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Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that all product photographs, descriptions and specifications on this website are accurate. However, inadvertent errors may occur, and changes in design or materials, due to our continual effort to improve products, may result in some change in specifications before subsequent publications are issued.
Any Soldier® reserves the right to modify or change specifications without notice.

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Please donate HERE AFTER you request an address.
Chief James T. Van der Donck
- U. S. Navy -
Kuwait
Chief James T. Van der Donck
(Address not available or expired.)
Make a donation, please. Click HERE AFTER you get an address.
(This address has been requested 0 times.) (NOTE **)
Sailor's Title: Chief of Mental Health Clinic Camp Buehring Kuwait
APO/FPO: APO AE (Note 1*)
Added here: 19 February 2005
End date: 20 Jul 2005 (Note 3*)
Contact for approx number of Males: 80, Females: 10 (Note 5*)
Unit is from: (Note 6*)

19 Aug 2005:
My mission in now complete and I leave Kuwait with fond memories and many new friends. I would like to thank all those who supported the troops by allowing me to distribute packages.

My new mission is to rejoin my wife, take a vacation, and start my life again.

Words just fall short for me now as I close this chapter of my life, just know I will never for get those who used Any Soldier to support those in harms way.

Todd vanderDonck

15 Jul 2005

During the invasion by Iraq in 1990 KNB quickly fell to an onslaught of invading Iraq forces. After the Iraq Army took the base, Kuwait Officers and Chiefs of KNB were rounded up and placed on two ships (see photo). Most of them were locked below decks and the remaining Sailors were on the top deck handcuffed to the rails. The ship was then taken out to sea in sight of the KNB and sunk in 30 feet of water.

The two ships have since been recovered and are awaiting a pending memorial to those lost that day in 1990. Most Kuwaiti's will not venture near the ships, since as I understand it, the ship has a bad omen.

Currently the United Sates Navy is protecting KNB using fast attack boats. The boats are equipped with two motors each producing over 370 horse power for speed. For defense or offense there are two 50 caliber machineguns located one forward and one aft. For comfort the boats are equipped with pneumatic seats which make the fast moving craft quite comfortable.

Attached are a few soldiers going north. They are sporting their new Neck Coolers.

Thanks,

Chief vanderDonck

07 Jun 2005

The men photographed are all passing through our camp for only a few days. They were very appreciative of all items sent by those who support AnySoldier.com. They are only here long enough to supply up make some phone calls and go. The phone cards and Mach 3 Razor blades were especially appreciated.

As for me; a few days ago it was about 122 degrees with 10 to 25 mph winds, about average for this time of year. We started our day by discovering the air conditioner had stopped working in the vehicle, however the heater was working well. During the day we traveled over 400 miles with the windows down. Lucky for us the air was dry, this way the sweat just evaporates and the sand just blew off the skin. Downside is when the day was over we were human saltlicks.

Another stop was at the Kuwait International Forest. We affectionately refer to a grouping of three trees that somehow managed to take root and grow 80 miles away from any water as the Kuwait International Forest. This photo gives new meaning to seeing the forest through the trees.

To break the drive up we stopped at the Kuwait Airbase for fuel and snapped some photos. The Mig in the photo was purchased form Russia as part of the Kuwait defense plan. Iraq wiped out the defense system and destroyed most of the hardware in 1990. The plane in the photo was patched and perched on a hill of sand and is now called yard art.

The scorpion's name is waffles (it takes a tough scorpion to be named Waffles). He was found by the helicopter team who do our flight evacuations. Waffles is doing fine and eating locust. Unfortunately, the Camel Spider we caught in the shower did not make it in captivity.   

Sincerely,
Chief vanderDonck

21 May 2005


Hi All,

Wanted to update you all on how my sabbatical in sandbox is going.

The good news:

I will be returning home by December - just in time to enjoy the holidays with the family. This year I will definitely looking forward to spending time with the family at our big holiday extravaganza. There is a slight chance that I might leave earlier but since I started those rumors, do not put too much faith in them :)

Life in Kuwait:

While traveling from camp to camp we were overtaken by a sand storm. During the storm, you could hear sand blasting against the vehicle with such force that you could feel the sand removing the paint. This lasted for sometime until we changed direction and drove out of the storm. The best description of being in a sand storm that I have heard is this: “It is like being in a sauna with a million volt hair dryer blowing sand on you. You stop thinking about the stinging sand particles when you realize you can not breathe.” Not all sand storms are as bad as describe but they do come EVERYDAY! I have yet to meet anyone who has enjoyed the experience of being in a sandstorm (I'm sure there are a few). They are however, a spectacular sight to see. Typical storms are from 15 to 40 mph winds. Daily daytime temps here in Kuwait are around a sizzling 110-130F. Thank goodness for AC!

Many back home have asked about the Camel Spiders. Yes they are real and now that it is summer, they are visiting us. The Spiders in the attached photo were captured in our showering facility by our Preventative Medicine Entomologist. While only an infant, I was assured the bite would pack a heck of a wallop. We currently instructed to stomp on all spiders that we see. I hope not encountering any spides that make it to adulthood but if I happen to see one, I will document its visit and send the photos on. Oh and if you click through the spider photos rapidly, you can see it burrowing.

