A Serious Use For Silly String

One Of Many Innovations By U.S. Troops In Iraq

(AP)  In an age of multimillion-dollar high-tech weapons systems, sometimes it's the simplest ideas that can save lives. That's why a New Jersey mother is organizing a drive to send cans of Silly String to Iraq.

American troops use the stuff to detect trip wires around bombs, as Marcelle Shriver learned from her son, a soldier in Iraq.

Before entering a building, troops squirt the plastic goo, which can shoot strands about 10 to 12 feet, across the room. If it falls to the ground, no trip wires. If it hangs in the air, they know they have a problem. The wires are otherwise nearly invisible.

Now, 1,000 cans of the neon-colored plastic goop are packed into Shriver's one-car garage in this town outside Philadelphia, ready to be shipped to the Middle East — thanks to two churches and a pilot who heard about the drive.

"If I turn on the TV and see a soldier with a can of this on his vest, that would make this all worth it," said Shriver, 57, an office manager.

The maker of the Silly String brand, Just for Kicks Inc. of Watertown, N.Y., has contacted the Shrivers about donating some. Other manufacturers make the stuff, too, and call their products "party string" or "crazy string."

"Everyone in the entire corporation is very pleased that we can be involved in something like this," said Rob Oram, Just for Kicks product marketing manager. He called the troops' use of Silly String innovative.

The military is reluctant to talk about the use of Silly String, saying that discussing specific tactics will tip off insurgents.

But Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said Army soldiers and Marines are not forbidden to come up with new ways to do their jobs, especially in Iraq's ever-evolving battlefield. And he said commanders are given money to buy nonstandard supplies as needed.

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Donations, in the form of money or actual Silly String, should be sent to St.Lukes Church/55 Warwick Rd./ Stratford, NJ 08084. Checks should be made out to Marcelle Shriver. If you know the name and address of a soldier wishing to receive Silly String, please send that info to [e-mail].

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In other cases of battlefield improvisation in Iraq, U.S. soldiers have bolted scrap metal to Humvees in what has come to be known as "Hillybilly Armor." Medics use tampons to plug bullet holes in the wounded until they can be patched up.

Also, soldiers put condoms and rubber bands around their rifle muzzles to keep out sand. And troops have welded old bulletproof windshields to the tops of Humvees to give gunners extra protection. They have dubbed it "Pope's glass" — a reference to the barriers that protect the pontiff.

In an October call to his mother, Army Spc. Todd Shriver explained how his unit in the insurgent hotbed of Ramadi learned from Marines to use Silly String on patrol to detect booby traps.

After sending some cans to her 28-year-old son, Shriver enlisted the help of two priests and posted notices in her church and its newsletter. From there, the effort took off, with money and Silly String flowing in. Parishioners have been dropping cans into donation baskets.

"There's so much that they can't do, and they're frustrated, but this is something they can do," said the Rev. Joseph Capella of St. Luke's Church in Stratford.

The Shrivers said they would not mind seeing the string as standard-issue equipment, but they don't blame the military for not supplying it.

"I don't think that they can think of everything," said Ronald Shriver, 59, a retired salesman. "They're taught to improvise, and this is something that they've thought of."

Marcelle Shriver said that since the string comes in an aerosol can, it is considered a hazardous material, meaning the Postal Service will not ship it by air. But a private pilot who heard about her campaign has agreed to fly the cans to Kuwait — most likely in January — where they will then be taken to Iraq.

Shriver said she will continue her campaign as long as her son is overseas and she has Silly String to send.

"I know that he's going come through this. I hope they all do," she said.

[lwilli201]

Never underestimate the enginuity of a GI.

[gramto7]

Never underestimate the persistance and power of a mother of a service member either!

[Jasonian18]

aint that the truth!

[grazinggoat]

Churches should stay out of that. They do not condone this war effort. They rather condemn it.

[hunter10039]

WHY CANNOT THE MILITARY FLY IT TO THEM ASAP????

SOMEBODY NEAR HER, MUST HAVE SOME "JUICE" WITH A COMMANDER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT FLIGHTS !!!

GET THAT STUFF OVER THERE ASAP !!!

[djconklin]

The churches are not condoning the war by supplying stuff that will help protect the troops (and civilians).

During my many deployments to Southwest Asia we found uses common everyday itmes, like panty hose around the carburators to keep out the fine desert dust, but I am not buying into the story of the silly string, trip wires are close to the floor/ground not hanging at eye level. Keep in mind that G.I.'s like myself would contact companies in the U.S. and request their product and they would have not any problem sending it to us, no matter what it was, I once got a truck load of 30 cup coffee makers just for the asking.

[antoniof123]

Hey I have a better idea, instead of sending them silly string why don't we bring home the men and woman. Wait that would make too much sense my bad. I forgot big business will keep trying to make something work even if they fail a half dozen times.

[bwright923]

Yea I have been in the Middle East a couple of times and was there when the war kicked off. We would get care packages with the most useless *** for where we were at and it would just pile up and overwhelm us. People heard that things panty hose and helmet cushions were usefull to some people at different places but it did us no good at our location. We would forward what we could to the guys down range but most just piled up. It was a nice gesture but it could have served someone else much better.

[bwright923]

If and when that stuff goes over there i bet a large portion will end up being sprayed all over tent city.

[leahpate1]

Let's stick to the issue here people!! What will help our men and women in Iraq the most?! Even if it is "Silly String"!! You may not like why they are there, but why keep something from them that could save lives, and possibly bring your loved one home again?!

[rf35]

I think it's a fine idea as long as it gets to the troops who need it. I have experienced the pile-up of care packages that would have been great for the soldier patrolling outside the wire, but ended up stuck on the air base with no way to get to who needed it.

[lost_seraph]

Great idea! And since its aerosol, you can rig up a cigarette lighter to the front and make a silly string flamethrower too! Just dont mistake your silly string can for a grenade, although they might get a good laugh out of it and give up their position.

[dreamerzga]

I have some questions for all of you posting negitive questions.
1. What happened in your life that adopt such a
victim's mentallity. 2.Did you try to stand up to
a bully and lost, ao now you feel powerless. 3.
Have you ever severed one hour in Military
Service, if not, on the boots before you speek.
If you don't have the intestinal fortitude to
do what it takes to stand in the face on those
who's intentions are to wipe you, your family,
anyone,anything that does not conform to their
radical beliefs off the face of the earth. Then
go cowwer in your safe place and keep your
comments to your self. Lets those who can, stand
and fight your fight for YOU!