Books for Service Members request!

[SciFiJim]

228824

My daughter is currently deployed and has asked me to help her get a reading library set up for her squadron. For security reasons, personal electronics are banned from ready areas and flights (where they spend a large amount of time sitting and waiting), so paperback books are preferred. Could anyone that is interested and willing help me by sending some books her way? Science fiction, mysteries, westerns, etc. would be appreciated. Think about what a young service member would like to read to pass the time. Visiting a used book store where paperbacks are cheap and filling a box with various types would be ideal. Because Rule 1 applies where she is, porn it forbidden (besides, you would be sending it to my daughter, so please don’t). The Post Office provides special rates for sending packages overseas. The info is HERE (https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm).

I would rather not post her address in public, so anyone interested in helping, please PM me and I will provide her address

[rancher1913]

have 2 nephews deployed and they love my wife's freeze dried fruit, no weight and quick snack on the run. maybe include something with the books to pass out to the service members that don't have anybody to send them a care package. you can pm me the address and we will put something together, could she give us an idea of type of books that are preferred: self help, science fiction, puzzle books, ?.

[jdfoxinc]

I now read ebooks only and have two walls of shelves of sci fi and fantasy. I'll look into what boxes to use. PM her address to me.

[SciFiJim]

have 2 nephews deployed and they love my wife's freeze dried fruit, no weight and quick snack on the run. maybe include something with the books to pass out to the service members that don't have anybody to send them a care package. you can pm me the address and we will put something together, could she give us an idea of type of books that are preferred: self help, science fiction, puzzle books, ?.

She requested all genres. I like science fiction, but realize that not everyone does. A wide selection that everyone can choose from would be best.
PM inbound.

[SciFiJim]

I now read ebooks only and have two walls of shelves of sci fi and fantasy. I'll look into what boxes to use. PM her address to me.
Thanks, PM inbound

[Wag]

Send me a PM. My late wife left me a lot of books that I was about to take to Goodwill but I'll be happy to box them up and send to your daughter. I have no idea what their composition is but consider them yours.

--Wag--

[SciFiJim]

Send me a PM. My late wife left me a lot of books that I was about to take to Goodwill but I'll be happy to box them up and send to your daughter. I have no idea what their composition is but consider them yours.

--Wag--

Thanks, PM inbound.

[Handloader109]

PM me her address. I have a wall full of old Science Fiction and a few others genres that I'll pull a box from.
Good for her!

[bdicki]

PM her address I have some to send, I use these guys.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/

[xs11jack]

If you don't have books but want to send some. Go to your nearest Goodwill Outlet store. They have tons of books and renew the bins about every 1/2 hr. They charge by the inch. you lay the books on the counter in a pile and they measure the height of the pile and charge 20 cents an inch!! How is that for a deal!!
Ole Jack

[MT Gianni]

How about books on CD?

[SciFiJim]

How about books on CD?

Her command has banned all personal electronics from secure areas. While there are electronic devices that don't record and are specifically designed for use in secure areas, the command decided it was easier to ban them all instead of trying to keep track of which is which. A CD would need a player (probably a laptop now-a-days). So, thank you, but I am not sure it could be used.

[Jake McCracken]

PM sent...

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[abunaitoo]

That is a great idea.
I wonder if the USO or a local military base could help with the shipping????

[psweigle]

Please send me in pm her address. I can and will most definitely help. Thank her for her service.

[St. Hogustine]

How many does she want? I have some connections at the local library and literacy council.

[alamogunr]

It looks like she may be inundated with books. I'm willing but will wait until the dust settles to see if more are needed. This site really supports our service members.

Also, I recommend that the shipping boxes be kept to a reasonable size. Several years ago our church was asked to send items to a member's son that was serving in a foreign area. I made the mistake of sending two really large boxes of contributed material. The feedback we got thanked us but asked that any further shipments be in smaller boxes. He had to hand carry those boxes over a mile. Took two slow trips.

[Wag]

The feedback we got thanked us but asked that any further shipments be in smaller boxes. He had to hand carry those boxes over a mile. Took two slow trips.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I have quite the pile of books to send!

--Wag--

[MstrEddy]

From having been there, I'll mention, USPS Flat Rate boxes work out pretty well, but I don't know if the media mail rates will apply. But, a similar size box will work out. Shipping to APO or FPO is sometimes about getting space on the final transport in theater. Smaller or medium packages such as the FRB will fit in the shipping bags and crates well.
OP, my best wishes to your daughter and her squadron mates.
Please let us know how they do, and I'll contribute my share as needed. PM me the details.
It's a shame the command won't allow the electronics. When I last deployed my sister and nephew gave me a Kindle reader just before I left and I was able to fill it with 30-40 books that kept me entertained for most of the trip.

