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Tuesday, January 29, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Postal Service swamped by gulf mail
U.S. military asks families, friends to limit personal mail sent to troops
By Nedra Beth Randolph
Kansan staff writer
Mail destination for troops in the Middle East has inundated the U.S. Postal Service and prompted the military to ask people to stop mailing packages to the region.
"The public has sent over 33 million pounds, which makes the Vietnam War, in terms of mail, look like a walk in the park," he said.
"Right now, the public is sending an average of 400,000 pounds there a day," said Al Desarso, media relations representative for the U.S. Postal Service.
William Reynolds, Lawrence postmaster, said that the Lawrence post office had not kept track of the amount of mail addressed to specific destinations but that there had been about 10 percent to 15 percent increase in mail sent from the county to the troops were stationed in the Persian Gulf.
Joan Welch, a Lawrence postclerk who is married to a soldier in the gulf, said the volume of mail addressed to service members had not diminished since August.
At the beginning of the conflict, a great deal of mail was addressed to any service member, Welch said. Now, more people are sending letters and packages to specific service members because more people know men and women stationed in the region.
"we get tons and tons of mail going to the gulf," she said. "I'm just amazed."
Chuck Annen, a U.S. Postal Service official, said that at the Kansas City, Mo., post office, where most Lawrence mail is taken to be sorted and postmarked, there has been an
— Chuck Annen
U.S. Postal Service official
'Mail is not the government's highest priority right now.'
U. S. Postal Service official
increase from 385,000 pounds to 420,000 pounds of mail a day since August.
Chuck Annen
The military has asked friends and families to limit personal mail to cards, letters and audio cassettes, Annen said. Packages slow down mail movement once the letters and packages are transferred from the U.S. Postal Service to the military.
"The postal service is still accepting anything addressed to the troops, but they have to understand that packages might take longer than usual to government's highest priority right now."
Amen said the problem with the mail occurred when it got to Saudi Arabia and the military mail clerks had to deliver the mail in war zones.
"The packages take up lots of space in the vehicles, and the military could use that space for more important materials," he said.
Rep. Jim Slattery, D-2nd District, told family members of soldiers Friday that the mail problems should be cleared up soon.
"While I was in Saudi Arabia, I talked to the general in charge of this, and I was assured by him they were doing everything to expedite the delivery of mail," he said.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
Jennifer Hoeffner/KANSAN
men Helling, Lawrence resident, reads signs at the U.S. Post Office, 414 Vermont St., explaining that mail slots have been closed as a precaution against terrorism.
Mail slots blocked up
By Nedra Beth Randolph
Kansas staff writer
The Persian Gulf War is affecting local postal customers as well as the U.S. Postal Service.
William Reynolds, Lawrence postmaster,
said the drop slots for regular and afterhours use inside the post office were sealed the day after the war against Iraq began.
He said the U.S. Postal Service told the Lawrence post office, 645 Vermont St., along with the Jayshawk Station, 1519 W. 23rd St., to take an active role as a precaution against terroristic acts.
"It's a little more inconvenient for the customers," he said. "But they have been very cooperative, and they understand the reasons for the action."
Joan Welch, Lawrence postal clerk, said
he would be there to help you read the
book, covering the dog also.
The signs covering the slots said, "Until further notice these mail slots must remain closed . . . we regret any inconvenience this may cause."
The post office has placed a new, temporary drop box in front of the main doors for customers' use, she said. The office is still using the five drop boxes behind the office.
"Very few customers are upset by it"
"And few have voiced that is a major inconvenience."
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