Everyone Needs Mail from Home!
I add names as friends and family members of service men and women send them to me.
More of our Military is spread out over the globe now than at any time in recent memory. With peacekeeping in Bosnia, the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in addition to the bases globally that the Armed Forces are stationed with in "normal" times, that's thousands of Americans far from home.
Deployments have been extended, stop loss orders mean that they are going to be there for a time longer than originally thought. And while no one said the military life would be an easy one, it sure is good to know there are people back home who appreciate the job they are doing.
You Can Help
While many soldiers, maybe most, do not reply to us, some eventually do respond, and it is so exciting when we get a note, can you imagine how they must feel?   Keep sending little cards and letters of support!   Maybe include a photo, or funny current event story, whatever....! Write about just regular life back home here and what you might be up to. We are not really pen pals: we are just writing to send cheer. You only need to pay 39 cents postage.   (Remember to include a self-addressed return envelope for a reply -- it helps! no stamp needed for soldiers to reply.) Send a card with signatures of many co-workers, family members, neighbors, retirement club, ski club, scout group, whatever! You don't have to write a lot of words.
You could mention that they can send me an e-mail at MarineVet66To68@comcast.net    to submit their names or a fellow soldier's name and address to receive personal mail. Most have only rare opportunities to use a computer for email.
Here you will find the names of Soldiers who have told us they would like to receive mail.
If you don't get an answer or your letter comes back, please know that due to uncertain troop rotation they don't always know where they are going to be and the Military does NOT forward mail. Please be sure to let us know of any addresses that you get mail back from so that we can update the website.
For that reason it's best to make sure your Soldier knows you are sending a package before sending one. The rules regarding mailing packages to members of the Military are changing due to security concerns, so please, ask before sending anything.

NOTICE

I'm happy to say OMFH is going on its 4th year. I just wanted to personally thank the Sponsor's + Everyone who has taken the time to go out of their way for our Servicemen + Women.

                                                                                  God Bless'

                                                                                    John

How often do we consider the:

• nearly 1.38 million active-duty military personnel worldwide?

• estimated 234,000 deployed for GWOT (Global War on Terrorism)?

• more than 38,000 stationed in South Korea since 1950?

• Approximately 16,000 still based in and around Afghanistan?

• roughly 5,200 deployed in Kosovo and 3,100 in Bosnia?

• fact that Europe is still home to 111,000-plus?

• over 125,000 deployed in the Pacific theater?

Additionally, many expect the long-term post-war contingent in Iraq to number in excess of 20,000.

Our nation’s commitments are many and that load is shouldered by a proud and selfless few. We cannot repay their sacrifices or truly compensate them for their dedication. We can, however, honor them with a glimpse of life back home, with entertainment and with our mere presence, if only for a short while.

If you know of a service member who would like their name added to our list, please E-mail Me at: MarineVet66To68@comcast.net
Please make sure they would indeed like to have their name added before submitting it!

By the way, it is totally legal to post public information on the web. Names and PO addresses which people have requested posting with the purpose of receiving mail to break up the loneliness of being far from home and a familiar culture is not a misuse of anyone's time or money.