What’s the best care package you ever personally received while deployed?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:28:17 -0400

What’s the best personal care package you ever received while deployed? One of our fellas received a ‘gender reveal’ care package from his wife, and he got to open it with her on video phone, in front of his platoon. It’s a GIRL! He was so excited and it was a perfect care package. A moment he or his buddies - nor I, will ever forget.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 26 at 2018 1:30 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:30:17 -0400

Special snacks put in the bottom of my footlocker.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 26 at 2018 1:33 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:33:39 -0400

I sent a CARE package to a Soldier; whose personal effects had been blown up in an IED. I sent a Bible, underwear, T shirts, etc.; to him. CH (MAJ) William Beaver

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Oct 26 at 2018 1:35 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:35:22 -0400

Chocolate chip cookies!

Response by TSgt David Holman made Oct 26 at 2018 1:55 PM

TSgt David Holman — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:55:03 -0400

I remember one group package that we had gotten while deployed from a small church in Texas, and it had one of my all time favorite Little Debbie snacks in it. I sent a thank you letter back to the church, as had many other airmen, and politely mentioned that I specifically enjoyed the star crunches that had been put in. About a month later, I got a box from someone I had never met, didn't know their name, but it had two boxes of star crunches (google them if you don't know what I am talking about) with a hand written note that said "one of these boxes is for you, the other is for you to share, thanks for your service".

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 26 at 2018 2:11 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 14:11:12 -0400

Vodka

Response by COL Charles Williams made Oct 26 at 2018 2:44 PM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 14:44:24 -0400

A case or Jack Links Beef Jerky, from my former boss, who used to eat all of my beef jerky. CH (MAJ) William Beaver

Response by SPC William Weedman made Oct 26 at 2018 2:58 PM

SPC William Weedman — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 14:58:45 -0400

My parents made me feel as home when I was assigned to Korea. Around Thanksgiving I got a small tree and and an advent calendar with tiny ornaments for the tree. In early December (near my birthday) they sent over a large box of homemade Christmas cookies, and I got a large box that said Do Not open Until Christmas. On Christmas Day I opened it and found sweatsuits with my favorite teams printed on them.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 26 at 2018 3:49 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 15:49:40 -0400

Before my last deployment with 24th MEU, I had been denied leave for operational reasons, for most of three years at my previous post. I was ordered to report to 2/4 Battalion that was in the last 4 months of MEU(SOC) workup and certification. 2/4 was just back from Desert Storm and Desert shield and had 5 months to turn around for a MEU(SOC) Med float. So no leave prior to deployment. At the end of the fiscal year I was going to lose about 18 days of leave. We finished the training exercise with the Portuguese. The BLT was going to spin holes in the ocean for 3+ weeks before going to Italy where we would conduct an exercise with the Italians and Greeks. The final planning conference was in two weeks. And the BLT would disembark in Naples a week later .

As I was getting ready to get on the Helo to go back to the USS Inchon, the BnCO and the MEU CO called me and one of the Rifle Co Commanders over to the Portuguese CP. The company commander was in about the same boat as me. He had also been on MSG duty for his previous tour. They told us that it was going to be easier to get us to the planning conference in two weeks, if we went back to the Portuguese Barracks and took civilian transport to get to Monte Romano, (Italian Base for Field exercises in the vicinity of Rome,) then met the MEU when it disembarked in Naples. They said our liberty bags were already in the Portuguese staff car. The Portuguese CO would give us a ride to Lisbon, and that the Portuguese had arranged expediters to get our transport and accommodations lined up to Monte Romano.

When the staff car pulled up, the Portuguese CO helped both of our wives out of the staff car and said "Here are your expediters." The BnCo's wife set the whole thing up.

Does that count?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 26 at 2018 5:58 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 17:58:27 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver my mother, bless her heart, Was always worried I wouldn't have a birthday or birthday cake if I were deployed. I was a Company Commander During OIF I, she mailed a shelf stable cake, candles, frosting, hats, plates, noise makers, and napkins etc in secret to my First Sergeant. I walk in from a BUB and my Company HQ has got pointy party hats et al and I get the embarrassing happy birthday. Fast forward to OEF in 2008. Deployed in Sharana. I am the SPO. She does it again. My Ammo Tech frosted the cake and the BN TOC was rockin.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 26 at 2018 6:04 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:04:48 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver Not a care package to me, but we got a huge slew (pallets of them) of Girls Scout Cookies. We integrated them into Class I LCLA parachute bundles going into small and terrible FOBs and COPs, usually platoon sized outposts. Given the right configuration, Girl Scout Cookies are air droppable.

