GamesforHeroes.com seeks handheld games and systems for troops
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Apr 9th 2008 at 6:00AM }
The Games for Heroes charity, which has a registered donor number with nonprofit MarineParents.com, is simply looking to collect handheld games and systems (Game Boy, DS, PSP), which will be sent to troops serving in a place of war. Information on where to send items or make cash donations can be found on the site. A similar charity called "Fun for our Troops" began last year, but without the portable gaming focus.
We spoke with the 15-year-old Gallagher, who started the charity with his friend, Jack Wilson, and learned the whole concept stemmed from a "Cheer Up the Troops" letter writing campaign he and Jack started with area children while on their spring break. After submitting the letters to MarineParents.com, they found out that one of the most requested items by troops are handheld video game systems. Gallagher explains, "They play PlayStation when they can, but how often do they get TVs? These are 18, 19, 20-year-old kids over there. ... You know, we just want to help out."
Peter's mother, Susan Gallagher, couldn't be happier with what her son is trying to do and assured us he's doing everything by the book. Pssst, multimillion-dollar corporations that read this site, help the kid out. Heck, when we were 15 we never did anything this nice (and definitely not while on break).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chris Langston @ Apr 9th 2008 6:24AM
Ummm, not to be insensitive to the American Military-Industrial complex or anything, but aren't those guys PAID to be there? Can't they afford their own games & systems?
They aren't 5 year olds dying of cancer in hospital (a la Child's Play), they're grown men and women with JOBS. I get bored at work too, anyone want to start a "Games For Office Workers" charity?
Paulmichael @ Apr 9th 2008 6:30AM
Sure, they're paid to be over there, but it's not a lot. Oh and excuse me for being presumptuous, your life isn't on the line every day you go to work, now is it? I say they all deserve something that's actually fun on their time off.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 9th 2008 6:43AM
It all depends if people are actually grateful for the stuff you do on a daily basis. It doesn't hurt to feel a more human attachment towards people who do the things we take for granted, instead of seeing all function in a financial way.
Would it be wrong if we'd want to help out doctors who try their best to save lives everyday? Would it be condemnable to want to make things easier for firefighters who are there to help us, even though it's just their job?
Some people are grateful for what soldiers are doing for the country, and therefore they'd like to help out a little more through personal generosity. Even though I don't support military action, I still think it's a very noble cause to want to send them videogames.
Chris Langston @ Apr 9th 2008 6:58AM
@ThornedVenom:
Fair enough. Good points as far as public service goes, I just don't really see how fighting either of these wars is public service. It's become clear that Saddam was never a threat to us, and despite the dismantling of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, terrorist attacks are still happening in the West (Madrid, London).
@Paulmichael: I'm not trying to be a jerk, but it's not like there is a draft for soliders. They chose a career that puts them in harm's way, that's part of being in the military. They could have chosen a job that doesn't put them in harm's way if that was an issue. Like I wrote above, I don't really feel any obligation to soldiers since the motives for sending them there were somewhat specious.
Nate @ Apr 9th 2008 7:56AM
Chris, the soldiers don't determine who the US fights, the government does. We're not sending handhelds to Bush & Cheney. We're sending them to people who have decided to put their lives on the line in the defense of our country. Whether or not they're fighting a worthwhile battle is irrelevant, they're fighting a battle. It's incredibly difficult and traumatizing work. If a PSP or DS can help these guys get through another day, I think it's well worth it.
I'm quite critical of the "war" in Iraq, but our troops who are there deserve every benefit we can give them. It's not like they're getting rich while they're dodging bullets and mines.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 9th 2008 8:29AM
I agree with Nate. It's not about who they fight that's important. It's the fact they they're fighting ANYTHING and putting their lives in danger is what is important.
They are protecting a country they love, and for that we should show them nothing but respect, even if we don't agree with the reason.
mrlogical @ Apr 9th 2008 9:43AM
Yeah, good point. No one benefits from the machinery of the military-industrial complex more than soldiers like these, who make barely $20k a year. I mean, if these guys are able to afford to generously purchase their own body armor, shouldn't they be able to afford videogames?
ogvor @ Apr 9th 2008 10:25AM
Their is also the fact that it isn't hard for your to just quit your job, while these guys get tied into a backdoor draft and unexpectedly extended tours of duty. It is in fact possible to be against the military industrial complex and the war while supporting the troops (in a lot of ways, it would seem to be more on "their side" to not want them to die frivously, but that is the current state of our politics)
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 10:39AM
Every soldier that signs up for military service knows that they sign up for 4 years of active duty, and then 4 years of reserve duty, for a total of 8 years of possible service. Being a time of war, soldiers should expect to be called up in their 4 reserve years.
