Pen Pals in Afghanistan

So remember when I decided to write a letter to a marine over in Afghanistan? Here's my post about it. Well, I finally got a reply from him today!

Here is his letter to me:

Hello Leah!

Gina gave me a heads up about your letter and I got it last night. The mail system here in Afghanistan is very slow, it is a month behind sending mail out, so that pretty much means when you send me something it will take about a month for it to get to me and vice-versa.

I got Gina's calendars about 2 weeks ago and loved it, makes me I wish I had her past calendars. You did a great job as the production manager. Did Gina make it hard for you? Lol How long did the calendar take to finish? Were you there for all her 2011 calendar shots?

I want to say thank you for taking some of your time to write us a letter, that makes me grateful. I have also traveled a lot overseas. My mom was in the U.S Air Force and my father is still in the British Royal Marines. I was born in London, England and stayed there for about 6 years. I lived in Thailand, Japan, Germany, Puerto Rico and many states within the U.S.

I've been in the Marine Corps since 2004. I graduated high school in 2002, went to college between 2003-2004 and got my associate degree in Criminal Justice and about 5 months after that I joined the Marine Corps as a 0311 "Grunt", the guys that charge into the battle field.

I love all kinds of music, I guess my biggest favorite would be rock, country, and classic piano. I am 27 years old and was born on July 12, 1983. How old are you? Thanks for the pics, I would send you pics but the only way I could do it is through email. Well I will end this letter here. I don't want to tell you my entire life story in one letter. Lol I look forward to hearing from you again!

-Joey

I am so touched that I heard back from him. I will definitely send him a letter back right away!

A Letter to a Marine

Since living with my Pin-Up roommate Gina and helping her out so much with her Pin-Ups For Vets calendar project, I've become so much more interested in the lives of soldiers currently overseas defending our country and Vets that are home today recovering and recuperating. They give or have given so selflessly to all of us living here in the states. I think it is important that organizations like Gina's exist to show support for these courageous men and women.

About a week ago, Gina posted the following on her Facebook wall:

"I had a Marine write me, asking if my supporters would like to be pen-pals. [Here's what he said], 'Hello Gina, I am a Marine in Afghanistan, we have been here for a month. I would like to see if you knew anybody that would like to be pen pals. Here are the names of my men...' If you guys are interested in writing actual letters, I can email you the address. Send me an email on Facebook or pinupsforvets@aol.com! Let's show these Marines some love!"

I immediately told her that I would definitely write these Marines a letter and perhaps even become pen pals. I felt that it was the least someone like me could do to show them that we are thinking of them here in Los Angeles. If this inspires you to write your own letter to one of these Marines or to another solider, please email me and I will give you an address. : )

Here is the letter that I will be sending today:

Dear Marines,

First of all, Happy Holidays! Let me express my deepest gratitude to you all for what you do over there in Afghanistan. My heart goes out to each and every one of you. Thank you for dedicating yourselves to defending our country and helping people in need.

My name is Leah and my close friend is Gina of Pin Ups for Vets. I try to help her out with her calendar project as much as I can. In fact, I was her production manager for the 2011 calendar which she will be sending to you all soon. Yay! You guys are going to love it! We are very proud of it! She looks amazing in it! : )

So, last week Gina asked me if I would like to send a letter to you guys and I immediately jumped at the chance. I would absolutely love to become pen pals with you.

Well, I hope this letter finds you safe and sound and content with your current position. I've actually traveled quite a lot overseas but never to Afghanistan. I did spend all my high school years in Yangon, Myanmar and I was born in Pakistan. My parents were teachers so they would teach at the American International Schools in the countries that we would live in. I absolutely loved living abroad and wouldn’t have changed it for anything. I got to experience so many different cultures and made friends from all over the world. I am truly blessed to have had that life.

What about you guys? Where are you all from originally? How long have you been in the Marines? Everything you expected it to be? What do you all like doing for fun? Are you able to still do any of those hobbies over there?

My biggest passion is music and I would love to share with you some of the best stuff right now or at least what I think is the best stuff. So, please let me know what kinds of music you guys enjoy. I love it all but especially hip hop and indie bands. I buy a lot of music on iTunes and would be more than happy to burn you a few CDs. It also might help if I knew your ages…haha!

I look forward to hearing back from you. I know that you are busy and that mail is slow so no worries about a speedy reply. I will be still be here.

Please take good care of yourselves and do keep in touch.

Lots of love,
Leah