From bparatore@comcast.net Wed Dec 15 20:07:01 2004
Subject:RE: Iraq N Roll Part 3......

Tony,

Can you say the name of the bases in remote areas?

thnx

-----Original Message-----
From: tonysounds [mailto:tonysounds@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 8:03 PM
To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CWSG] Iraq N Roll Part 3......

There's no question about morale....these men and women are proud of what
they do. I think just sending them letters letting them know that their
country stands behind them (unlike VietNam) would be fantastic and greatly
appreciated. Sending things like snacks -treats they're not getting in
their chow lines or MREs like Snickers, M&Ms, stuff like that- as well as
tobacco products would go miles with these people. Directing them to bases
way up north and in more "hot" areas is of the most importance. In these
places, food is 2 meals a day hot, and anything else is MREs (Meals Ready to
Eat, which are high-tech Lunchables; crackers with a tube of peanut butter,
or a "meat loaf", stuff like that). Tobacco products especially would be
helpful. For the most part, in these places the guys pay a PREMIUM for
American tobacco products where they can get em; in the remote areas,
they're forced to using local products which aren't nearly as regulated as
our's, contain all kinds of
chemicals and "treatments", and run the risk of being tainted either by
process or by intention. Regardless of the dangers of smoking, when they're
dodging bullets and mortars and RPGs, you would have to be an ass to tell
these people 'smoking is dangerous to your health.'

The media doesn't cover a fraction of what's going on over here, and the
troops in places like Baghdad have it good compared to other areas in the
desert where they're living with no heat, and in whatever shelter they can
find. It's tough for these guys because it's like they're forgotten, yet
they're the ones who are doing all the grunt work.

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