The contents of this page were written by Nancy Spoerke and RR, and are used with permission
May 27, 2008
Video of the Day
Letters From War
Mail Call
Just how important are letters to and from the military? Though the internet keeps us connected in a much faster and easier way than during any other war, the military members still love receiving hard copies to actually hold in their hands. They love the pictures from young children where they have taken the time to write, color, or draw themselves. They love receiving letters stating they are thought of. It makes the days go easier, it helps them think of home, and it makes them stay connected.
Censorship:
Up until World War I most everything was said through letters. Sometimes they stated exactly where they were or what had taken place, they stated where they were going next. About the only time the censor issue came across in the earlier years was when they were at prisoner of war camps or if they were across the enemy lines or if they were suspected of being a spy. It was against the military's wishes for the public to find out how the prisoners were treated. They didn't want the soldier to say anything that would be of value to the enemy. "Loose lips sink ships" was the phrase that was very prevalent.
What are some of the reasons the letters are confiscated:
bad language, foreign language, where they were or where they were going, the number of people at the camp. At times even the xxx's for hugs & kisses were removed as they could be considered a code.
Many people at home received letters with portions either cut out or blackened out as they gave too much information. They had to keep the information generalized or down to hometown information. If a letter was confiscated; they didn't necessarily get the word back to the soldier that the letter was withheld.
If it was confiscated the soldier may have been spoken to, though not punished, as it was considered carelessness.
The censorship was stopped around the beginning of the Korean War. Communication had advanced to a different level.
How important are the letters from the military?
Here are some excerpts from some letters of the past, many of these soldiers did not make it home:
It was during World War II that soldiers could send "V-Mail", an electronic telegram- very much the forerunner of today's e-mail. Mail service was even faster by the 1960's during the Vietnam Conflict when mail time had been reduced to only a few days. A soldier may receive a letter or package which would include magazines, photos, snacks and food items such as a package of cheese and crackers or drink mixes. Instead of writing letters now, most of the soldiers phone home, send e-mail messages, or even use instant messages. Though I wrote letters and used email messages, I did find it easier to use the computer to write my own son when he was deployed than to pick up a paper and pen. Technology sometimes hurts us in the long run though.
The One Thing Everyone Loves To See In A Letter or Email: |
|
Featured Advertisements
Military Personnel: Get Google Voice For FREE Learn more about Google Voice
