Mail Call

History of America's Military Mail
November 10, 2011 - Permanent
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A corporal distributes mail from her tiny post office in Afghanistan, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Eugenio Montanez.

Members of the armed forces can feel isolated while deployed overseas in challenging and often dangerous conditions. Mail gives these men and women access to the world they have temporarily left behind. Receiving mail connects them to loved ones and enables them to learn about and participate in events occurring at home.

Mail Call explores how the military postal system works and why the mail is an important resource. Types of mail, transportation methods, and postal workers have all changed over time. Through innovations in technology and organization, mail has become more diverse and military mail services more reliable.