Teri Bouffiou with the Madison Post Office says today is the deadline to get packages in the mail for parcel post delivery. You can always and take your chances and send it SAM or Space Available Mail. That deadline is November 27th.
First Class Christmas cards and letters need to be in the mail by December fourth to get there on time. If you wait until after then you can always try priority mail but that will cost you more.
Bouffiou says use common sense in what you send. Chocolates going to the hot climate of Iraq may not be wise. But whatever it is, pack it well. You can get more information and a special Military Care Kit by going to the US Post Office web site .