JonFitt @ Apr 9th 2008 10:51AM
The OP has a good point it's not like letters of support which can't be bought, it's entertainment required because their job has long boring sections.
I'd send gifts to drafted soldiers, but these are volunteers doing their chosen profession.
Buy your own.
Ryoga Vee @ Apr 9th 2008 2:30PM
Chris Langston: I actually agree with you.
They have jobs, they CAN afford $100 - 200 for a Game boy or PSP. Id much rather give my old DS to an ill child with a few months left to live than a guy who got a $10,000 signing bonus to go kill innocent brown people.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 9th 2008 6:25AM
That's actually a really smart idea. Too bad that a lot of people view videogames as the source of all evil.
mr mobius @ Apr 9th 2008 10:01AM
Yea, these games could make these guys actually want to shoot someone.
Paulmichael @ Apr 9th 2008 6:27AM
A great cause. My father is over there right now, bored out of his mind this time around (thank God) on his second tour of duty. Here's to hoping no one uses those things in the heat of battle or while on patrol though, one mistake and it could be the grisly injury/death of many..
GalileoAce @ Apr 9th 2008 7:15AM
ThornedVenom, exactly what are they doing for *their* country?
FOXHOUND @ Apr 9th 2008 7:20AM
that's classified. :x
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 9th 2008 10:23AM
Here's what a soldier is supposed to do for his country: obey orders from the government. Fortunately for the Americans, they're living in a democratic country in which they can choose their own governmental representatives to make choices in the name of the American people (although its state of democracy in practice is much more debatable if you just glance at the voter participation ratio at elections in the US).
The point is that THEORETICALLY, the war is being fought in the name of the American people (the decision being passed by Congress, if I'm correct) and therefore the "public service" the military is performing is by obeying the country's/people's will.
Even if personally, I am against the Iraq war (and all wars in general: I'm a pacifist), my beliefs are beside the point in this subject matter. You asked an interesting question concerning what good they're doing for their country, but the military is just a tool used by their democratic government, and therefore by its people. The military branch therefore cannot be judged as good or bad, since it obeys the decisions that were made by the government (again, theoretically representing the people), unless if it is heavily corrupted or if it disobeys its government.
Furthermore, my position on the war is irrelevant to the subject matter because the individual soldier isn't to be confused with military machine, just like a government shouldn't be confused with its people.
The soldier's choice to surrender his own personal freedom to serve the ideals of the majority is subject to debate, but nevertheless, soldiers are people and since they're supposed to serve our will, we should be thankful for that.
Complaints about military decisions and actions should be addressed democratically to the government and let the majority win. If the government fails to represent its people, then it fails at its most basic function of democracy.
CJH @ Apr 9th 2008 7:31AM
You guys really need to grow up and put the politics aside when it comes to this. Whether or not we agree with the terms that put us there in the first place, the fact is, we have soldiers deployed in the Middle East. I don't like it either. But, the soldiers didn't ask for this war, they didn't start this war, and they have no say over what happens in this war. The least you can do is show some compassion for these men and women who are risking their lives for this country. If you have a problem, you should direct it towards the government, not our troops who are just following orders.
GalileoAce @ Apr 9th 2008 7:38AM
>>Whether or not we agree with the terms that put us there in the first place[...]
Us?
Chameleon @ Apr 9th 2008 9:33AM
@CJH
couldn't agree more
ZaxCG2 @ Apr 9th 2008 8:08AM
Me thinks our men deserve more M33 PSP... :D
tc @ Apr 9th 2008 8:09AM
rock the casbah confirmed for handheld guitar hero!
ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 9th 2008 8:51AM
Yeah the soldiers didn't ask for the war...RIGHT.
Believe or not some people in the military actually did want to go to war.
I personally don't feel any sort of obligation to the military right now. Just yesterday this guy fom the army randomly tried to recruit me at WORK while I'm trying to help people get their meds (Pharmacist here).
I know there are a lot of honorable people in the armed forces but I can't help but feel negative when I think about them as a whole.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 9:11AM
That sounds like a very bad personal problem, feeling negatively about people who decide to put their lives on the line in service to their country.
Dan @ Apr 9th 2008 9:19AM
I agree with Crono as well.
