What gift do you give an unmarried active military serviceman for Christmas?
By cotruelove
@cotruelove (1016)
Denver, Colorado
December 23, 2011 6:24pm CST
My grandson is an active military serviceman just back from Iraq. He will have leave for the Christmas holiday and is home visiting. He doesn't have his own home and stays with relatives when he is here. My husband and I have decided the best thing to do is give him cash money rather than a credit card. There will be a family gathering and all of us are happy to have him home safely from Iraq. Unfortunately, he will be going to Afghanistan once the holidays are done. What would you give someone like him for a Christmas?
6 responses
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
24 Dec 11
My nephew is in much the same situation & he has told us that he prefers CASH!!! I think cash is a much better gift than a gift card that can only be used at a particular store. As a citizen of the United States, please tell your grandson that I said "I'd like to THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING YOURSELF IN HARM'S WAY SO THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FREE!!!" 
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Dec 11
Thanks for your response. I appreciate your thoughts. I will be very happy to tell him thanks for you. I still say, he left as a boy and returns as a man.
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
22 Jul 12
THANK YOU for the BR cotrue!!! I pray your grandson is safe & sound at this point of his military career!!! My Dad always said that every young man in this country should be forced to join the military as they teach them sooo much about becoming a man!!!
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Jul 12
You're very welcome. He has grown so much that he got married in May to the half sister of his father's wife. The half sister is twenty years younger than my other daughter-in-law. He is winning all types of awards in the service, but they have delayed deploying him to Afghanistan, if they send him at all. He still has his own problems like we all do, but he is becoming a productive member of society and doing well in my opinion. I do know that not everyone is cut out to be in the military regardless of believing that it is good for them. But, I practiced a principle I believed all my life, and that was, I wasn't going to marry any man who hadn't already served. Both of my marriages have been to men who served.
@ritzz07 (788)
• India
24 Dec 11
hi friend
this is a very good question.if i am at your place i will gift an i-pod to my grandson who is a military serviceman coz i think this is the best thing for a military service man he can carry it everywhere and listen to the all type of songs such-petriotic,emotional,romantic
thank you
have a great day and merry christmas
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Dec 11
He already has one, and the service limits his use of it. They have to leave them most of the time in the barracks. It is too much of a distraction and I know I wouldn't want him to get shot because of it. He does use it a lot when he is off duty.
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
24 Dec 11
I think a good gift for your grandso a n is something that expresses love and caring for him as a person (even small gift). That will boost him up from the indide. Secondly, it is also a great idea to get him something that will encourage him when he is gone.
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Dec 11
I thought about jewelry of some type, but I found out that some of the service men are limited as to what they may wear other than dog tags. Thanks for the suggestion, and giving love always accompanies any gift to him.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
24 Dec 11
Cash is good in this case. Or gift cards to eating places. But I would do something else too...enclose the cash in a collection of self addressed and stamped stationery/envelopes and give those to him..that way he has the cash for while home and can easily write to everyone and mail..once he is back over seas. Or how about a phone card he can use to call home once over there.
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Dec 11
I like the stationary idea, but sadly, he won't write, but he does use a cell phone when he can. He has an international phone provider. And he uses Facebook...lol. The service limits them on when they can use their phones. Thanks for your response.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
24 Dec 11
I have a nephew in the Navy. He is stationed in Japan and will be visiting in January. His parents,my brother and sister-in-law,are having a party for him. I will not be getting him anything Christmas. When my nephews and neices turn 18 I don't give me any more presents. They don't mind and understand. It will be nice to see Dan,my nephew,when he comes home for a visit! The best gift would be money n my mind.
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Dec 11
The gift of love always works regardless of the material gift! Thanks for your response!
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
24 Dec 11
How about giving him some goodies from his hometown? Cookies, candy and other little momentiums. You could also give cash.
Please thank your grandson for his service and that I am so grateful that he is out risking his life so we can all have our freedom.
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Dec 11
The family usually mails him things like that. We found Amazon will ship free to service men at an APO location and you can buy from them and have them ship it directly. Thanks I'll give him the message! I appreciate your response.