Response by Jenn Moynihan made Oct 26 at 2018 10:36 PM

Jenn Moynihan — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 22:36:11 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver - awwww that is awesome!!

Response by SPC Kristina DeRosier made Oct 26 at 2018 11:47 PM

SPC Kristina DeRosier — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 23:47:43 -0400

Can you tell me how to send "Home cooked food"? Should I send it in dry ice?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 27 at 2018 9:15 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:15:08 -0400

My mother sent me a sealed bag of chicKen & dumplings my father had freeze-dried for her.

Response by LTC Robert D Gordon made Feb 10 at 2021 7:19 PM

LTC Robert D Gordon — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:19:09 -0500

Nothing, I was in the NAM and still today from the VA - nothing and the new VA sec will not do anything either. Especially a none Vet.

Response by CPT Joel Mayne made Feb 10 at 2021 7:44 PM

CPT Joel Mayne — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:44:59 -0500

Christmas of 68 I was in the field in Vietnam and we stopped while on patrol because of a Christmas truce. We were absolutely promised we would be in the same location for three days. We dug our foxholes and gun pits and called to the rear for our Christmas mail. Two Hueys showed up towards evening loaded with our presents and mail from home. We got them all unpacked and settled down for Christmas and a break from the war with a bit of home. The Hueys had just gotten out of sight when the word came to move out on another operation. Our packs and pockets were already full with supplies and equipment for the patrol we were on. Most all the presents went into the foxholes except for those we shared at the moment. We filled in the foxholes and gun pits and moved out. Since the NVA already came in to scrounge after we left I always felt our loved ones provided them a great Christmas. One present I saved was a stocking full of candy sent to any soldier from a WW II vet in Texas. That was my Christmas. I was with the 4th ID detached from the 25rh ID, 1/35th Inf Regt.

Response by CPT Mike Layne made Feb 10 at 2021 8:29 PM

CPT Mike Layne — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 20:29:31 -0500

In 1966 I was stationed at An Khe with A/227 1st Cavalry Division and my favorite aunt sent me a cherry pie. She cushioned it with plain popcorn and it was a little bit green in spots but we all loved it and I’ve never forgotten.

Response by SPC Carey Ingram made Feb 15 at 2021 11:05 PM

SPC Carey Ingram — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 23:05:40 -0500

The best part of my care package during desert storm was the short bread cookies, wow .. loved them 4/8 INFANTRY

Response by SSG Chris Gursky made Sep 18 at 2021 11:27 AM

SSG Chris Gursky — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 11:27:11 -0400

Best care package arrived while we were on occupation duty in Iraq after Desert Storm. Received two packages in one day. Mom sent homemade chocolate chip cookies, an orange cake with a sugar glaze and two pan loads of chocolate chip peanut butter bars (which all my buddies love). Second package was from a Brigadier General (who is the husband of my Dads baby sister), the package contained your normal odds and ends ya get but also a liter bottle of Crown Royal. I think the return address being a General allowed the package to get thru. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure which I appreciated more but I shared everything equally with my friends.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Oct 15 at 2021 8:48 AM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:48:45 -0400

Every thing from my Mom. she always sent me good stuff, cookies to the local newspaper. I also remember SP packs. That we got every few weeks. That was a big box full of everything from shoestrigs, Kirks Castile soap,writing tablets,cigaretts and chewing tobacco,and lots of other stuff that I remember. I think that these were supplied by companies in the US. This was in Vietnam in 1970.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2021 9:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 09:02:50 -0400

A bottle of listerine in the original bourbon flavor

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2021 9:40 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 09:40:46 -0400

Whoopie pies!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2021 6:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 18:15:20 -0400

Every care package was great. From strangers or family. I appreciated them all. The little yoys and goodies. I gave to the little urchins. Shampoo and toothpaste were great goodwill gifts to the locals.
So yeah, all were good and put to good use