What to send in a care package?

[DaveBB]

Good friend and  former coworker of mine is in the Army Reserves.   Deployed to some dangerous areas to inspect fuel depots.  Middle East and Afghanistan.  His MOS is 92F.  What are some good things I can send him in his care package?

On top of that, for those who have been in a combat zone, is there a book or primer that you wished you had read before deploying?

[Ratsy]

Brownies.  Pounds and pounds of them.

Big hit with the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance guys at Al Taif.

 

[Maverick]

Beef jerky, not the cheap kind, the thick cut moister stuff. Foot powder, soap, wet wipes, candy, magazines (not porn that will end up getting confiscated), cookies preferably the individually wrapped kind, drink mix, like tea lemonade and so on. AA and AAA batteries, hand lotion, good stuff not the cheap dollar store stuff, chapstick / carmex, decent flip flops, maybe a wash cloth and hand towel, sun screen, bug juice (off or other DEET kind)
Other stuff you think they might like when there is no access to regular stores.

[hgtonyvi]

Energy bars, powder drink mixes, cigarettes, lotion, soap, wet wipes......you get the idea, whatever will be good for daily living.

[ebfd11]

One thing they also could use is prepaid telephone cards to call home with. The biggest thing is to hear from loved ones.

LawnDart

[Mister Fork]

Kraft Dinner
Peanut Butter (that's worth it's weight in gold)
Packs of KoolAid
Couple pair of sunglasses (you go through a lot in desert conditions)
Magazines... (of various types)
Candies (the kind that won't melt in the heat)
sunscreen
Writing pad and a bunch of pencils

And if you have room. Couple rolls of good quality toilet paper. That really helps out in the end...