My brother is in Baghdad right now, and we're all hoping he gets leave soon. I think this is a great idea, though I think the Army should be helping them out with this...

That is a wonderful program. I think it's a relatively painless way to help, too.

Thanks for sharing that with us, HM.

Thank you for yet again pointing out that people who were against those actions being taken in Iraq are in no way against the soldiers who've dedicated their lives to a greater cause.

Thanks for sharing this, Wil!

This is a great idea! Another thing that is always appreciated is international calling cards. I know when my husband was overseas he and the people he was deployed with were always happy with those.

I am going to post this over at our local gym -- we had a big discussion today about what we could do for the troops. The VFW had a raffle to raise funds for care packages, and I think this page needs to be distributed too!

Thanks for posting it.

Wil, your awesome for posting this. Its going to help so many people. Your great.

Wil, your awesome for posting this. Its going to help so many people. Your great.

I got the same email, and then made a phone call. The result? My parents donated 5000 miles to the cause. I don't fly myself (yet), otherwise I'd gladly cough up the miles to get our men and women back with thier families.

Good call posting this on your site, Wil. Hopefully the WWdN faithful will follow suit and help out our service men and women.

That is indeed a very neat idea. But how about another idea ? How about checking out bushmiles.org and turning your unused frequent flier miles into a trip for Mr. Bush to some far-away caribbean island, where he can live after having stepped down from his presidency ?

I have a brother in Fallujah that we are hoping will get mid-tour leave sometime reasonably soon. My husband recently returned from over half a year in Kuwait.

Thank you for pointing this out for people. Unbelievably, regular Americans on the street seem confused when I mention that I have family over there. They seem to think that no one is still over there, despite the news. So thank you. And thank you for supporting the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, even if you don't support the war. They just want to be with their families this holiday season.

There's also an effort to do something similiar by Ernie Stewart, over at ehowa.com, called Lets Bring Em Home (www.lbeh.org). Some things are just cool enough to be plugged everywhere they can be.

Sarah, I think it is appalling that you've run across people who think nobody's still over there; let me assure you that the service members in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, and the rest of the roughly 140 countries where we have personnel stationed are never far from my thoughts.

I don't have anyone overseas, but I just wanted to say I do hope the air miles plan can get some people home this Christmas. I would donate my Air Miles, but they are Canadian, and, of course, are not worth jack in the States. But it sounds like a great idea. It must be very hard for families to be so far apart. And here I was, bemoaning the fact that some of my family drive me crazy...puts it into perspective, like only this time of year can.
And oh yes of course - do get well soon Wil - we need you! I have to admit that every time I see a TNG episode with young Wes on it these days, I get a little smile...good acting shit, Wil, even though you were a youngun.

Happy Christmas
Wil and Anne

What a wonderful idea! My New Year's resolution will be to join a frequent flier program.

On a related note, to anyone considering sending care packages overseas: my cousin, an Army Sergeant, just returned from Iraq, and told us that packages addressed to "Any Soldier" are no longer accepted. Presumably this is for security reasons, but whatever the reason, any package MUST be addressed to a specific soldier. I don't know if the same applies to letters.

I had some Northworst frequent flier miles left over from a bad long-distance relationship. I donated all that I could (they would only take 1,000 mile incriments, sadly - even though I was able to donate 7,000 miles!) to Hero Miles, something I never would have heard of without you, Wil. So thank you SO much for helping me to help someone get home for a few precious weeks this holiday season. :)

I have to brag on my Dad, a private pilot, and some of his old retired military buddies who are, on their own dime, picking up soliders who have just returned stateside, and flying them home to their families. My Dad picked up a Marine in North Carolina and flew him home to his family in Alabama for a weekend off. The Marine's family had not seen him in almost a year. Some of his other pilot buddies who do "angel flights" are volunteering in this way as well. I am proud that my Dad can still find tangible ways to serve his fellow countrymen. On that note, Happy Holidays y'all!

as an outsider looking in on what's going on in america these days, this idea and similar ones seem terribly cosmetic. how much more of the bullshit from the neocons will you take? the troops shouldn't be in afganistan or iraq, and everybody knows it. everybody also knows, that there is no link between 9/11 and osama bin laden (even the fbi admits that) adn everybody knows, that 2,5 million more and now unemployed, more than a third of the population lives in poverty, so many millions live on the streets and your civil freedoms have mostly already been taken from you. when are you going to say enough is enough?

