Cover Story: Messages from the Home Front to the Front Lines

WASHINGTON, DC -- A Vietnam vet in Alabama. A single mother in Alaska. A World War II veteran in Big Fork, Montana. A fifth-grader in Minnesota. A chaplain in Tennessee.

They are among the thousands of Americans who have sent messages of pride and support during the holidays to U.S. service members overseas.

Since 1967, when Sgt. Billy Thompson wrote Abigail Van Buren and mentioned that a wonderful Christmas present to U.S. armed forces would be "just a letter from home," Americans have been sending holiday wishes to servicemen and women stationed overseas every holiday season. Dubbed "Operation Dear Abby," the program has brought holiday greetings to hundreds of thousands of service personnel.

Military officials suspended this year's letter writing campaign because of the threat of mail-borne anthrax spores. The Navy's LifeLines2000 Services Network, however, offered to provide an online resource so the public could send holiday greetings to soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, or Coast Guardsmen.

Far Away from Home

U.S. troops are currently serving at duty stations around the globe. They're combating terrorism in Southwest Asia, providing security in Bosnia and Kosovo, patrolling the border between North and South Korea. And people back home are grateful.

"Stay low. Cover your buddy. Leave no one behind in the field and you will always win respect and support," advised Vietnam vet Larry Castagneto of Enterprise, Alabama. "Keep up the good work. We're very proud of you. My heart is with you," he wrote.

"Please know that there are MILLIONS of Americans and supporters around the world," wrote Allison R. Turner of Birmingham, Alabama. The single mother and Army brat wrote: "I ask each of you to keep the faith and fight the good fight – as my dad would say. Do what you've been trained to do and do it well."

Mothers, grandmothers, wives, and schoolgirls comprise the majority of those who have written to date. Some offered advice. Others expressed gratitude and pride. Aunt Beannie from Richmond, Ohio, wanted to let her nephew, Shell Hollen, know she can't wait for his return.

"My 11-year-old son doesn't have a father in his life," wrote Diane Prince, "but he has been watching the news reports and is therefore learning about honor, commitment, sacrifice, and service to God and Country by watching all of you who have chosen to be in the armed services. Thank you and God Bless!!"

Jennifer Malave of Alexandria, Virginia, said her father served in the Navy for 32 years. "If any of you have children at home who you know are missing you," she wrote, "just know that when they grow up they will be proud of the fact that their mommy or daddy set such a good example by fighting for what we all appreciate – our freedom to live in AMERICA!!!"

Some writers offered personal e-mail addresses, volunteering to be pen pals. "We are all here for you in your time of loneliness and uncertainty to offer encouragement and strength," wrote Tina Ingram of Birmingham. "If you need to ‘talk’ with someone at 'home base' please don't hesitate."

"I have a son in the Navy," wrote Kathy Papp of Iowa Park, Texas. "In 2001 he was in the Persian Gulf and I missed him terribly. . . . If you need anything you can e-mail me and I will do my best to send what you need. You make Mom's like me PROUD!"

‘Kick Butt’

Every so often, fathers, grandfathers and young boys sent their messages to the troops. Often short and to the point, several encouraged troops in Afghanistan to kick butt and "don't bother takin' names."

"I was in the South Pacific in WWII and the Korean 'thang,' so I know what it's like to be away from family and friends," wrote Norm Julian of Big Fork, Montana. "This too will pass and soon you'll be back where you belong. But in the meantime we appreciate you protecting our security and safety."

"My name is Jeremiah Fettig," wrote a future military recruit from LeSueur, Minnesota. "I am in the 5th grade at St. Anne's school. I am happy that you are fighting for us. When I grow up I am going to be in a branch of the military. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

After expressing his pride and gratitude, Chaplain Rod Davis of J103 Radio in Chattanooga, Tennessee, noted that he, too, had served his country. In Vietnam, he said, he was fighting a just cause, but with little moral support from the nation.

"That is not the case this time," Davis assured his reader. "We're behind you, my friend. You have our prayers and our respect. We are grateful for the sacrifices that you are making for us and we are deeply in your debt."

Zack Fulmer, 12, from Freedom, Pennsylvania, sent a message to the Marines. "I know you probably will get a lot of these but I hope that mine means something -- something that will stay with you now and in the future.

"I hurt for you that you must stay at sea or away from home on the holidays," Fulmer wrote. "For this reason, I give you a present. The present of thanks, the present of care, the present of love. Your friend, Zack "

Alexandria Polise, 11, from Jenison, Michigan, wrote about a present she'd received. "For Christmas I got a shirt that said, 'These colors (red-white-blue) don't run, never had, never will,' and you support that!!! THANKS AGAIN, God Bless you all!!

Sarah Woods, 23, "a plain old civilian" from Anchorage, Alaska, summed up the most frequently expressed sentiments in her short message.

"I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for being so brave," she wrote. "Thank you for working so hard to protect the USA. To me you are all heroes."

SOURCE: American Forces Press Service via Veterans News and Information Service