Adopt a soldier program - what would you send?

[dejr_8]

We just got the news that we have adopted a soldier from Fort Bragg (we were on the wait list for 6 months).

On his list he wants books (nothing of questionable taste). We have no idea what books would be appropriate for an 18-21 year old.

I guess SciFi?

Any suggestions.

 

[Kitzka]

I find that fantasy, sports and non fiction work well for men. My husband just read The Passage, The strain and the Girl with the Dragon tatoo and loved them all.

Another great option would be some sort of mystery/striller. Harlan Coban, Lee Child, Dean Koontz and James Patterson are some my DH's favs.


Also, can you PM me abuot the adopt a soldier? I would love to get on a wait list to do this.

Lara

 

[PUZZLDY5]

My son loves John Grisham and Stephen King and he is 19.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

DH loves Tom Clancy. Was there any hint of hobby or anything like that, I was thinking maybe a few magazines, DH loves those car/hot rod magazines?

Suzanne

 

[Stephanie218]

Another great option would be some sort of mystery/striller. Harlan Coban, Lee Child, Dean Koontz and James Patterson are some my DH's favs.

My husband loves to get these kind of books. I also usually send Outdoor Life, Guns & Ammo, Field & Stream, Business Week, and random newspaper clippings.

 

[PBF199]

IF he'll be patrolling he'll want/need small packs of candy. Soldiers use this to befriend the children of the towns they are walking through.

 

[Darcy03231]

DH and DS like James Patterson, John Sanford, John Grisham, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, and Steve Berry.

They also like car and gaming magazines.

 

[Aunt Cawa]

We sent my nephew ( a 20 year old marine just back from Afghanistan) a couple of the Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler while he was deployed. He is not much of a reader but he said he really enjoyed them. This is a series that has been around for years. It is along the lines of Tom Clancy but nearly as involved or complicated. Both my husband and I have read them and enjoyed them. We also sent him Sports Illustrated magazines.

 

[LuvSulley]

I find that fantasy, sports and non fiction work well for men. My husband just read The Passage, The strain and the Girl with the Dragon tatoo and loved them all.

Another great option would be some sort of mystery/striller. Harlan Coban, Lee Child, Dean Koontz and James Patterson are some my DH's favs.


Also, can you PM me abuot the adopt a soldier? I would love to get on a wait list to do this.

Lara

Can you PM me too? Thanks!

 

[POPCITY]

Can you PM me too? Thanks!

Me, too, please!

Thanx!

 

[AKL_Megs]

I would be wary of Tom Clancy while he is DOING the sort of things he writes about. It might be a little monotonous?

I agree with Stephen King, one of his classics perhaps? Or a book turned movie... Like Shutter Island? What about childhood classics... To Kill A Mockingbird, for a little comfort?

 

[fluffycow333]

This is kind of silly but I think a coloring book and a pack of crayons would be relaxing and a de-stresser for a little bit.

 

[MidgeD79]

my son-in-law is deployed as a combat medic in Afganistan. He asked for deodorant and body wash. I also went on-line and googled "things for soldier deployed in Afganistan" and got a nice list.

 

[Go Saints!]

I would say Sports are a pretty safe bet. Drew Brees and Sean Payton just released books recently, and both my brothers, father, and husband all agreed they were excellent reads.

 

[jsmith]

My husband is a soldier as are many of our friends and friends of our children-over the last 8 years i have sent literally hundreds of care packages.. Aside from the the things you see on the usual lipbalm and baby wipes lists

Silly toys-the biggest hit ever was a Nerf dart gun and darts. Squirt guns, yoyos-things that will pass the time. the person who suggested crayons was pretty on the mark. Books-the lists already given are great-smaller paper back edtions that will fit in a buttoned pocket are good.
Homemade baked goods-cookies that ship well, rice krispie treats, caramel corn (not great in real hot weather) are hugely popular.
Powdered drink mixes, Candy-chocolate is not good in the summer-but other things are popular.

Just getting packages of anything that means someone back home cares is the biggest thing-on behalf the the soldier i train, the soldier know, and the soldiers i love-thanks for caring enough to support them

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

My husband is in the Army and a part of his unit is deployed including some of his best friends...

If you can afford it, games for like PSPs and Nintendo DSs. (they sell them used at video game stores) and DVDs.

Snacks like chips and candies.

Some of them want REAL coffee...the Starbucks Vivo things are good...


Thins like that.

 

[Holly]

I've now sent one of ours all of the James Rollins books. He's passed them around his buddies and they were waiting in anticipation of the new one that came out a few months ago.

They're mystery/ adventure books about a special forces team. They're written in a way that the younger folks seem to really like, and I think they are especially appropriate for someone who's deployed because the books are contemporary, exciting, and techy without being too gloomy, violent, or depressing.

The other favorite item we send are the Betty Crocker Warm Delights desserts.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

OH! And remeber...don't worry too much about whether they wont want something you send...They trade things with one another ALL OF THE TIME

"I'll give you my coffee for s few Mountain Dews..." etc

 

[My sister's princess]

The last package I just shipped out included

Silly bands (toy story)
Card games
fruit snacks
camera batteries
beef jerky
a microwave safe bowl (he asked for it)
Birumbams guide to Disney (our old copy, I don't expect it to come home)
A coloring book and crayons
D&D coffee (he asked for it)


Other good things to send:
candy
baby wipes
camera memory cards
anything silly that will take their minds off what they are doing
small toys to hand out to local kids


Make sure you are using the flat rate boxes. Shipped to an overseas APO the large boxes are only $12.50 and you can fit a TON of stuff in them! They even have ones that are special for the troops, and the boxes are free, you just pay the shipping.

 

[My sister's princess]

OH! And remeber...don't worry too much about whether they wont want something you send...They trade things with one another ALL OF THE TIME

"I'll give you my coffee for s few Mountain Dews..." etc

So true, they will trade with locals too. DH traded he half drank Monster energy drink for a bracelet for me a few weeks ago