[nvbirdman]

Box full of books sent today.

[nicholst55]

It's a shame the command won't allow the electronics.

It may well not be up to the Squadron commander - this type of policy is frequently dictated from way, way above. For instance, our current laptops don't even have CD drives in them - and it was a choice dictated by security, not economy - from Big Army.

[jdfoxinc]

I just ordered large flat rate boxes. Should I have ordered the APO boxes instead?

[Jake McCracken]

I just ordered large flat rate boxes. Should I have ordered the APO boxes instead?When i went to get the APO boxes they were out of stock. They said they are the same as regular LG flat rate boxes. She told me to use them and the discount will be applied when they see the APO address. So you should be fine.

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[jdfoxinc]

If she starts getting too many books could she supply us with other APOs in need?

[SciFiJim]

If she starts getting too many books could she supply us with other APOs in need?

Thank you for the generous response. At this point there are enough people promising books to have her squadron well supplied. I will find out if she has any friends/contacts with other squadrons.

[Jake McCracken]

My box is on its way. PM'd tracking info

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[skeettx]

AND with the books put in some McDonalds hamburger/cheeseburger wrappers,
They are a great hit in the mess hall
Mike

[beagle]

Have her to go through her squadron adjutant to Recreation Services back in the states and request books. These folks have cases and cases already prepackaged to ship to overseas deployed GIs. When in Honduras some time back, I got cases and cases of new paperbacks of varied subjects and set up a small library in my Orderly Tent. I opened about 3 cases and spread the word. When the shelves got down a bit, I'd open another case and stock the shelves. In about 3 months, I got another shipment. Must have received 30 cases while we were down there./beagle

[SciFiJim]

Have her to go through her squadron adjutant to Recreation Services back in the states and request books. These folks have cases and cases already prepackaged to ship to overseas deployed GIs. When in Honduras some time back, I got cases and cases of new paperbacks of varied subjects and set up a small library in my Orderly Tent. I opened about 3 cases and spread the word. When the shelves got down a bit, I'd open another case and stock the shelves. In about 3 months, I got another shipment. Must have received 30 cases while we were down there./beagle

I'll pass that along. She messaged me that she received her first box today.

[SciFiJim]

My daughter has received five boxes so far.
Thank You to:
John Lifer
Mary Rankin
Bruce Dickinson
Patrick Spera
The McCrackens

[Jake McCracken]

Glad they made it! Hope her efforts pay off!

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[SciFiJim]

I spoke to my daughter last night. It was already Thanksgiving there. She asked me to thank everyone that sent boxes and to ask everyone to please not send any more books. They are running out of room for all that have been sent. :p Everyone in her squadron is also enjoying the other gifts and snacks that have been included in the boxes.
These boxes have been received. Thank you to:

Military Supporter in Denver

Tom Dratler

Patrick Spera

Dick Day

Also there were several boxes from Amazon Fulfillment that didn’t have the name of the sender.

I want to thank everyone that helped in this endeavor. Reading for pleasure has always been one of my favorite pastimes. The response to help my daughter and her shipmates has truly warmed my heart and added another thing to be thankful for today on Thanksgiving.

When you gather around the table today with friends and family, please remember to include the service members away from home today in your prayers.

Thank You and Happy Thanksgiving.

[jdfoxinc]

Dang I was just packing my next box. Any feed back on other squadrons ships boats in need?

[nvbirdman]

Saw my name on there, always nice to get a personal thank you.

[SciFiJim]

Dang I was just packing my next box. Any feed back on other squadrons ships boats in need?

After starting to get side eye glances from everyone because of all the boxes she received, my daughter's comment to them was, "My dad KNOWS people!" That warmed my heart and got a chuckle from me. Everyone loved getting the books, but was especially glad to see the snacks and treats that were in the boxes.

If you are interested in sending some treats for Christmas, the post office has advised mailing them by December 11th. My wife and I are putting together our Christmas box now. Candy, jerky, and like items as well as Christmas cards would be well received.

This is the first Christmas that my daughter will be away and my wife is already taking it pretty hard. When you pray for the service members that will be away for the holidays, please include the families that will have an empty spot at home.