Every year there are literally thousands of military personnel deployed far from home. Some are young folks in their late teens or early twenties experiencing their first holiday season away from family. Others are old hands at this, having spent several Christmases and New Years’ away from home.
They serve in faraway countries, often where terrorism, rather than tourism, is what they think of when going off base. Many are living in tents, and quite a few are stationed at remote sites where the nearest other settlement is miles away. Often, they don’t speak the native tongue. Sometimes the locals (at least the ones near the base) perceive them as either an inconvenience or a business opportunity (to be fair, some don’t, and are the kindest souls you could ever hope to meet).
This thread is for posting any links or information that will enable anyone who wants, to send email, letters, packages, seasonal wishes, etc., to our troops overseas.
One way to do this has been established by Operation Dear Abbey.
To send letters directly to military personnel, write “Any Service Member” on a letter to the following military addresses:[ul][li]Europe and South West Asia: APO AE 09135[/li][li]Mediterranean Basin: FPO AE 09646[/li][li]Far East: APO AP 96285[/li][li]Pacific Basin: FPO AP 96385[/li][li]Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps land forces (Bosnia/Kosovo): APO AE 09397-0001[/li][li]Navy and Marine Corps personnel aboard ship (Bosnia/Kosovo): FPO AE 09398-0001[/li][li]Military Sealift Command, S/S Green Valley (MSC), FPO AP Diego Garcia 96666-7221[/ul][/li]The editors of Stars and Stripes newspaper will publish letters intended for military personnel overseas. Send letters to Pacific Stars and Stripes, APO JA 96337; or to European Stars and Stripes, APO AE 09211.
The USO has a pen pal program that will match interested letter writers with service members. For more information, write to Executive Director, United Services Organization, Washington Navy Yard, Building 198, 901 M Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20374.
You can also go to the Support Our Soldiers website.
Remember also that not all deployed servicemen are from America. If you are aware of foreign military personnel serving in your local area, contact the Public Affairs office of the base nearest you to see what you can do to make them feel welcome. Even if Christmas, Hannukah, or Kwanzaa isn’t a holiday they would normally observe, they might appreciate the opportunity to interact with someone who isn’t in their chain of command.
Note:
If any of our friends from other countries knows of any similar program for their servicemen, post links or information here. When I was stationed overseas, I met lots of good-hearted people who took the sting out of being away from home, both during the holidays and otherwise. I like to think that any of my countrymen would be glad to extend the hand of friendship to someone who is away from home, even if s/he isn’t a fellow national.
~~Baloo
