Pen Pals For Soldiers - About Us - Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

About Us

Pen Pals for Soldiers is a volunteer organization dedicated to the support and morale of our brave men and women in uniform serving overseas, in appreciation of their efforts in defense of our Nation, our freedoms, and our way of life. Soldiers will receive cards, letters, and care packages from individual volunteers who have signed up to be Pen Pals. Pen Pals are screened through address verification, and are informed of Pen Pals for Soldiers policies with regards to sending care packages, mail, and email that would be deemed suggestive, inappropriate, or hazardous. Our purpose is to support you with hygiene, toiletry, snacks, comfort items, and words of support and caring.

Headquartered in Simi Valley, California, Pen Pals for Soldiers were founded by Barry Thomas in May 2004. After reading "US Troops Overseas Need Your Cards and Letters to Boost U.S. Troops Morale" in the local community newspaper, Barry felt compelled to contribute to the cause.

Barry partnered with Simi Valley's local community, including public and private schools, churches, service clubs, and merchants, asking volunteers to write supportive letters to the men and women serving in the military.

The letters were then sent to US Armed Forces stationed overseas. In addition to cards and letters, Pen Pals for Soldiers expanded into sending care packages to the troops in combat zones.

To make sending care packages even easier, the “Adopt a Service Member" care package program was created. A $20.00 donation would cover the cost of sending a 15lb. care package to a pre-selected service member.

In an attempt to increase the number of care packages sent to the US Armed Forces, Pen Pals for Soldiers began a collection drive for troop requested items such as toiletries, snacks, tee shirts, socks, and reading materials. Due to the overwhelming response, 1800 care packages were initially sent. Thereafter, we started to receive support from local and state government officials, radio, media, the entertainment industry and merchants throughout the country.

Today, Pen Pals for Soldiers has over 3000 volunteers/members across the United States who share the same enthusiasm, passion, and goals to ensure "No service member will be forgotten at mail call." Our goal is to boost the morale of every service member, and let them know that Americans appreciate the sacrifices they are making every day.

Pen Pals for Soldiers is supported entirely by voluntary contributions, and receives no funding from the U.S. Government. All financial donations are 100% tax deductible.

Please visit our Ways To Help page for more information on what you can do to show your support and appreciation to the men and women in uniform, and to ensure that no service member will be forgotten at mail call.

Barry R. Thomas President and Founder	Email Barry

Barry Thomas was born in Burbank, California. Over the past 18 years, Barry has worked in the field of Corporate Information Systems Technology. Barry is an active member in his community, supporting deployed military families, veterans, and other charities. In March of 2004, Barry founded Pen Pals for Soldiers, and 12 months later successfully launched a Nationwide program to bring our communities together across the nation in writing letters and sending care packages to our troops overseas.

LtCol Mark Shuster, USMC Vice President	Email Mark

LtCol Shuster was born in Rochester , New York on June 29, 1969. He attended California State University at Northridge and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant from the UCLA NROTC program and entered the Marine Corps in June of 1991. He completed The Basic School and joined the 2nd Marine Division in March 1992 Click for More.

Captain A. Dale Dye, USMC (Ret) Executive Advisor

DALE A. DYE was born October 8, 1944 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri . He graduated as a cadet officer from Missouri Military Academy and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1964. He served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970, participating in 31 major combat operations, earning several decorations, including three Purple Hearts. In 1976 Dye was selected to attend Officer Candidate School and received an appointment as a Warrant Officer. He later was awarded a commission as a Captain when he was assigned to Beirut with the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in 1982-83. Click for More.

Larry Payne U.S. Army Advisor	Email Larry

SGT Larry Payne was born and raised in southern Oklahoma and enlisted in the United States Army in October of 2000 at the age of 24. He attended Basic Training in Fort Jackson SC and Airborne School at Fort Benning GA. He spent 3 years on assignment in Vicenza, Italy and 1 year in Fort Leonard Wood MO. He served a year in Iraq from March of 2003 to March of 2004 with the 173d Airborne Brigade. He is currently serving as a United States Army Recruiter based in Simi Valley CA.

SGT Luke Patton U.S. Army Advisor	Email Luke

SGT Luke Patton was born in San Antonio TX. SGT Patton is married. Growing up in San Antonio, SGT Patton knew he wanted to serve his country. On September 11, 2001, the day this country will never forget. SGT Patton enlisted into the U.S. Army. Two weeks afterwards, he shipped out to Fort Sill, OK to begin his basic training and job training. Five months after completion he and his family then transferred to Schweinfurt Germany where he served three years to his first duty station. SGT Patton then assigned to 1st battalion 7th field artillery, 1st Infantry Division where he trained as a cannon crew member. His unit later converted to an infantry company four months before his deployment to Bayji Iraq which took place Feb 2004. SGT Patton worked the front line on the battle field with his unit which consists of over 600 ground combat operations. After Iraq’s first elections and government hand over, SGT Patton returned home to his family in Germany Feb 2005. He still holds the honorable job as a combat arms soldier and continues to attend California State University working on his Bachelor’s degree.