As for me, I am doing awesome and am having a very positive experience. For living in a barren desert the Army has provided quite well. My days start at 0530 (avoid exposure to the sun and heat) with a 5 mile walk M-Sat and 10 miles on Sunday to keep fit. Then off to work, for me this is seeing patients (with mental problems) here or visiting the camps around the Kuwait and Iraq borders to see patients. As I work 7 days a week, everyday feels like it is Wednesday. We must be available to see patients and there is always something going else to keep us busy- like a Mass Casualty Drill or a VIP stopping by to tell us they are here to help. Some grumble about conditions but I suspect those that complain would doing the same if they sitting back in the US and had to stand in line for fast food.

The Marines however tend to “adapted and overcome.” The photo is of a Mortar team practicing in 127 degree with direct sun. I have yet to hear even one of the over 20,000 Marines that have come through here complain about anything. In fact quite the opposite. When one Marine came by my office to inquire about comfort items from the US for his troops, I told him that I would be with him shortly. He replied that he would be outside waiting and to take my time. When I went to find him, he was sitting in a HUMMER. I asked why he did not want to wait in the office with AC versus sitting in a 140 degree Hummer. His answer, “I am a Marine, I have trained to so I can fight in 150 degree temperatures and keep my men alive; I would not want to dull my fighting edge by sitting in AC and weaken the Marine Corps.”

Take care of yourselves and try not to worry about me; I am in the company of some of the most admiral people I have ever met and living well.

Sincerely,

Chief vanderDonck

06 Apr 2005
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?ID=4540

This is our Base facility in Kuwait which supports our remote camps.

Chief vanderDonck (Navy)


05 Apr 2005
Thanks to you and AnySoldier.com I have been adopted by my Fairy Godmothers and other stellar individuals. I can not thank you enough. The soldiers I serve have seen more than their years and a little home comfort goes a long way. I can not express the impact you have had here in the desert.

Recently 3 boxes sent by my Fairy Godmothers were sent with Bandit Troop 13. Bandit Troop 13 is a Calvary Troop who performs forward reconnaissance to observe and not be observed. A key role they play is to call in mortar fire and direct tank movements from conceived positions behind enemy lines.

Attached is some of the equipment they will use.

Thank soldiers.com and my Fairy Godmothers for enabling me to give these soldiers a taste of home before their long journey north.

Sincerely,
Chief vanderDonck (Navy)

18 Mar 2005
Heads up:

An E2 is in my office right now. He has been home on emergency leave three times for family illness and his Grandfathers death. We talked about his wife in South Carolina who is having a complicated pregnancy. We talked about how he has not been home with out having great emotional pain. We talked about how he can not afford to call his wife to give her emotional support.

Thanks to you and those who contributed, we were able to give him ample phone cards (sorry I do not know who gave the specific cards) to keep in contact with his wife. Words could not express the joy brought to this young man in knowing he could resume talking to his wife during his off hours. Additionally he is taking 2 boxes of comfort foods and hygiene items.

I can not use his name; I can use his words "Thank you Doc, nothing has seemed to make me happy with all that is going on back home, but I am feeling a little better since now I can call home more."

You all have provided a Christmas in March; thank you.

I need to get back to work and you need to pat yourselves on the back for making a difference,

Chief vanderDonck (Navy)

08 Mar 2005
Here are some of the people you have helped. You may not have helped the camel but he wanted to be included. I am working on getting more links so people will know where the items they send will go.

The last group threw here was over 2,800 strong. Every thing that came here went north with them. Another group started staging today, they should have comparable size.

You have provided an invaluable service to those who risk every thing to keep our families safe from strikes on American soil.

Sincerely,
Chief vanderDonck (Navy)

19 Feb 2005
I serve with the mental health team and travel to the northern camps of Kuwait that lack many of the comforts that most people take for granted. The items you provide will be distributed to soldiers that are ramping up for combat in Iraq and soldiers decompressing from having just come out of combat. Both groups need and appreciate the support from home. We work through the Troop Medical Clinics at Camp Buehring in Kuwait and will be distributing items to all soldiers, but provide special attention to the injured or ill soldiers primarily. As troops push north we try to send them off with a care package full of items individuals from back home generously provides. The soldiers heading north out of Camp Buehring are typically between the ages from 18 to 25 and many are in the combat theater for the second time. On average we support over 30,000 troops at any given time.

Here are two links for photos I have taken HERE and HERE.

Sincerely,
Chief vanderDonck

Personal hygiene / health
Hiking socks:
Baby wipes:
Lotion:
Soaps:
Travel Soap case:
Shampoo:
Toothpaste:
Q-tips:
Tampons and Pads:
Razors:
Chap Stick:

Entertainment
Calling Cards:
Magazines:
Current issues only please
DVDs:
DVD players:
Needs to run on both 110 and 220 volts, used is fine

Snacks
Most any thing that your kids love the soldiers’ will love.
Coffee:
EASYMACK Kraft:
Cookies:
Girl Scouts Do-si-do…I have never met a cookie a soldier didn’t like.
Granola Bars:
Pringles Potato Chips:
Chocolate:
Till summer hits, it is 40 to 70 degrees here, so send in the chocolate. Yes men love chocolate as much as women; we just did not want you to know.

