How many of our readers remember V-mail? It was a World War II way to send miniaturized letters to service personnel who were overseas. The letter was written on a special full-size form, then photocopied and reduced to pinpoint size. That way, thousands of letters could be economically condensed and sent bulk by air or ship.

No one has sent a V-mail to a GI since WWII, and today even regular mail hasn’t been used much. Now families and friends in the US can send service personnel emails, cell phones, video, CDs, DVDs and make other instant or quick contacts. However, sending regular US mail is being encouraged again for certain troops.

As more GIs and Marines are deployed to remote combat areas in Afghanistan, they don’t have as many chances to use the modern electronic equipment to contact friends and families back home. It could be days or weeks before they get back to bases where they can use the updated electronic equipment.  

So, if you have a friend or loved one now fighting in Afghanistan, keep trying the modern electronics, but also take time to write down your loving thoughts the good old-fashioned way, on paper and mailing them. They'll most likely go by air and may be delivered in as few as three days. And don’t forget to enclose a good old-fashioned photo or two. If you just want to send a letter as a new friend, you can get some GI addressees to contact from the USO, Red Cross or other online resource.