Author Topic: Operation AC for the troops (Read 552 times)

CMC Airboss · « **on:** August 25, 2003, 01:56:26 PM »

The mother of a soldier, whose son is stationed in Iraq, is sending nearly 1000 air conditioners to our troops in that region. Her motivation? She sent one to her son and received numerous requests for more. A few strategic partnerships, non-profit business startup, and many donations later, she's getting ready to send the second shipment of 500 air conditioners. And she hasn't stopped there!

She's readying a set of shipments in the October time frame for thousands of heaters. Then there are the many personal items that our soldiers need that are not getting to many troops.

Perhaps not surprisingly, she has run into problems. The US Postal Service decided to stop the shipments on the mistaken belief that the air conditions contained the banned Freon. These new A/C units are CFC free per government regs but still the US PS refuses to ship. And its not like their services were being donated - they were charging full shipment rates prior to the service termination. DHL has stepped up to the plate and will manage the remaining shipments.

A citizen mom helping out her son, and the sons and daughters that make up our troops in Iraq.

https://www58.safesecureweb.com/operationac/index.htm

So, a big to Frankie Mayo for taking the initiative to do some good for a whole lot of people.

MiG

rpm · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2003, 02:12:39 PM »

I wonder how many a/c units they could have bought for the cost of that carrier landing photo op. Sad that civilians have to provide these to the troops, but very cool (no pun intended) that someone stepped up to the plate and did it. I've also heard motorcycle/ski goggles are a premium item to have there.

AKWeav · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2003, 02:33:14 PM »

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I wonder how many a/c units they could have bought for the cost of that carrier landing photo op.

Spoken like a true Liberal.

Rude · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2003, 02:43:54 PM »

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Originally posted by rpm371
I wonder how many a/c units they could have bought for the cost of that carrier landing photo op. Sad that civilians have to provide these to the troops, but very cool (no pun intended) that someone stepped up to the plate and did it. I've also heard motorcycle/ski goggles are a premium item to have there.

Sacrifice, service and personal involvement in a US war effort is nothing new....WW2 is your example.

Mini D · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2003, 03:54:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm371
I wonder how many a/c units they could have bought for the cost of that carrier landing photo op. Sad that civilians have to provide these to the troops, but very cool (no pun intended) that someone stepped up to the plate and did it. I've also heard motorcycle/ski goggles are a premium item to have there.

Spoken like a kid.

MiniD

AKIron · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2003, 04:04:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm371
I wonder how many a/c units they could have bought for the cost of that carrier landing photo op. Sad that civilians have to provide these to the troops, but very cool (no pun intended) that someone stepped up to the plate and did it. I've also heard motorcycle/ski goggles are a premium item to have there.

The military, for the most part, prides itself on getting the job with whatever resources are available. This has become increasingly important with the dramatic cutbacks over the last decade, almost to point of being gutted.

Of course civilians already provide for just about everything the military has. Taxes, remember.

Dago · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2003, 05:06:40 PM »

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the dramatic cutbacks over the last decade, almost to point of being gutted.

Oh, the last decade you say, you mean those years that Clinton and his ***** were in the White House? Surely you can't be speaking of the man who's administration refused to allow some armor in Somalia to protect the troops. Well, only 18 fine men paid with their lives for that decision.

The list of cutbacks to the military under Clinton is appalling to the point of sickening. I remember thinking it deplorable that under Clinton American servicemen were forced to apply for foodstamps so they could feed their children.

I cannot express adequately how much I depise Clinton and his *****.

dago

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2003, 05:16:40 PM »

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Originally posted by rpm371
I wonder how many a/c units they could have bought for the cost of that carrier landing photo op.

Probably about as many as they could have bought for the cost of having Clinton play a saxophone on MTV and answering the tough questions like 'Boxers or briefs?'

Tumor · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2003, 05:35:39 PM »

Great that the lady is doing this, absolutely awesome.

This is a way (a very appreciated way) for a civilian to show (as opposed to talk) support for the troops. I hope she's recognized appropriately.

Trading the cost of air conditioners for a photo-op that might help the best Commander in Chief we've had for allot of years get a second run? Oh, I think I can speak for most of us military types...

sweat is good!

Raubvogel · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2003, 08:07:43 PM »

When I was playing in the sandbox back in '91 our platoon "acquired" a refrigeration unit from a semi trailer, sandbagged it into the rear door of our GP medium tent and wired to the 5kw generator out back. We could get our tent down to about 55 degrees in the middle of the day

Our tent was very popular.

This is a great thing these folks are doing. It is downright miserable over there right now, I guarantee you.

_Schadenfreude_ · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2003, 01:49:00 AM »

Ok so it's a long time since I was in the infantry in a desert scenario but......

1. If the army wanted you to have an a/c it would have issued you with one.

2. It's 42 degrees celsius outside...solution, drink lots of water.

3. How the hell are you going to get acclimatised for your 12 month stay if you spend most of your time huddled around the whoopee a/c! ( to paraphrase Sgt Major Stone in 1982)

Martlet · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:20:02 AM »

Are they doing this again?

The last I heard, about a week ago, it was on hold. Apparently, they couldn't get them shipped anymore because of the Freon.

I notice there is plenty of other stuff you can send, though.

Dowding · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2003, 04:20:53 AM »

I always find it extraodinary that the military cutbacks in the US arsenal from 1992 onwards are put down to Clinton's economic policy, while making no acknowledgement to the fact the Cold War had just ended and EVERY country on the planet involved in affair was cutting back.

CMC Airboss · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:26:47 PM »

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Originally posted by Martlet
Are they doing this again?

The last I heard, about a week ago, it was on hold. Apparently, they couldn't get them shipped anymore because of the Freon.

Apparently, the US Postal service was simply refusing to continue the shipments and asserting that the use of Freon in the a/c units was the reason for refusal. When shown that the units did not contain banned CFC's, the postmaster still refused to provide shipping services.

DHL took over and they were reportedly shipping out 500 a/c's on 8/24.

How's that for ironic: A for-profit government enterprise is turning down business (and the subsequent profits) while the potential end users of the shipments are fellow government employees!

MiG

fd ski · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:29:51 PM »

isn't most of iraq without power for better part of the day ?