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IMPORTANT! DO NOT PRINT THIS PAGE!!!

Why? Because this list changes all the time due to unit movements, soldier transfers, or even soldier casualties.
It is also illegal. ALL content on this site is copyright Any Soldier Inc.
DO NOT send any letter or package to a soldier's address unless you check this web site the same day you mail your packages.
Please do not burden the soldiers or the APO/FPO by sending things when the soldiers are gone. If a soldier is not listed here anymore then that soldier's address is expired. Check here often!

Note that some of the units do not have ranks shown on their addresses.
This is done at the unit's request, but ALL of our contacts ARE Servicemembers.

Be sure to change the "ATTN" line to "ATTN: Any Female Sailor if your package is for a female!

DO NOT use this program if you expect or require a reply!
DO NOT expect, or require, a reply from a Sailor!
A supporter said it perfectly, "I mean, these guys and gals have other things on their minds, y’know? Like...oh, STAYING ALIVE?"

(NOTE *): Effective 1 May 2006 this web site added a major layer of security to our contacts' information. This change is necessary to protect our troops and ensure that Any Soldier will continue to operate.
The ONLY changes are that the addresses of our contacts are now hidden and the number of addresses you can get are limited. You may obtain addresses simply by clicking on the link provided and correctly filling out the form, the address will then be emailed to you immediately.

(NOTE **): The number shown is how many times a form was submitted requesting this address. This does NOT necessarily mean that this contact will be helped by that many folks. Rule of thumb is that anything 5 requests or less may in fact be no support at all. No way to tell exactly unless the contact lets you know in his/her update how much support they are getting.

(Note 1.): Note that postage to APO AE and FPO AE (E = Europe) is only to NY where the connection to the APO/FPO (APO = Army Post Office)(FPO = Fleet Post Office) is, or to San Francisco for APO AP and FPO AP (P = Pacific), so you don't pay postage all the way to Iraq/Afghanistan. You might consider picking contacts closer to your mailing area to help cut the cost of mailing. If you live on the East Coast, pick "AE", West Coast, pick "AP", Midwest, well...uh, Thank You for your Support! ;)

New with us (December 2005) you might notice "APO AA" and "FPO AA". This is for units in the Caribbean/South America. Normally. However, due to the nature of some units they may be in Iraq but have an address showing "FPO AA". Mail addresses to "AA" goes out of Miami, Florida.

(Note 2.): Why are military addresses weird? There isn't a street address or city. What gives? Correct, just about everything about the military is weird to civilians. Military units are very mobile, they move around a lot, often they even become part of another unit. The APO (Army Post Office) and FPO (Fleet Post Office) assign APO and FPO numbers as needed, they are NOT static. An APO/FPO number may be for a large unit, or a location. An APO/FPO number for Baghdad today may be for Frankfurt tomorrow.

(Note 3.): The "Expect to not mail past" date is only an approximate and is one of the least reliable things on this web site. It is because of this that you must check often before you send anything to this unit. There are a few reasons this date is not reliable, to include: it IS the Military, we ARE dealing with the APO/FPO/DPO. The only thing that does not change in the military is that things will change. PLEASE NOTE that a Contact is dropped off our active list 30 days PRIOR to their date leaving to help avoid mail bouncing.

(Note 4.): (Removed for OPSEC reasons)

(Note 5.): The lines, "Contact with approx number of Soldiers:" and "Approx how may Female Soldiers:" have NOTHING to do with unit strength. They are approximately how many other Troops the Contacts believe they can get packages to. This helps you understand that you should not send 100 packages to someone who only deals with 10 Troops.
Don't forget that if your package is for a female Soldier, be sure to change "ATTN: Any Soldier®" to "ATTN: Any Female Soldier".

( Note 6.): This is simply where the unit this contact is from. This is NOT a true picture of the folks in the unit as most all units are made up of folks from all over the United States.) A "Composite Unit" is one made up of other units and is usually temporary for a particular mission.

( Note 7.): Updated APO/FPO/DPO mailing restrictions> courtesy of Oconus.com (gone now) (Note: About Restriction "U2": "U2 - Limited to First Class Letters", Box "R" is for retired personnel that live overseas and are still authorized an APO/FPO box. Their address will be something like Box 3345R. Doubt you will see anything like that in Afghanistan or Iraq or ...)(Please Note: Sometime in August 2013, Oconus.com changed the code on their page and our form doesn't work with them anymore, so a link to their page is the best we can do, sorry.)

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Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that all product photographs, descriptions and specifications on this website are accurate. However, inadvertent errors may occur, and changes in design or materials, due to our continual effort to improve products, may result in some change in specifications before subsequent publications are issued.
Any Soldier® reserves the right to modify or change specifications without notice.