30Oct04 Nearly everyone responding reported negative experiences with UPS and particularly UPS Stores. They are to be avoided like the plague! Additional shipping tips: >Additional words to avoid: "Glock," SIG," Smith & Wesson," etc. Too recognizable. >Never tell anyone what is in the box. I ship lot of "machine parts" and "electronic components." >Never check the "Hazmat" box on the label >Best day to ship is Monday. The system is busy. Everything keeps moving. Worst day is Friday. Your package will be stagnant over the weekend. Lots of opportunities for sticky fingers to find it. >Always ship overnight. That way, you'll know right away if something went awry. /John

30Oct04

This is a wonderful message from USMC M/Sgt Earl Mitchell, now deployed in Iraq. I asked that certain supplies be sent to him (message duplicated below).

Response was great and is sincerely appreciated by Vicki and me and all our

Marine students:

"Mr and Mrs Farnam,

Well, bare with me for I'm not of elegant speech or writhing, but I will do

my best to express my gratitude for your support, and support of your friend s and comrades over here. There have been some wonderful packages containing items that all have enjoyed.

It is nice to see the faces of those who receive gifts, like a knife, a flashlight, cleaning gear, socks, and Surefire batteries. They all know thes e items our not cheap and are usually bewildered when they receive such items; thinking who in the world would be so generous to give such things and how d id I get so lucky to receive them. For many, a Sgt and below, they have not had a wonderful childhood were parents had money, nor do they. So, buying items such as ones given by you and your friends is a luxury they do not have. I k now lot of us take this for granted and can buy these things with little or no

thought of the price, but, to the ones to whom I give these items, I can see written in their faces the thanks that they will never be able to express, b ut they cherish the item as if they had received a sack of gold!"

A message like that makes my day! If you want to really help these guys, put a package together and send it on. Here is the original message:

What deployed Marines need:

Cold Steel, Emerson knives, fixed and folding White socks Dry lube, Hoppe's, Outer's, Remington 9mm and 223 Boresnake Beretta OEM 92F normal-capacity magazines Leatherman tools Surefire flashlights LED "soft" lights

This is what my students in Country tell me they need and can't get. If you

want to help, put together a care package and send it to:

MSgt Earl Mitchell MWSG-37 UIC 41106 FPO, AP 96426-1106

It will get to those who need it.

/John