Theft of USPS trailer might have delayed holiday mail to service members

The theft of a U.S. Postal Service-contracted tractor-trailer might have caused delays in holiday mail delivery to U.S. miltary personnel and civilians in Europe, and embassy personnel in Thailand. 

Sgt. Major Mike R. Vining (ret.), a collector of naval postal history, wrote in an email to Linn's Stamp News that some military priority mail parcels and first-class letters sent around the holidays to recipients in Germany, England and elswhere in Europe, as well as those in the 96546 zip-code area in Thailand could still be undelievered due to the Jan. 2 theft.

The tractor-trailer was recovered Jan. 5. Vining said if the intended recipients are still without their mail by mid-February, they should be ready to track it down.

"Customers who believe the may have been affected should allow 45 days for delivery from the date the item was postmarked before filing a claim with the USPS," Vining writes. "Claims maybe filed by mail, at any post office, by telephone at 1-800-ASK-USPS, or online."