DEAR ABBY: The recent list you published of armed services addresses for your annual "Operation Dear Abby" brought back a flood of memories.
Five years ago, a parent volunteer in my second-grade class brought me a clipping from your column and suggested that this would be an excellent writing project for my students. We wrote to two of the addressed and received two responses. Both were from U.S. Marines in Japan. They became splendid pen pals, but one went above and beyond the call of duty.
This pen pal, Dennis DeNoi, always sent each child an individual response, even if it was just a few lines. (Remember, he was writing to a class of 30 children whose writing was not always legible!) Needless to say, this wonderful Marine caught the attention of the teacher, and we began an 18-month correspondence that eventually resulted in a very happy marriage.
My husband will retire soon from his beloved Marine Corps after 22 years of service to his country, to begin a new career in law enforcement. As the fifth anniversary of our first letter approaches, I want to say, "Thank you and God bless you!" You and this wonderful man have given me so much. I am forever grateful.
I encourage all of your readers to support Operation Dear Abby and our servicemen and women. You may use my name. -- CHERYL TUCKER DE NOI, LOS ANGELES