Howie, I don't think this will ever happen. I saw a documentary yesterday on German television that really shocked me. They asked some regular Americans on the street (the ones that Sarah mentioned above, I guess) if they could point out Afghanistan or Iraq on a world map. From 100 people only seven (!!!) were able to do so. If the "Regular American" is so ignorant to everything that happens outside of the U.S., how do you expect them to ever say "enough is enough" ? That really disappointed me a lot.

Howie, I must agree with you on those neocons and their lies and evil. I recently saw the movie "Kandahar," about Afghanistan, and my main thought was how could we be at war with with poor, blighted people. They need help. The soldiers, most of whom signed up before this undeclared and illegal war, are often victims of the neocons and what they're trying to do to our country. Many soldiers are brainwashed into believing they're doing the right thing. Getting them out of there, even for a short time, will hopefully ease the stress, which in turn may benefit the Iraqi people. It's certainly a farsight better than sending the evildoer Bush over there for a sneak-attach turkey dinner buffet.

Thanks for the great idea, Wil. My husband was just laid off -- right before Christmas, and right after we bought our first house. Christmas is going to be much less material than we're used to, but this was something we COULD do! I donated our miles as my gift to my husband. Merry Christmas to you and Anne.

it is a volunteer army. i am sorry, but many of the people who joined actually wanted to become part of the US military machine, it's not like historically this country has been benign or peaceful around the world.

there is something of a poverty draft in place, however; the military recruiters go after the poorest of the poor, and minority segments of the population. their heads are filled with ideas that the military is their only chance for success in life, and the lower class minority segment of the military is the segment that is TRULY shat upon. if any soldiers deserve the ability to take a break from their active part in occupying and subjugating another country/ies, it is these soldiers.

but i am sure they would be the least likely to benefit from this idea.

This is not the time or place for a political discussion. We're talking about helping people get home to their families.

Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry... I think it's extremely hard to be seperated from your family, especially at this time of year, so everything that will make it easier for the soldiers to come home to their families for Christmas has to be supported. I saw a young, 20year old soldier in Iraq today who was asked about Christmas. He said, that without his family and his loved ones, it will just be a normal day without anything special to it. And that is really sad, especially if you think about what Christmas is all about.

Hey, thanks to Flaim and Wil for posting the link to lbem.com. I just donated the remaining balance in my paypal account. It wasn't much, but I'm sure everybit helps.

That is a great Idea but I don't have frequent flyer milest to give so I just send prayers instead.

VP Chaney should cash in some of his Halliburton stock and buy every eligible enlisted person under the rank of E-6 a first class ticket.

Cool that you're helping spread the word about a great program, Wil. Wendy, what your dad's doing is super-cool too - please pass along a big Thank You to him for helping!

Safe and happy holidays, everyone -

its not time for a political discussion? it's ALWAYS time for a political discussion. people getting home for the holidays is important and i'm happy to donate my FF miles but that doesnt mean i have to like why they're over there!

I don't agree with the war, but I have only the deepest respect to those who risk their lives in service of this country.

Wil,

Have an idea for you. You and your Acme Comedy Troop could do something for the troops as well.
Contact the USO (www.uso.org) and see about putting on a comedy show for them.

Coyote

Shortly after the events of 9/11, the airline industry in the US was in dire straits. The government stepped up to the plate with billions of dollars in aid. I'm not faulting the government for doing this--the airline industry in this country represents an incredible 10% of the GDP.

Given that the government was there for the airlines, perhaps it's time for the airlines to be there for the government. I suggest that any soldier on leave should be able to walk up to any domestic airline counter, present his military ID and leave papers, and be given the next available empty seat. The cost to the airlines would be minimal--these seats are *empty* after all.

Having said all that, the air mile donation idea is a good one. Thanks for publicizing it.

Chris

I am active duty US Navy. I have several friends over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I think that this idea is a great one. Unfortunately, I can't donate to it because I do not have frequent flyer miles, but I'm taking part in other programs to support the troops overseas.

Since you're no longer allowed to address care packages to "Any Soldier" (yes, it's for security reasons) then I suggest you look into the numerous "adoption" programs. You can choose from a list of soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen that are serving overseas. You might want to write to them before sending care packages, intorduce yourself and ask if there's anything you can send them. You'd be surprised at how simple their requests are, some only ask for items such as socks or deodorant.

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