Military pen pals
I recently received an e-mail, which I apparently trashed without meaning to, from a woman asking whether there was any place one could write to get a soldier serving in Iraq as a pen pal. Since I didn't know where to respond to the writer, I'm posting the answer here.
I e-mailed Allison Perkins, who just filed this wonderful series of stories, photos, audio and video from Iraq. Here's what she said:
For security reasons, the Pentagon does not allow letters or packages marked "to a U.S. soldier," which used to be the easiest way to get a penpal. The only way to do it now is to actually contact a unit and have a name before you write them. I will email some of the guys here and the pao [Public Affairs Officer] and see if they want to write. Otherwise, the reader is kind of out of luck, unfortunately.
On the bright side, I can't imagine that in any unit of company size or larger there wouldn't be at least a few people eager to get mail, even if it's from strangers.
I'll keep you posted on what Allison finds out.
You also might want to visit AnySoldier.com, which can match people up with service people seeking pen pals. Read the "About this site" and "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) tabs thoroughly first, however.
Comments (5)
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Writing to a military member is a truely great and good event.
Writing should not be only to those in War zone's. There are also a lot of young people away from home and kin for the first time who are at remote sites and also would like to receive the comfort and company a pen pal can provide. There are career people who have lost track of time and would appreciate a pen pal.
For my self, I will never forget the early days in basic training. After having been broken down to be built over again, I used to just about die of loneliness watching other guys get letters at mail call. Yeah, she dear john'd me 3 weeks after I enlisted aqnd then there was no more outside world contact until after basic.
During the Vietnam conflict, mail from the land of the Big BX was a necessity for mental survival.
Mr Lex A, you and the Lady are doing a good service here there are people out there that are waiting to hear from you.
I retired 1974, US Air Force, Msgt, Korean and Vietnam vet. Now me and my pup skipper travel around in a 22 foot mini-motor home just seeing the USA and visiting old War Buddies and my 11 Grandkids.
Our handle on the MSN net id MotatingDynaPopnPup. See ya 'round.
Posted on July 31, 2005 9:04 PM
Lex,
You might also want to mention Soldier Angels link: http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/index.php
They are a great organization and also have soldiers to adopted or just be pen pals.
Other than anysoldier and soldiersangels, our family has adopted soldiers through operation ac link: http://www.operationac.com/
Just thought I would put those out there. Also I have seen tons of organizations but those mentioned are the ones we have used.
Posted on August 3, 2005 11:47 PM
I too wrote to several different folks on the internet, in fact it may even have been my email that got trashed... I found a site that connects soldiers with would-be penpals.
As we well as "soldierangels" I found: My soldier which is a program run through Manhattan College started by an Army solider who had been overseas.
www.mysolider.com
THANKS for the continued effort!
~ TSQMcL
Posted on November 22, 2005 1:21 PM
Hello,
Some friends and I were in Gettysburg PA last week visiting the battle fields. I was quite overwhelmed by the extent of sacrifice that our ancestors made attempting to shape our livelihoods and form our freedoms. It is nearly impossible to get an inkling of the understanding that standing directly on the field of battle afforded me. All of the years of study I have dedicated to the subject (my college degree was in American history and literature)could never prepare me for the overpowering feelings of reverence and gratitude I felt walking along miles of land fought over by young men (and women) trying to uphold their rights and ideals. It is a great and grave place to visit, worthy of the deepest and sincerest deference.
While we were taking in some of the history of the American Civil War?s greatest battle (it will require many long visits to really get a true sense of the place), we came across some military personnel also visiting the area. We chatted with a few of the people we encountered and learned that they were being deployed within a few days. Afterward, I realized that I had not gotten any personal information from any of the solders and thought it might be nice to drop a note to see how people are coping.
Hence, I am sending this short introduction to whom ever wishes to read it and hoping it finds you doing well. I am probably the last person to be starting a correspondence, since I am lousy about maintaining them. (Sometimes I think a line from one of my favorite songs was written about me ?I?ve been one poor correspondent? If you can name the song and the band, I will be very impressed. I plan to see them at the free music festival in Boston this year). But if I receive any responses from this letter, I will make a point of putting aside at least an hour each week to keep up with my writing.
I hope I do not sound sappy in doing so, but I really wish to thank you for the effort and sacrifice you have put forward for all of us taking advantage of our comfortable, though often busy, lives. I spend a great deal of time thinking about myself and my own needs and do not really realize how much I take for granted. So, I drop this note hoping you will welcome my appreciation. Also, if you are curious about the song previously mentioned, it was written in the 70s by a band with a very welcome and familiar name.
Posted on June 22, 2006 8:33 PM
Lex, the person you spoke about could very well have been me. I have been trying for some time now to find a site where it is free to join and free to correspond with service men and women stationed in Iraq. I used to be snail mail pen pals with several back in the Gulf War days. I am particularly concerned with making sure that those who do NOT have any family have someone to correspond with. A little info about myself: I am 51, originally from Schenectady, NY... moved to Glasgow, Montana in 1992 and now reside in Billings. I am a case manager with the state of Montana's Developmental Disabilities Program. Please, if anyone has any information to assist me in finding what I have requested, send me an email to blsmtfm1955@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Posted on September 4, 2006 3:47 AM