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Mail Call, Complete With Veggie Jerky, Boosts Crew Morale

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (AP) - Morale-boosting treats from sports teams, corporate America and civic groups are making their way to U.S. sailors in the Arabian Sea alongside traditional care packages from home stuffed with cookies, clean socks and photos. About 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of mail is being processed daily aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt - 10 times more than when the ship is not in a combat zone. Much of it - sports banners, videos, 5,000 packs of vegetarian jerky - were sent by strangers hoping to boost spirits at sea.

But one traditional source of letters and parcels has been suspended, possibly closed for good, because of fears of biochemical attacks.

For years, well-wishers have been able to send crew on board U.S. Navy vessels gifts simply by addressing the letter or package to "Any Sailor" and sending it to one of the Navy's postal facilities.

The parcels were then distributed to ships.

Anthrax scares in the United States have made the risk of receiving mail not addressed to named individuals too high, said Chief Post Clerk Tom Wilson.

"It will probably never go back to the way it was because we now live in a different world. I don't see how we can do it," said Wilson, from Terre Haute, Ind.

Still, some items intended for all the crew aren't screened out.

In the last month, the ship has received a signed football from the New York Giants and banners from the city's Mets and Yankees, as well as from the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots.

Dunkin' Donuts sent 100 pounds of coffee and Blockbuster Videos sent tapes and DVD players, Lt. John Oliveira, the ship's public affairs officer, said Wednesday.

A Riverside, Calif., fire station's 2,000-pound package included magazines, snacks and books. And, Oliveira said, 5,000 packs of vegetarian jerky arrived from the animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"It shows Americans know that we have put our lives on the line for them - that they have an idea what we are doing and they have made the effort to show us they know," said 26-year-old Alex Vargas, originally from New York, who was in the mailroom Wednesday sending off a wedding anniversary present to his wife, Sara.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2001