What to write to a military pen pal I don know?
I agree with AgentCorvid and disagree with ikkyu2 (surprising myself). Don’t make this about atoning for liberal guilt or false efforts to boost morale in a war you know is lost or that sort of thing. Just think of her as a friend you haven’t met yet. What she probably wants as much as any soldier is a vicarious “normal” life without sand and sun and patrols and fifteen standard circulating mess menus. Army life is, as they say, long stretches of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror, so figure you’re alleviating the boredom as much as anything. So, movies, celebrities you think are stupid or cute, your car not starting because of the weather, your boss driving you crazy. Open yourself to questions and angles from her point of view. Probably best not mention politics until she does, unless it’s more of a funny story. Don’t feel the need to send over internet excerpts — unless they’re at an FOB or on a convoy they have internet just fine, though maybe just limited hours of acc
