meat and crackers
* Single servings of bagged chips.
* Cookies.
* Tuna with crackers.
* Triscuits and Ritz crackers
* Lunchables. The varieties that don't have to be refrigerated.
* Candy, of course.
* Snack Cakes
* M & M's
* Graham crackers.
* Chocolate-dipped pretzels * Pretzels

* Pop tarts. *Pre-packaged brownies.
* Licorice * Trail mix
* Bubble gum * Rice Krispie Treats!
* Snack mixes like Chex Mix * Nuts - Cashews, peanuts, etc.
* Applesauce, pudding or fruit cups with the pop-off lids.

Toiletries:

* Razors * Mouth wash
* Shaving cream * Soap
* Foot powder * After-shave lotion
* Shampoo * Conditioner

I have to agree i fear we are going to get our babys back like the nam vets came back so many people dont state this fully I love our Troops and im pissed at this oil war ..the rich get richer the poor die :thumbdown

Please pm me his address:) I'm definitely in and whatever he gets that's "extra" he can share with others.

What a wonderful idea!

Sadly a lot of people end up in this situation. They do it to people all the time. I know I am in that situation. I am being extended at my current duty station and cannot transfer. Even after your "enlistment" is up they can retain you on active duty. :( All they tell us is "you are the one that signed on the line, no one made you do it".

I feel for you and your family. My family is frustrated too. Granted, I am not in Iraq right now. But I do appreciate what he is doing. What branch of service is your brother in? I am willing to send a care package too! If you can PM me his address I would be glad to! Also, maybe a name or two of his co-workers that are not getting anything, I know they all need some love out there!


Best wishes, and praying for his safety.

Lisa

Very nice!!
 

Patti, that is wonderful!! I am so glad to hear that you do this... and your letter is really kind and uplifting! I am sure you are touching sooo many soldiers and their appreciation for these kinds of things is like nothing we'll ever experience. Bless you! :usaheart: :usaheart: :thumbs up :hug: :hug:

here is his address:

Sargeant Matthew W. Loiselle
886ESFS
Unit 60508
APO-AE 09375

Thank YOU with all my heart!!!:D

TLC also has a thread here on this forum, her brother is being deployed to Afghanastan.

We include a letter and make copies placed within the care package so that they can be given to the others. Here of late we have been mainly sending items such as below in multiple quanities for sharing. Those we have heard from have said items such as, foot powder, foot soaks (those items we place in a freezer bag to keep seperate from the other items) baby wipes, disposable thin rubber gloves, small jar of vaseline, eye glass wipes. alchohol wipes (individual packets come in small box of 100) a quart plastic container filled with cool aid, lemon aide, tea pkgs. Zip lock Freezer bags. Several stores have the small individual variety of many great items for $1.00 or 2 for $1.00 and they pack real easy. Each of these are items that they remarked about getting. Little things, but to them they mean a lot.
Patti and Jack

I know how your heart feels my baby brother just joined active duty and they have already told him after basic he will be going. I wish I knew the words to mend your heartache but I don't. Just hang in there we will be praying for you and your family and for his speedy safe homecoming. My family will be sending him a package as well. We are so thankful that he is over there risking his life for us.....

Janet