2-way radios, rifle scopes, flack jackets, Plasma Torch Systems

[donsu]

some of the things friends and family have to supply the troops with, by asking for donations, holding raffles, etc.

this is the lastest I've seen:

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/coast/040702biw.shtml

On May 13, an e-mail from a Bath Iron Works employee deployed in Iraq sent shipyard workers running to get a pallet of life-saving tools to the Maine National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion in Mosul. "It said, short and sweet, 'We need something that will cut steel,' " said Rene Bisson, who received the e-mail. "He's one of us and he asked for help."

The request from David Wilkinson started a chain of actions at BIW that ended with three plasma torch systems delivered to Mosul, where they're being used to add critical armor to Humvees. It involved everyone from the company president to employees in procurement and maintenance. Gov. John Baldacci and Guard officials were at the shipyard Thursday to thank everyone for their efforts.

-snip-

The 133rd had more than 400 sheets of metal to cut down and weld onto their Humvees, adding what armor they could to their vehicles in the field. But the battalion had no torches for cutting, and couldn't procure them through military means.

"Torches aren't part of our inventory," said Brig. Gen. John Libby, head of the state's National Guard. "That's not what we do. But Dave knew where they did have torches."

-snip-
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for a number of months there was a large cardboard box at the local grocery, with a sign asking for donations of items for the troops. one of the items needed was tampons and pads for the women.

I burn with anger over the disregard and disdain of the military toward women.

bring all of the troops home NOW