Some people looking for mail....

[NYPinTA]

Edit: Ok, change of plans... (the full message is on page two of this very thread.)

Originally posted by Twich


If you want to send greetings, here are some sites that will let you. They will mean just as much. Trust me.

http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/

And this site allows you to "donate" a care package AND send donations of current movies/dvds FOR said package:

http://www.usometrodc.org/care.html

Please check those out and see what you can do for a military member this holiday season. And guys....I love you all. I really do. Your generous spirits are so gentle and caring. Thank you.

[samati75]

Just wanted to add... thanks for the address. The military no longer allows mail "TO ANY SOLDIER" because of security reasons.

[NYPinTA]

I remember reading that somewhere. Sad. I guess it is up the guys like this womans husband who are making lists and putting it out there for people to see.

[samati75]

My sister's husband, my step-sister's husband, two cousins (brothers) are all over there. My sister's husband has been to Qatar twice in a year. He came home from April/May-ish to September (got to see my nephew born) and then left. My sis is stuck in Raeford, NC w/ a 6 month old, not really knowing anyone, and can't really work. She's too far away from Fayetteville and you know how much daycare costs... But, yipee, she and mom and baby are coming to O-town on the 26th!!! I haven't met either the hubby or the baby yet, so I can't wait!

[NYPinTA]

I don't know anyone who is over there, which I guess is lucky, but it also makes me a bit disconnected from it too. I can't really relate to how much it must suck, but I can imagine.

So, you get to meet your nephew at 6months? Cool.

I picked 5 of these at random, so if anyone is going to do it, maybe we should post who we picked so as to spread out the Scaper love.

[edited by mod]

[NYPinTA]

I am bumping this before I go home because I think it is a good idea. And I would like to come back here tomarrow and see that every name on the list is accounted for at least once. I mean, there are only 70 people on this list, which should be no problem for us right?! Right.

Thanks for listening to my pathetic attempt at a "Twichy Rant." :D It was supposed to be inspirational... :lol
G'night.

[eta_carinae]

Oh man, I am so excited about this. I've always wanted to send something to a soldier, but since I don't know any I didn't really have any way to let them know how important they are. Thanks NYPinTA! This is awesome!

[LiLOrion]

I'll being writing to these people. It does cost the same amount to send a letter to an APO address right? There isnt any extra postage or anything, I mean, just so I know.

Also, when was the list last updated? Just so we know they are all still at these addresses.

Thanks for posting these buy the way. Its a cool idea. I cant believe some of these people dont get any mail whatsoever.


[edited by mod]

[Shipscat]

I'll take this one.

[edited]

[samati75]

DO they have VCRs? I think it would be easy to tape movies off of a movie channel (as we are not distributing them for profit) and send the newest ones over. Or a few epps of a popular show, like (gasp) Friends. AND Farscape (duh). Lemme see what my brother in laws address is... but I'll pick someone from the top, too.

[stlscape]

This sounds like a terrific idea!

[ChianaMuse]

oOoOoOo! I wanna help! :D
but I'm not very creative, any suggestions as to what to send? or what is anyone else going to send?

[BrowderChick]

I will be sending a card and note to ALL of them. I have a couple of friends over there and one very special person there as well. You can count on me to lift some spirits!!

[StarsGoBlue]

My students and I will adopt these soldiers:

[edited]

*****Stars :groove:

[StarsGoBlue]

Oh, forgot to ask... does anyone know how long it takes a package to get to the APO in Europe? (APO AE?)

[Dominar of Action]

Guys, I'm sorry about editing your posts to delete the addresses. But there are *very* real security concerns, not to mention privacy concerns, about making such identifying information public. We have verified this with military personnel, who take this stuff very seriously and who asked us to remove the information ASAP.

Thanks for your understanding. I know everyone's heart is in the right place, but I also know that none of us wants to risk doing something that will jeopardize anyone's safety.

[Twich]

Thanks DoA. I've done some research on this and it violates several military privacy acts and the information that was listed is VERY VERY sensitive information. Inadvertently (cause I know you guys didn't realize it) it says a LOT about squadrons, battalions, and personal information about injured, etc. This is NOT supposed to be public knowledge and the active duty people that I spoke with (and one former Marine) flipped out and asked if we could please remove it from the board.

Also, if you see this posted elsewhere, could you either let us know or let the moderators of that board know?

If you guys have any questions or concerns, go ahead and email me at twich@watchfarscape.com or send me a pm.

Thanks for understanding. I love you guys!