Despite the actions of a select few individuals, those guys put their lives on the line for the defense of our country. To me those who say this war has no reason behind it never had a loved one be killed in a terrorist attack. I lost a family member in the 9/11 attack and although I dont like going to war at this point and length, the fact that we took action made me feel more relieved that as a country we are fighting back.
I hope this war comes to an end as soon as possible, but to say this war had no meaning to it is just plain idiotic.
mrlogical @ Apr 9th 2008 9:53AM
How DARE someone from the military try to recruit you at your important job as a pharmacist! While the military-industrial complex is an evil multinational corporate conglomerate that ruthlessly seeks profit even if it means that people will have to die, the pharmaceutical industry is...well...umm...nevermind.
ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 9th 2008 11:13AM
Umm where did I say that I love the industry I work in? I just think its pretty annoying and stupid that I have to put up with some jerk who thinks his job is somehow more important than mine because hes in a uniform while I'm WORKING on filling a prescription...
And no its not a personal problem dumbass. Just because I don't suck the military's dick doesn't mean I hate them all.
Its that kinda of blind thinking (or should I say patriotism) that got us into the shithole that is Iraq. Keeping using 9/11 to scare and guilt people into doing whatever you want them to do.
Lets just ignore the fact that America is not perfect and that we're not entirely blameless for all the hostility that is aimed at us around the world.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 11:20AM
You said
"I can't help but feel negative when I think about them(military) as a whole."
And thats a piss poor attitude. You don't have to like war or support the iraq war to be able to feel good about the military.
Worst Review Ever @ Apr 9th 2008 11:31AM
I am so fucking sick of everybody pissing and moaning about America being the bane of the world's existence. If America suddenly decided to take an isolationist approach to world politics and withdrew all of its foreign operations, other countries would be pissed off about that.
Instead of worrying about the U.S. toppling ruthless dictators, which I am always in favor of by the way, I would be slightly more concerned about China and Russia becoming major players again. If you don't think that Putin wants to put the USSR back into Russia, you might want to take a closer look at that whole situation.
But whatever, hating the U.S. is the "in" thing to do.
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Apr 9th 2008 8:55AM
I'd probably do something similar for the Afghans and Iraqis effected by the war. Especially all those refugee Iraqis stranded in Syria - as a certain somebody keeps repeating.
But that was if I had another handheld.
vildand @ Apr 9th 2008 9:00AM
I disagree with both wars, and I'm really appaled that my goverment chose to support both although we've sinced pulled out of Iraq and are now "only" active in afghanistan.
But while I disagree with the wars I also think you'd really have to be a sorry bastard if take your political disagreements out on the individual soldiers. Soldiers are just regular people like you and me who chose a line of work where they put their lives on the line for their beliefs and their buddies, and if that isn't admirably I don't know what is.
War is wrong, but it's the politicians, whom we're all responsible for electing, who start them.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 9:12AM
"I disagree with both wars, and I'm really appaled that my goverment chose to support both although we've sinced pulled out of Iraq and are now "only" active in afghanistan."
If you are really that misinformed about the wars, then you aren't allowed to have an opinion.
Here's a clue: We haven't pulled out of Iraq.
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Apr 9th 2008 9:19AM
Depends what country he's from.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 9:20AM
Oh yeah...
Nevermind. My bad.
Chris @ Apr 9th 2008 9:12AM
Ummmmmmmmmm................
I have an old Game Gear!
............... :(
The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Apr 9th 2008 9:19AM
stop the catbox?
Peter Johnston @ Apr 9th 2008 9:28AM
As a soldier myself (wounded and undergoing treatment for a shattered right leg) I find the amount of ignorance of our nation's foreign affairs in these comments kind of shocking.
A lot of my buddies have PSP's and/or laptops but I think what these people are doing is pretty great. However it's also true that any soldier who wants one of these devices has every means to buy one. Not having to pay for food and housing frees up a lot of your paycheck to buy stuff like this.
@ThePremiereAssassin: We didn't ask for the war, in fact the majority of the people I know in the infantry, don't even support the war.
