DaimlerChrysler and Operation Gratitude teamed up earlier today for a unique promotion to kick-off their partnership to send care packages to U.S. troops around the world.

To help kick-off the holiday donation drive for Operation Gratitude, an all-new 2006 Jeep® Commander dove 1,200 feet from a Sikorsky helicopter accompanied by seven skydivers. The Jeep brand will expand its partnership with Operation Gratitude by making the nearly 2,800 Jeep dealerships nationwide official "drop zone" locations for Operation Gratitude, a national non-profit organization that collects comfort items and letters of appreciation from the American public and ships them to service members overseas.

Update: We've gotten some additional information about the Commander that was dropped - it was a stock Commander with only a few things removed: spare tire, jack, airbags (didn't want them to deploy) and air conditioning compressor (maybe because it interfered with a rigging point?). They wanted the Commander to be able to perform the jump, then have it start up and drive off to reinforce the "do anything, go anywhere" message.

"Today, the new seven-passenger Jeep Commander showcased its legendary 'go-anywhere, do-anything' capability by traveling through unusual conditions to help Operation Gratitude as it arrives in dealerships across the country," said Jeff Bell, Vice President – Jeep, Chrysler Group. "The Jeep brand's military heritage goes back more than 65 years, so it's only natural that our dealers would expand our relationship with Operation Gratitude to help our service men and women around the world."

In order to reach troops in time for the holidays, Operation Gratitude will begin collecting donations at Jeep dealerships immediately. Consumers are encouraged to drop off items ranging from packs of gum to tuna salad kits and from CDs to DVDs. For a complete list of needed items, consumers can visit www.jeep.com or www.OperationGratitude.com.

(portions of this article were from an official DaimlerChrysler press release)