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June 30, 2004
Hot! Hot! Hot!
Imagine sitting inside a furnace with someone tossing sand in your face through an industrial strength fan. If you're wearing full body armor and carrying a weapon, you might be in Iraq. My son said that after 8 hours of post duty last year, he'd pour a pint of sweat out of each of his boots - and trying to sleep in 115 degree heat was impossible. He'd doze off and wake up in a pool of sweat.
LCpl Valliere reports in from at Camp Taqaddum:
Even with the temperature consistently climbing into the triple-digits, operational commitments aren't going to change. Therefore, the Marines are taking extra precautions to make working in the heat less dangerous.Highs from June through September are expected to average a scorching 110 degrees, while the predicted low rests at an average of 75 degrees during the night, said Gunnery Sgt. James M. Kubacak, 32, the 1st Force Service Support Group's chief weather forecaster.
 Photo by: Lance Cpl. Samuel Bard Valliere | Cpl. Joseph J. Jones and Lance Cpl. Miranda G. Brown sit under camouflaged netting to shield themselves from the Iraqi sun while guarding the flight line at Camp Taqaddum on June 30, 2004. |
Would you like to help make the troops a bit more comfortable? Here's how you can help. Last year, I sent several hundred cool ties to Marines in my son's company and to other battalions throughout Iraq. These ties are very simple to sew - just a tube of fabric with polyacrimide crystals inside. When soaked in water, the crystals will hold 200 times their weight in water. Our troops wear them around their necks or under their helmets, providing an evaporative cooling effect. They make a difference. Shane said that when the cool ties arrived, it was better than cookies. From my Marine, that is high praise indeed.
Here's a picture of some that will be mailed today to the 1st LAR:
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The cool tie on the far right is made of snakeskin print fabric. The Marines who got these last year loved them - said it was like wearing a boa constrictor around their necks.
This outreach is possible with the help of an amazing group of expert sewers with big hearts who took our troops on as a project. This year, Patricia Bullock and Mona Rettig have each sewn hundreds of cool ties that will help make the summer heat a bit more bearable.
There are more troops that need these cool ties. The wives and mothers of the 1st LAR are busy sewing the 1,000 ties needed for our Marines with that unit. I'm mailing 100 ties today that my local group of volunteers have just completed. But there are more Marines, sailors, and soldiers who need these ties.
If you have extra fabric, a bit of time, and can sew a straight seam, there are troops who would benefit from your effort. If you can't sew but know someone who does, please spread the word. If you know of a group who might like to take this on as an outreach project, please give them this information. I will mail instructions for the ties to anyone who would like to help. If you can't sew, don't know anyone who does, but have a bit of cash (it won't take much) to help, get in touch with me. We can make this happen.
As the above picture shows, the material used does not have to be fashionable. It does have to be 100% cotton in order to wick properly. I shop the bargain bins at Walmart and JoAnne's fabric and have never paid more than $2/yard for ugly but servicable fabric. The crystals can be ordered through www.watersorb.com. 5 lbs. of crystals will make 250 cool ties since each tie takes only 2 tsp. And postage is reasonable. I can priority mail 50 ties in a large envelope for under $9.
If this is something that you can help with, please let me know via comment or e-mail to deb @ marinecorpsmoms.com (remove spaces). You can make a difference
NOTE: Because of comment spam, I've turned off comments to this thread but we're still sewing coolties - just e-mail me for directions.
Posted by Deb at June 30, 2004 11:50 AM
Comments
Dear Deb,
I want to thank you and your volunteers WHOLEHEARTEDLY for your wonderful support of 1st LAR Marines!!!
You guys rock!!!
We're all so excited about working on more neck coolers and you will be getting alot more volunteers to keep your program going.
I have been reading your blog everyday since I first found it. I thank you for providing us with the GOOD news instead of mainstream media's focus on the bad!! I am a huge fan of yours.
Semper Fidelis and URRRAHHHH!!
Carrie Costantini
1st LAR wife
Posted by: Carrie at July 2, 2004 04:07 PM
would you post up the instructions plz?
came across this site in a google search, going to fill in the about us section soon?
Posted by: Pat at July 8, 2004 03:30 PM
To Deb,
Please send me the instructions for the cool ties. I would like to make and send them to the troops. My son is back from Iraq, but I still like to do things for the troops still there.
Thanks1
Phyllis
Posted by: Phyllis at July 8, 2004 08:30 PM
My daughter Grace is a Marine. She is in the middle east. I was really glad to find your cool scarves.I know that some of the people have made these and you can buy them for $4.00 and send them to the Middle East. Is is better for your efforts to buy them or make them yourself.
Thanks for your effort,
Mike and Martha
Posted by: Martha L. Kelly at July 9, 2004 08:14 AM
Deb,
I am willing to help. Is there a PO that we can send them to when we are finished? My son is a First Class scout and needs to participate in a service project, so if you can put up the directions and a PO Box to mail them to on your site, I am so there.
I also need to reduce the fabric stash...but I will pass this on to others. Thanks!
Posted by: La Femme Crickita at July 19, 2004 02:56 AM
Please e-mail the directions to me. I have several friends that I would like to approach about working on this wonderful project. My son just arrived in Iraq two days ago(1st LAR)! Does anyone know of a family support group in the Indianapolis, IN area?
Posted by: Janet at July 26, 2004 06:29 PM
PLease send the directions for the cool ties and would you have directions for the sand scarves?
There is a yellow ribbon group in our community that will be making them. Thanks Lois Look forward to hearing from you
Posted by: Lois at August 5, 2004 04:12 PM
Hi,
I found this site while searching on google for directions on how to make the sand scarves. I am already making the cool ties, would like to know how to make the scarves also if you have the directions. My sons unit is about to head to Iraq for their second deployment there. Thanks in advance,
Geri
Posted by: Geri Stephens at August 18, 2004 06:15 AM
I sent an e-mail several weeks ago about this.
I've made 72 Cool Ties. Can you help me with a home for them? My son was an MD at Camp Pendleton and got me started on this project.
Gwen Roberts
locustlg@sbcglobal.net
4211 Locust
Odessa, TX 79762-5712
Posted by: Gwen Roberts at September 19, 2004 05:41 AM
Dear Deb,
My son is a Lcpl with 1st LAR, Co. D. He is on his way home from Iraq at the current time. I, and a friend, have made about 200 of the ties! Where can I send them to now? You can e-mail me at YellowBird@Comcast.net.
Also, does anyone know of a Marine Parent Support group in the Indianapolis, IN area?
Janet
Posted by: Janet at October 7, 2004 07:29 PM
Here it is, about two months since my last post -- when I asked for help in distributing hundreds of cool ties that I have....... I guess I'll have to wait until my son goes back over seas & I'll let him take them in person. Thanks for responding to my post! :(
Posted by: Janet at November 29, 2004 06:19 PM
My son left January 3rd for Iraq and I would be interested in the instruction on making these to send to his Company.
Thanks,
Linda Wilson
Posted by: Linda Wilson at January 19, 2005 05:44 PM
Cool Tie pattern:
http://www.p2designs.com/ShipCooler.htm
Posted by: Soutane at May 18, 2005 11:15 AM
I would like to know how to make the sand scarves. I am going to ask my quilting guil about making some cool ties. We mailed a lot of phone cards to the troops and now maybe we can send them other things. Thank you so very much.
Posted by: Peggy Sewell at May 8, 2006 06:31 AM