How did you stay in touch with loved ones while you were deployed? Did you look forward those conversations?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Fri, 19 May 2017 21:20:26 -0400

Share your experiences keeping in touch and how it impacted your time in service.

Response by LTC John Mohor made May 19 at 2017 9:25 PM

LTC John Mohor — Fri, 19 May 2017 21:25:37 -0400

Ack in the late 80s I strayed in touch through regular mail and occasional phone calls. Deployment to Iraq a monthly satellite phone call and e- mail

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 19 at 2017 9:36 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Fri, 19 May 2017 21:36:06 -0400

Internet Bad!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by SGT Matthew S. made May 19 at 2017 9:44 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Fri, 19 May 2017 21:44:00 -0400

My first deployment to Iraq was mostly letters, with a few scattered calls on a satellite phone. Late in the game we got a little internet cafe set up, and we considered ourselves spoiled at that point.
The second time around I still wrote letters, although we had access to internet and phones.
Contact with those back home made deployment more bearable without a doubt, and also reaffirmed just how lucky I/we have it back in our regular lives.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 10:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 22:15:44 -0400

Story for you.

My second deployment, I was in Afghanistan. A few weeks after boots on ground, my daughter was born, and Skype was my best friend. I called every chance I got and watched her grow to be almost a year old through the slightly fuzzy video courtesy of a shaky internet connection that linked two machines thousands of miles apart.

I'm not saying it was the ideal situation, but I would have missed so much more had I not taken advantage of it when I could.

Long story short: Do anything and everything to stay apart of their world. Letters, Skype, Phone, carrier pigeon, doesn't matter. You'll be glad you did.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 20 at 2017 12:06 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 20 May 2017 00:06:54 -0400

Moral calls and emails.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made May 20 at 2017 10:53 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 20 May 2017 10:53:35 -0400

Its good to see that troops in current times do have ways to communicate that We didn't when I served in Viet Nam, letters was the only way to keep in touch then. My Mom had kept every letter I sent the entire time I was stationed in the Republic of Viet Nam in 1968-69. We had to write the word Free in the upper right hand corner where a stamp would have been and there was no cost to mail a letter home. My return address was an APO anyway.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made May 20 at 2017 11:15 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Sat, 20 May 2017 11:15:42 -0400

Initially snail mail and occasional phone call. As technology progressed, email, Skype. and DSN phone calls. While i was in Iraq as a contractor we hauled a 20 ft conex around with NIPR and SIPR gear in it and even better... the capability for 48 DSN phone lines. Made a lot of folks happy.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made May 20 at 2017 12:24 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Sat, 20 May 2017 12:24:25 -0400

Has changed much in the years I served. First time I deployed I beat the mail home. Last time email. Not much for the phone and in the old days the echo was terrible and broken connections were the norm.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2017 5:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 May 2017 17:53:01 -0400

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton I used Skype, email, phone, DSN phone, and Facetime. It always helps morale when talking to family and there are no issues (connectivity or family wise).

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made May 20 at 2017 11:58 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:58:46 -0400

I made a deal with the civilian guy who had his own internet dish. It let me skype with my wife and kids.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 21 at 2017 2:48 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 21 May 2017 14:48:46 -0400

Letters, email, and POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) calls. Being an IT had its advantages!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2017 1:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 May 2017 13:41:30 -0400

Email. Letters. Facebook wasn't allowed on government networks yet when I deployed in 2005 and 2008. I think right after my second deployment the Army allowed FB on its networks. The second deployment I got a cell phone in Iraq and used the phone cards. I worked night shift starting halfway through so that ended up working out for me to call home and not wake up anyone.

They had pay phone booths the first deployment and you used a calling card. That's how I called home that deployment.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made May 22 at 2017 4:12 PM

SFC Dennis A. — Mon, 22 May 2017 16:12:45 -0400

When it comes to being able to stay in contact with loved one's and friends service members today do have the upper hand. When I was in and deployed we had snail mail and the occasional phone call which was very expensive. While in the Marshall Islands and in Honduras I had the opportunity to make a couple of calls using the radio system. You never knew who else was listening in and there's nothing more romantic then hearing your wife and kids say "I love you, over". LOL. When I left Fort Leonard Wood in 1996, there was one person in our unit (that I knew of) that had a cell phone. It wasn't all bad because when you received that letter or was able to make that call you really appreciated and enjoyed it.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2017 11:16 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 May 2017 23:16:11 -0400

Handwritten letters. Things were rather primitive in the "Old Days!!!"

Response by PO3 Rick Lewis made Sep 2 at 2021 3:12 PM

PO3 Rick Lewis — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 15:12:52 -0400

Back when I was in, we stayed in touch via good old snail mail. We really didn't have anything better than that. Even then, our mail was always delayed when we were at sea or elsewhere deployed.

Response by PO1 Lyndon Thomas made Sep 2 at 2021 3:54 PM

PO1 Lyndon Thomas — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 15:54:50 -0400

The only means of communicating during my day was pen & paper, or wait to we got a port visit to make phone calls. Those letters took forever, and it was always a joy to get one during "Mail call". We also had Care Packages, pen pals (People who supported the troops) would send random letters. Those were exceptionally nice to get and occasionally respond to as well.

Response by PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln made Sep 2 at 2021 4:32 PM

PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 16:32:26 -0400

When I deployed to Desert Shield/Storm the main communication we had was letters. Although I was able to make 2 phone calls home, the first ended when the scud alarms went off. The second call home was to let my wife know that I was still alive, no scuds landed at my position. I waited for her letters and care packages, and re-read every letter several times. I still have the letters.

Response by CPT Mary Garrison made Sep 21 at 2021 1:12 PM

CPT Mary Garrison — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 13:12:43 -0400

Written letters only; wrote and received many.