Edited to add:

If you want to send greetings, here are some sites that will let you. They will mean just as much. Trust me.

http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/

And this site allows you to "donate" a care package AND send donations of current movies/dvds FOR said package:

http://www.usometrodc.org/care.html

Please check those out and see what you can do for a military member this holiday season. And guys....I love you all. I really do. Your generous spirits are so gentle and caring. Thank you.

[LiLOrion]

I hope this doesnt screw up this person's website, cause they mean well of course, but in another thread there was mention of this site:

booksforsoldiers.com

That seems to be where ALL of those addresses came from, plus quite a few more. There is also a part of the website where there are no addresses listed cause the soldiers's addresses need to remain "private". I'm not sure who runs the site, but if they have a part of the site devoted to those soldiers that cant give their address out, does this mean they checked with someone about posting the other addresses they have?

Quite a few people have responded to that site already (not only from here I would assume). Actually, it looks like they have the permission of the soldier to post the addresses cause how else would they get them?

Personally, I have no idea what the heck I'm reading when I read the APO address. :)

------------
Ummm, are we still allowed to write to the people we have addresses for? I live a stone's throw away from Willow Grove Naval Air Station and I dont want to be greeted by MPs at my front door one morning. :)


So does this mean that that Scaper that posted her APO address on the Farscape board at SciFi.com (and also was cross posted here) wasnt supposed to put her APO address on the internet?


I'm asking a bunch of questions, sorry. I know a few of you here are military or military families so you'll know better than I do

[Twich]

Originally posted by LiLOrion
I hope this doesnt screw up this person's website, cause they mean well of course, but in another thread there was mention of this site:

booksforsoldiers.com I've contacted them. They have some highly sensitive information available in public locations there and I am POSITIVE they aren't aware that this information is being posted elsewhere on the internet.



Originally posted by LiLOrion
That seems to be where ALL of those addresses came from, plus quite a few more. There is also a part of the website where there are no addresses listed cause the soldiers's addresses need to remain "private". I'm not sure who runs the site, but if they have a part of the site devoted to those soldiers that cant give their address out, does this mean they checked with someone about posting the other addresses they have?

Quite a few people have responded to that site already (not only from here I would assume). Actually, it looks like they have the permission of the soldier to post the addresses cause how else would they get them?

Personally, I have no idea what the heck I'm reading when I read the APO address. :)

It wasn't so much the APO address as battalions that were listed, personal information about injuries, attacks, etc...even family information. I found a place on that site where people are cautioned against posting such things. They just don't seem to be moderating it after people DO post them. As to having permission, some of the soldiers may have posted the information themselves...which is one thing (I believe) but it shouldn't be posted publicly by anyone else. Even a family member. Just because you don't know what information may be contained in the address that could be sensitive.

------------

Originally posted by LiLOrion

Ummm, are we still allowed to write to the people we have addresses for? I live a stone's throw away from Willow Grove Naval Air Station and I dont want to be greeted by MPs at my front door one morning. :)

It's totally at your own discretion whether you write to these folks or not. I just don't know if they posted the information or if it's from someone else...or if these people are even still there. I also don't know what any outcome might be. I doubt you'll have MPs at your door, but you might get contacted and asked about where you got the address if it wasn't a posting on the up and up. If you want to do something at Willow Grove, I have MWR's information. They might be able to help something happen there.


Originally posted by LiLOrion
So does this mean that that Scaper that posted her APO address on the Farscape board at SciFi.com (and also was cross posted here) wasnt supposed to put her APO address on the internet?

It isn't so much the APO/AE addresses that are the problem. A lot of the addresses that were listed included private home addresses, personal information about who they were, etc...AND battalion/squadron info that IS sensitive. No one on the internet needs to broadcast what battalion is deployed to locations OR what squadrons are stationed at bases. That's extremely sensitive info that shouldn't get into the wrong hands. It could put our men and women in harm's way. Also, she posted it herself, (as far as we know ;) ) and that's different than someone else posting it. (That's all a little hazy to me.)


Originally posted by LiLOrion
I'm asking a bunch of questions, sorry. I know a few of you here are military or military families so you'll know better than I do

Don't sweat it. Ask away. You won't get the answers unless you do. The military really isn't something to be afraid of. No one is going to come and drag you away or anything. It's more for THEIR protection than yours. The bad guys want to get their hands on any/everything they can with regards to the military and how and where they operate. The internet is a great place to 'catch' people off guard and find a LOT of info.

:D

Again, that USO package project is cool. They do ask for current movies/dvds to be donated...and you can send personal messages to folks as well.

Thanks for understanding guys. Really.