glenn@rigel.econ.uga.edu (Glenn F. Leavell) (02/19/91)
[Moderator's Note: In article <telecom11.121.6@eecs.nwu.edu> T720019@univscvm.csd.scarolina.edu, (Volkhart Baumgaertner) asks if there is a way to send email to the troops in Saudi Arabia. Two responses came in at almost the same time, both referencing an article which appeared in another forum. In addition to the response from Glenn Leavell, I got a reply from Tom Coradeschi <tcora@pica.army.mil>. Both fellows got a message (from various directions) which had been originally written by <George_Bennet@Admin.MsState.edu>. Here is the message from Mr. Bennet sent by both readers. > Date: 13 Dec 90 13:15:43 U > From: George Bennet <George_Bennet@Admin.MsState.EDU> > Subject: Desert Shield mail A drop-box address has been established at saudi-connection@Ra.MsState.Edu to route personal messages to U.S. military personnel involved in Operation Desert Shield. Since there is presently no known direct internet route to Saudi Arabia, these messages will be uploaded to the Saudi Connection, a BBS network. Traffic on the Saudi Connection ends up with a sysop in Saudi Arabia who prints the messages on a laser printer and delivers them to the U.S. military postal system there. Although the routing is very complex, these messages are now being delivered to the addressee in Saudi Arabia in less than a week. In comparison, there have been reports that snail-mail is taking six to ten weeks. While the contents of these messages are not available for public viewing, they are also not private. One or more sysops in the system will censor the messages for racial slurs, profanity and obvious things of that nature. The Saudi Connection is a private endeavor and those involved in it feel strongly that it should only be used to send "positive" messages. No message will be passed which might adversely affect the morale of the recipient. This is presently a one-way deal. No system has been established for return mail, so be sure to include your snail-mail address, especially if you are writing to ANY SERVICEPERSON. Include the serviceperson's name and address in the body of your message as shown below: Specific Individuals: Name, Rank, Social Security Number Operation Desert Shield Organization/Unit (Deployed) APO NY ZIPCode Local Forces <----THIS MUST BE INCLUDED OR IT WILL GET SENT TO NEW YORK AND THEN BACK TO SAUDI!!!!! Any Serviceperson: Any Servicemember Operation Desert Shield APO New York 09848-0006 Local Forces <----THIS MUST BE INCLUDED OR IT WILL GET SENT TO NEW YORK AND THEN BACK TO SAUDI!!!!! It is important that you put "Local Forces" as the last line of the address. If you don't, it will take a very long time, indeed, to reach the addressee. Please try to limit messages to 20 lines. Once again, the drop-box address is: saudi-connection@Ra.MsState.Edu ---- end of forwarded message ---- Glenn F. Leavell Systems Administrator glenn@rigel.econ.uga.edu 404-542-3488 University of Georgia Economics Department. 147 Brooks Hall. Athens, GA 30602 -- and -- Tom Coradeschi <tcora@pica.army.mil> [Moderator's Note: And to both of you, my thanks! PAT]