Also, we are still fighting in Iraq and dying there, I don't know where you get your news from Vidland.
rawkersparadise @ Apr 9th 2008 9:32AM
i was a soldier who has fought in Iraq , though i was stationed at VBC at camp liberty, all the soldiers I knew played Halo, even when the 360 came out they still played halo 2 (I left right before the launch of Halo 3) I got to tell you most single soldiers make a lot of money and usually the px had the top selling games, ( the soldiers stationed at FOBs in the middle of nowhere, well I know alot didn't even have pxs, and the soldiers who have families are generally to busy waiting to get on a phone to play games.
its a nice gesture, but they already have 'haji' marts, I know that will offend, but thats what we call them where they sell all types of bootleg movies, games, and game systems.
if you want to make a soldier real happy, (no, not porn magazines, porn everyone has enough of over there. ) I remember some lady sent us a jack daniels pound cake for our unit for christmas. supposedly the alchol burns off, but if you put the alchol in after baking... that was a treat. (btw there is no alchol allowed in iraq) so get your girlfriend to make one for the troops.
if you make back up of your dvds, than sending a few over isn't a bad idea. we had haji movies but they were real bad quality of new releases. I saw spiderman 3 in like Swedish with english subtitles while i was in iraq.
but mostly something as simple as a thank you letter during the holiday times. There is a difference between supporting the war and supporting the troops. not every soldier theselves supports the war, I remember our main mission was everyone from our unit coming home alive, and we were lucky enough to do that.
Chameleon @ Apr 9th 2008 9:37AM
glad you guys got back ok
Mills and Boom @ Apr 9th 2008 9:42AM
I'd rather not give my old handheld systems to murderers, regardless of who's side they're on.
I'd rather give my old game systems to sick kids. Sorta like that first post guy. Or just save them for my own kids, heaven knows I used to love either of my parents old toys when I was a kid including a very non-PC piggy bank.
Yea I'll stick with them.
Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Apr 9th 2008 10:15AM
I'm really, really, really hoping that first statement was an attempt at sarcasm.
el serpiente @ Apr 9th 2008 12:30PM
It's amazing how he manages to post something stupid in almost every single thread...
Mills and Boom @ Apr 9th 2008 12:55PM
I'll leave it up to you to decide.
Either way I'm not keen on shipping trained murderers my old toys.
rawkersparadise @ Apr 9th 2008 9:51AM
It’s the soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of region.
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of press.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag and who serves beneath the flag and whose
coffin is draped by the flag who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
blahblahbloo @ Apr 9th 2008 10:43AM
You must be awfully naïve to think that the US soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan are there for a reason that has anything to do with defending your freedoms. Sure, they might get told things like that by their higher-ups, but they're told this for the purpose of motivation, not because it's actually true.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 12:03PM
And you must be awfully cynical if you can't see past political agenda to see the truth in his words.
G'ma @ Apr 11th 2008 10:53AM
Thank you for that writing on the soldier. I have a GRANDSON who is a Marine in Afghanistan. I am very proud of him. His decision was a personal choice which we all have the right to make. Some have to be warriors to this day. Don't judge..you only have your own shoes to walk in. But the soldier is definitely responsible for our freedoms..all of them..from the beginning of time.
ZForce915 @ Apr 9th 2008 10:06AM
I ask this out of ingorance because I really don't know...
Boredom? How much down time do soliders have? I have this vision of soliders who should be on guard most of the time not playing video games.
Also if I can comment on the previous posts, the soliders make a decision to be in harms way so we don't need to pity them or give them handouts. But even though we don't have to, we can still choose to be thankful that they were willing to do something most of us wouldn't want to do.
See what I did there?
James Lockwood @ Apr 9th 2008 10:16AM
I just found out 30 mins ago my friend is going to Afghanistan in August (British Army). I know I'm asking for trouble when I ask this but, what kind of going-away pressie should I get him? Yeah, a piece of the original cross/a bible/a coffin - very funny! Looking at this post makes me think a PSP, but after reading Rawkersparadise's post (assuming he was actually a soldier), what suggestions can you give me? I can't really afford anything expensive, so I'm hoping Sony donates a load of consoles so I don't need to get him one, but anything under 100$/£50 would be good. I'm not baking him a cake!
rawkersparadise @ Apr 9th 2008 10:23AM
most soldiers have everything they need. especially now, that we have 'occupied' iraq and afganistan for so long. there are alot of amenities there now they didn't have at the start of the conflict.
plus... when a soldier goes over there he replaces another soldier, and usually there is an informal selling of stuff for real cheap. when I got there I bought a mini fridge, a bike, and a tv from the guy I was replacing and when I left I sold it all to the guy who replaced me.
if you want to get him something, get him a portable dvd player that can play the bootlegged divx movies. that will come in handy.