Holiday gift for nephew in Iraq

I'd like to send a gift/gifts to my nephew in Iraq. This is his first Christmas away so I know it will be hard for him. If possible, I'd like to include something personal just for him and maybe some stuff for his buddies to share. I asked him point-blank what he'd like and, typical guy, he says "anything" which is of NO HELP at all. I have no clue what they're allowed to have or not have.

You guys have any ideas? Thanks!

• Holiday gift for nephew in Iraq - TAIBer
  • Military wife with a suggestion - Trixie
  • Shipping reminders - see inside - mtgal
    • telephone cards sm - me2
  • Been there....... - anon
  • My son served in Iraq and he said he liked - clhmt
  • Hope no one gets the wrong idea.... - TAIBer
    • no wrong idea sm - Survivor
  • Had an idea - ClinicMT
  • My husband was a contractor over there for a year - his suggestions - - mtgal
  • Care package sm - Survivor
    • I will ask my cousin's husband - sa
      • Iraq gifts sm - Survivor
    • Here is his info in case anyone is interested - TAIBer
      • Again, hope no one gets the wrong idea.... - Me again

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

Hi.  I need ideas for kids to make gifts (minimal painting, minimal glueing) as they have to be ready to wrap.  What was your favorite keepsate gift from your child so far?

TIA

Marine Corps Base Hawaii is investigating a shocking video of a smiling Marine throwing a puppy off the top of a steep hillside in Iraq into a gully below.

The video today gained widespread attention and condemnation on the Internet.

"The video is shocking and deplorable and is contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine," the Kane'ohe Bay base said in a release.

Base officials said the video came to their attention this morning. An investigation has been initiated. Maj. Chris Perrine, a Marine spokesman here, said "it's looking like" the Marine is based out of Hawai'i.

"We do not tolerate this type of behavior and will take appropriate action," the base said.

Two Marines are seen in combat gear smiling as one holds a white-and-black puppy by the scruff of its neck. The dog seems to be about 8 weeks old and is motionless as it is held.

"Cute little puppy, huh?" says one Marine as he smiles broadly.

"Oh so cute, so cute, little puppy," says another in a child-like voice.

The Marine holding the puppy is then seen throwing the animal overhand into a desert-like gully below. The animal yelps until it thuds to the ground at the bottom of the gully.

"That's mean," one Marine says afterward.

The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment of about 1,000 Hawai'i Marines recently replaced a sister unit in Iraq, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

Marine Corps Base Hawai'i said the vast majority of Marines "conduct their duties in an honorable manner that brings great credit upon the Marine Corps and the United States."

There have been numerous stories of Marines adopting pets and bringing them home from Iraq or helping to arrange life-saving medical care for Iraqi children. Those are the stories that exemplify what we stand for and how most Marines behave."

======================================

The video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCiUMoFu84
(Safe for work because it's blurry, but still very disturbing)

Some people have claimed it's possible the video is fake, but it doesn't seem likely.

Really, really sick.

This kind of twisted lack of humanity seems to stem partially from the brutal brainwashing soldiers go through in bootcamp, combined with the severe emotional stress of the field.

Whoever those guys are, I hope they're both discharged immediately, but I also hope they receive serious emotional help.

For those of you who may remember - my son is graduating high school this year and my nephew decided to get married in the same month.  I had received an email from my SIL stating that my son's graduation best not interfere with her son's wedding.  (longer story - that's the condensed version). 

Anyways, my son's graduation is May 15.  While at my SIL's today, they announced the wedding is May 11.  SO, definitely no conflict (whew) but after a few minutes I realized that the 11th is on a Monday (apparently it's cheaper to get married during the week).  And the wedding is in another town which means trying to get off work, get changed, gather all the kids, travel out of town (hour and a half away) and then get back home since the kids have school the next day and the adults all have to work the next day. (definitely not going to stress about it though and will be planning my son's graduation party for the following weekend  )

***UPDATE*** The Associated Press reveals more details about the shooter:

The suspect had been disarmed after an earlier incident at the center but returned with another weapon, according to a senior military official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation into the shootings was ongoing.

***UPDATE*** The American soldier who shot dead five fellow soldiers at a U.S. base in Baghdad is in custody.

"The shooter is a US soldier and he is in custody," US marine corps lieutenant Tom Garnett, a US military spokesman in Iraq, told reporters.

The New York Times adds some perspective to the tragedy:

The killings appeared to be the worst case of soldier-on-soldier violence among the American forces based in Iraq since the invasion more than six years ago.
The shootings, which took place at a stress clinic, highlight the problem of post-traumatic stress disorder among U.S. soldiers, notes the Guardian:

Stress is one of the biggest killers of US soldiers in Iraq. About a fifth of all US troops are thought to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, contributing to high divorce and suicide rates. An estimated one fifth of the 4,292 members of the US force in Iraq have died from non-combat causes, either in accidents or from suicide.
***UPDATE*** According to Fox News, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs Monday relayed President Obama's response to the tragedy. Obama expressed shock and sadness and is promising to fully investigate what exactly transpired at Camp Liberty, so as to prevent such incidents in the future.

***UPDATE*** AP has another update. The shooting was at a 'stress clinic':

Pentagon officials say five Americans are dead after a U.S. soldier opened fire at a U.S. base in Baghdad. They say the attacker is in custody.

