Contact info for son serving in Afghanistan

I’ve posted a few items discussing my son who is now serving in Afghanistan. He is an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) specialist with the Air Force and is now stationed at Khandahar Air Base in Afghanistan.

I just got off the phone with him! (hell of a good kid – found the time to call me to wish me a happy b-day!). It was great to hear his voice and spend a few minutes chatting with him. He’s very upbeat and loving his job. They’ve done some ‘humanitarian missions’ – going into town handing out food and treats to the kids and he’s had a few ‘disposal’ runs (gets to blow stuff up). All in all, he’s doing great and doing great things.

I asked him if it would be OK to post his email address on this board – several members have asked if they could send emails to him. He thought that was a fine idea. Our guys and gals out there love to hear from home. So, here’s his official email address:

[email protected]

He has a birthday coming up on the 10th. I think it would be fantastic if he got a bunch of well-wishes and huzzahs from IDA.

Glenn

PS: he also said they love to get ‘care packages’… I told him that all he might get from people on this site is packages of frozen fish! If you’re so inclined to want to send something, send a PM to me and I’ll forward his address…

Thank you King

I want to send an email now, but I’ll throw the email address in my calendar so I can send him one on his birthday. I am absolutely humbled by brave men and women like your son.

Thanks for posting Glenn and I’ll be sure to get something off to him on the 10th. I suppose for him to read it on the 10th we’ll need to send on the 9th, later in the day?

Happy Birthday yourself! (If I read that correctly)!

Eric

Hi Eric… yeah, he’s 10+ hours or so ahead of us (he called me before noon and said it was after 10pm there).

I would be honored to write to your son. I have been writing to the men and women of the armed forces for years. Can I get his mailing address, to send little care packages once in awhile. Thanks

Happy Birthday old man!

I’ll be sending a note after dinner.

(I would send one on the 9th…but I can’t remember the WF’s birthday much less anyone elses! )

Sent him an e-mail today, and will again on the 10th.

Quote:

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I would be honored to write to your son. I have been writing to the men and women of the armed forces for years. Can I get his mailing address, to send little care packages once in awhile. Thanks

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Here’s his address:

SrA Douglas Smits
451 AEG/EOD
APO AE09355

This site is the best! Thanks to all for your support. I know he’ll appreciate it…

Quote:

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Happy Birthday old man!

I’ll be sending a note after dinner.

(I would send one on the 9th…but I can’t remember the WF’s birthday much less anyone elses! )

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Well, you know Brian, memory is the second thing to go!

[and who you calling ‘old man’???? I may just have to hit you over the head with my walker next time I see you! ]

email sent !!! Thank you.

big g

Got an email from my son… he said he’s gotten some emails and said it was great! I just want to thank all that have sent/will be sending messages over there. It really does mean a lot to our guys/gals serving…

Email sent

God speed and best wishes to you and your son.

For those that are going to be sending care packages I would offer up the following ideas on items to send. I was stationed at Kandahar myself very early after 9-11 so things have changed a bit since I was there , But some things are always timely.Teh following is in no specific order of preferance..
– magazines/ books (adult reading material is contraband, but some guys still asked for it)
– dvd’s (content at discretion of sender)
– games(both electronic and board)
– velveeta cheese( yes cheese as real cheese was impossible to come by it was all powdered. This may have changed by now though)
– wet wipes (very, very dusty there nuff said)
– canned air for computer cleaning
– cookies (send the moist kind ie chewy chips ahoy etc. as homemade generally arrive as dry crumbs)
– powdered drink mix
– easy mac mac and cheese mix(this was huge)
– just a hand written letter is great. Soldiers love it when we get off of work and there is a letter sitting on our rack waiting for us

These are but a very few things that were frequently requested by myself and others. Basically if your at a loss just look around at your house apt or whatever at the things that you think are everyday items. Those are the kinds of things we missed the most. Like I said before this list is in no certain order and is meant to give out a few ideas.

E-Mail sent.

E-mail sent. Our Prays and Thought are with you and your son.

i sent him one as well, little late on the bday thing, oh well, better late than never i guess.

shane

thought I’d post a quick update… Doug (my son) wanted me to thank all of you that have sent along emails and packages. He really appreciates hearing from home!

He said the last week or so was “pretty interesting”. They had some ‘excitement’ at the base and nearby areas. Can’t really go into too much detail but one thing that I did read on the wires was that a suspected suicide bomber was shot at the base. From what I read, the guy was told to stop but kept coming forward, chanting, and that he had what appeared to be wires sticking out from under his garments. They fired warning shots but he didn’t stop so they then ‘stopped him’. Messed up stuff…