Re: Iraq

Jesse, those flat rate boxes are sized in the PO's favor. Don't use them for books. Instead, send books and movies alone, with nothing else in the box and label it Media Mail. The rate is much cheaper. It is a little slower than regular mail or Priority Mail, however, you might ask them to write SAM on the box. It stands for "Space Available Mail", I think, and it indicates the box, regardless of the type of mail, should get worked in more quickly if there is space available. So if there is room for one more Priority package on a pallet and they don't have another piece that will fit, they'll toss the SAM Media Mail or SAM Parcel Post package on with the Priority Mail.

The only time I used the $7.40 PM flat rate box was when I was shipping a battery backup to California. It weighed nearly 20 pounds and would have cost a fortune, but it fit in the flat rate box, so I lucked out. Otherwise, anything I've ever needed to ship in a box that size would have always done better as straight PM. Hardcover books would probably do well at flat rate, but then you can use Media Mail which is always cheaper.

The best rate I ever came across is the M-bag. Saved a bundle on sending a heavy book to Canada.

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jesse Bell" <silverhawk@flash.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Iraq


My son says there are many guys out there that do not get letters or
packages from home. He would be GLAD to distribute some books too if you
want to get rid of some. KEEP IN MIND that when you send any kind of box
over there, you have to fill out a U.S. Customs form now. And it's not
cheap. I sent my son a box full of goodies the other day and it was
$16.00. The box wasn't that heavy. Books will weigh it down. BUT..the
post office did tell me that there is a "Flat Rate" Priority Mail box
that you can get. Whatever you mail, it won't go over "x amount" of
dollars to send it.


My son's address is:

LCpl Neal B. Hambleton
2nd AABN, Co D, 2nd Platoon
Unit 73580
FPO AE 09509-3580

Thanks for any and all that want to send some books over there to the troops.


Scottie Baugh <robbinsbaugh@earthlink.net> wrote:
Me too -- have assorted paperbacks, all kinds, for Sam and the guys in his
camp. I'll send direct, if you have address.

scottie
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kitty"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Iraq


Mysteries are good. Send them on. Anyone need my address, let me know.

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: "Zemuly Sanders"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Iraq


Me, too. I've got a lot of paperbacks -- mostly mysteries.
zem
----- Original Message ----- From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 5:40 AM
Subject: RE: [CHAT] Iraq


Kitty, I will keep him in my prayers. What kind of books do you think
he'd
like? I'd be glad to send some.
A

Andrea Hodges
Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue
www.blueridgeboxerrescue.com
Beaufort, SC Zone 8b
raider843@earthlink.net



[Original Message]
From: Kitty
To:
Date: 4/10/2006 10:28:31 PM
Subject: [CHAT] Iraq

From my sister, re my nephew...

Well...let me tell ya' some of the stuff going on over there. If you
remember when Sam was over there in 2003-04, communications were often

shut

down when any Americans died or were severely wounded. Still happening

that

way which is why Sam has only called twice since he's been there.
Every
time he tries to call, the system gets put on hold (including Internet
access).

On top of that, there are 2 phone systems in his camp. The AT&T phones

with

cards that can be replenished are about a 10-15 minute walk from Sam's
place. When your day starts at 5 am and ends @ 10 or 11 pm, that 1/2

hour

walk is unbearable. So Sam uses the other phones. A card costs $20.00

which

should be good for an hour & 40 minutes. Unfortunately, using these

cards

(non-renewable) takes 15-20 minutes just getting the connection.

Any way, Sam is suffering survivor's guilt right now. He's back on

patrol
instead of being a radio operator (how did I know...). He was in the
2nd
squad but was replaced when he didn't leave with everyone else.[because
of

his broken hand] Now that he's in Iraq, he's been placed in the 3rd

squad.

2nd squad was hit by an IED last Thursday. The team leader took
shrapnel

to

his knee and broke his arm. The driver (who took Sam's place) lost one

leg

but they're still hoping to save the other one.

Sam is devastated to say the least. He knows it's not his fault - even

his

Sgt told him that. However, as he said, his brain can't always rule
his

gut

and he feels guilty.

Since communications are down so often, Sam has started reading again
and
watching DVDs. If you're not too worried about being forward at work,

see

if anyone has books or movies they'd be willing to send to Sam. After

all,

this IS Iraqi Liberation Week according to Ken Mehlman, et al.

Sam gets one meal a day: dinner. They leave too early in the am to
get
breakfast. Lunch is usually local food. Sam is among the guys who
won't
eat local food. I don't know if he's heard too many Viet Nam stories

about

ground glass in the Coke or if he doesn't want to risk Montezuma's

revenge.
Then again, he could just relish being stubborn and not giving anything
to

the people of Iraq.

They get in late, get dinner, and go to bed. Hell of a life.

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5

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