The officials say the shootings happened on Camp Liberty at a stress clinic, where troops can go for help with the stresses of combat or stress from personal issues.

One senior military official in Washington says it's unclear whether those killed are workers at the clinic or were there for counseling. He says officials also are unsure whether all the dead are members of the military.

***UPDATE*** ABC News reports that the U.S. soldier who attacked fellow troops on a U.S, base in Iraq has killed five of them and is now in custody. Initial reports suggested that he had turned the gun on himself after his rampage.

***UPDATE*** AP now reports that the U.S. soldier who went on a rampage against his fellow troops in Iraq may have survived the incident:

Pentagon officials say five U.S. soldiers are dead after an American soldier opened fire at a U.S. base in Baghdad.

The officials say the shootings happened Monday at Camp Liberty near Baghdad's airport.

One senior military official in Washington said it was not yet clear whether the shooter was among the dead. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the circumstances surrounding the deaths are under investigation.

Initial reports indicated the Army soldier shot several others, then turned the gun on himself. But it was unclear whether he, too, had died.

***UPDATE*** CNN reports that 3 other U.S. soldiers were wounded during the friendly fire incident that has left 5 U.S. troops dead. An American soldier killed 4 of his fellow troops before killing himself.

According to the Washington Post, it is the single greatest loss of life in a single incident involving U.S. soldiers since a truck bomb last month took the lives of 5 American soldiers.

***UPDATE*** CNN has just sent out a breaking news alert reporting that senior defense officials have told the network that a US soldier killed 4 of his fellow troops before killing himself. Check back for more information.

McClatchy is reporting that a shooting at a U.S. base in Baghdad has left 5 soldiers dead. The shooting occurred at Camp Liberty, a base near the Baghdad airport.

We live in Illinois.

He would be taking my youngest son with him also.  The total cost of the trip for the two of them would easily be $2000 since my DH does not get paid for taking time off work.  If he takes this trip that would mean no vacation for me or my other two kids next year since that's pretty much all we can afford is one vacation a year.  She is insisting her only brother (DH) be there at the actual ceremony which is on a Tuesday evening.  Then afterwards they plan on going out to dinner to celebrate - no party that would be it.

I would rather we go the following week, drive the entire family and stay the week and celebrate the whole week with them.  My son graduates high school in two years and I don't expect her to be at the ceremony for that.  We probably wouldn't have enough tickets for her anyway.

DH doesn't have the guts to tell her "No" since she's laying the guilt trip pretty thick. 

Do you think we are obligated to go to the ceremony?  She has more than enough family members that live over there that could attend (grandparents, aunts, uncles, her other children).

Thanks for any input. 

what works to keep you in budget if you have one?   My husband and teenager went WAY over budget last year for Christmas so this year I've told them that it's cash only for their purchases and no internet shopping (that got them in trouble last year buying too much stuff because they didn't bother to track how much they were spending).

We've got $1300 budgeted for this Christmas.  That includes $150 each kid for Santa gifts (2 kids), $100 each for my husband and myself to get each other something, each of us gets $100 total to get gifts for each other (i.e. kids get $100 to buy gifts for each other as well as we parents), $50 each allotted for our 3 parents, $25/each alotted for each of our siblings  (small gifts always given - agreed amongst siblings years ago) and $50 to get gifts for the kids teachers and bus drivers.  It sure adds up, doesn't it? 

The night after Thanksgiving, we order a large pizza for dinner, watch Christmas Vacation and Polar Express, and then drink hot chocolate while the kids decorate the Christmas tree and the cats act like kittens again.  What does everyone else do?

Of course, there are zillions of commercials now with Christmas coming up.  I just had to tell you my favorite and see if you have one. This would be fun.  This week, there have been tons of diamond commercials on TV, Zales, etc.  There is one where the family comes down the stairs and somebody is sneaking a look in a present (it should be one of the kids).  All they show is the mom and a close up of her face being caught! Then they say something about diamonds etc.  I usually don't pay attention to commercials but I love that! She looks like a real mom, and I felt like that was what I would do, getting caught at sneaking a look. (Of course it would not be diamonds, but I'd still get caught even if it was a blender LOL).

Saturday, we have a huge craft show to go to, followed by 3 baseball games of my boys', followed by some serious picnicking Saturday evening.

As for Sunday, fairly relaxing, a little work in the morning and evening, visiting family in the afternoon and picnicking some more.

Monday should be a fairly quiet day - a little work in the morning and evening, a late morning Memorial Day parade and early afternoon picnicking, maybe a movie with the kids!

Love this weekend -- gets me started on a great summer!

Just ONE day a year that we all are nice, friendly, nonjudgmental, noncritical, etc.

My dad saying (when I was age 4 to 6) that there was an elf that would hop on his shoulder every morning when he got in the car to go to work and ask if I had been good the day before. I can remember waiting for him to get home and then excitedly asking him if he talked to the elf...ok, now I'm misty eyed!

Waiting in the longest line to get Cabbage Patch Kids for my daughters when they first came out....lucky enough to get ones with decent enough names and birthdates close to my girls' birthdays.

Making the dreaded yam/sweet potato casserole at Thanksgving and ALWAYS  setting the marshmallow bag on the hot oven door, thus melting the plastic, nice touch.

Realizing that I don't care if I have to pay full price, I do not shop the day after Thanksgiving any more!