| Show I SAM PAL Speed Delivery Boost G I Morale Thru the Mails Families and friends of ser overseas in Vietnam and other foreign duty stations will find the following mailing tips helpful The material is presented as a public service of The Vernal Express from in- in information in formation released by the De- De Department Dc of Defense Ed The m members of the Armed Forces everywhere re in the world eagerly look forward to tomail tomail mail from relatives friends and neighbors from home IN ORDER to avoid and difficulty indi victuals or groups planning pro pro- projects for support of troops over seas should include in their plans provision for use of the theUS US Mail l or or commercial trans transportation facilities for the movement of material to over over- overseas seas areas Mail must be addressed cor cor- cor correctly to a specific individual in order to assure its arrival at atthe atthe the intended A most important element clement of the ad ad- ad address dress is the five digit APT or number If this number is not included in the address the mail is always subject to delay and sometimes possible return to the sender TH THE E requirement for ad dressing mail to a specific in at a correct address does not present the mailing of material to the Commanding Officer of a military unit pro pro- providing viding the unit designation and its correct address are used Postal laws provide preferential preferential service for certain pack ages mailed to servicemen Your local postmaster can an an- an answer questions a about bout size and weight conditions and can iden iden- identify materials which may not be mailed These same provisions apply also to mail originated by servicemen stationed over over- overseas overseas seas Airmail Letters rs All airmail including parcels prepaid at the airmail rate is transported by aircraft within the United States and from the gateway terminals to the over over- sea area This mall mail should reach a serviceman stationed overseas within three to six days after it is mailed in the United States All first class letter mail prepaid at six cents per ounce including sound recorded communications such as tape recordings used for personal correspondence is transported by aircraft with in the US and to the oversea area by space available non priority air lift It should reach the serviceman within four to toI I eight days after it is mailed in the US Space Available Mall Mail SAM Parcels mailed at surface parcel post rates and not ex ex- ex exceeding c five pounds in weight and GO 60 inches in length and girth combined which are arc addressed to an APO or are moved by air on a space available basis from the gate gate- gateway gateway way post office San Francisco Seattle or New York to the oversea military post office These parcels are moved between the point of mailing and the gateway by surface transportation When mail mail- mailing Ing parcels at this lower rat rate a request should be made to the accepting postal clerk to af affix fix the indorsement SAM on the parcel Parcel Airlift PAL I Any parcel in this category with postage paid at the sur- sur surface surface face parcel post rate Is entitled to air movement between the point of mailing in the United States and overseas areas pro pro- provided vided a 1 fee is also paid The accepting clerk should be requested to indorse the parcel PAL Ordinary parcels weighing over five pounds and not more than 30 pounds will not be given Parcel Air Life ser ser- service vice unless the 1 fee has been paid In some instances de de- de depending pending upon the weight of the package generally 2 pounds or less and the distance it must be hauled in the United States air parcel post rates will be lower than the charges for this air life PAL ser ser- vice Consult your local post master If your ordinary parcel weighs rive five pounds or less you may obtain air service at the surface rate in one o of two ways 1 As SAM Pay the surface surface rate of postage and the parcel will move by surface mail with with- within in the United States but will willbe willbe be air lifted overseas on a space available basis 2 As PAL Pay the surface rate of postage plus a 1 fee All Air movement within the United States is provided as aswell aswell well as to the oversea area Second Class Mail Second class mail consisting of newspapers and magazines that are published once each week or more more frequently fea fea- fea featuring turing principally current news of interest such as hometown newspapers and weekly maga- maga magazines magazines is entitled to space available air lift between the United States and military post offices in combat zones corn com bat areas isolated or hardship areas Second class mail is transported by surface means within the United States Fourth Class Maul Mall Ordinarily fourth class par eels cels posted at the surface par eel cel zone rate and not eligible for SAM service because of size and weight or for which the 1 fee has not been paid for movement as PAL move by surface transportation from point of mailing to the military post office of delivery This ser ser ser- service vice Is extremely slow and should not be used to mail items which have time value or which are subject to deterioration What To Send Although our servicemen in Vietnam have the best military equipment possible gifts from home are always welcome We have found that reading mater paperback books magaz magaz- ices ines hometown newspapers etc as well as small games small toilet articles and simil ar small items are most desir desir- desired ed cd We have also found that per per- person son gifts are prefer prefer- preferable able but realize not every body knows an Individual servo sere ing overseas Therefore the United States Commander in Vietnam has said that If gifts are arc mailed to units rather than individuals they can be accepted However they should be small and of a type that can be used by more than one man Examples are battery powered radios port port- portable portable able electric equipment magazine and newspaper sub sub- subscriptions and paperback books The Commander also ask ed that before such gifts ar are sent to units the donor write to the unit commander and ask for specific interests or needs Wrapping Parcels The proper wrapping of par eels is of singular importance when considering gifts for ser ser- servicemen More than one thousand parcels are being reo re- rewrapped wrapped or reinforced daily be be- be before fore they can be moved onward from the gateway post office at New York San Francisco and Seattle At this rate approximately sought much after parcels will be delayed un- un unnecessarily unnecessarily necessarily this year to servicemen overseas due to the time consuming process of wrapping re-wrapping Moreover many of these cases will become a source of disappointment for senders as well as the service service- servicemen servicemen men due to the possible loss of items from the broken parcels Foremost In the many fac fac- fac factors tors needing attention in the preparation of parcels for over over- overseas seas mailing is the selection of ofa ofa a mailing container strong enough to protect the contents and withstand the rigorous journey to the overseas ad ad- ad address dress The risk of broken parcels can be lessened by consulting with your local post office on proper packing and wrapping prior to mailing |
