"My commanding officer called me in and said I need to write a letter home."

Putting thoughts on paper was never Marion Thornberry's thing. Even during his near two-year deployment to Germany in the late 60's.

"I was lazy about writing letters, my grandmother sent the Red Cross looking for me once," he says.

Bruce Jacobsen also let weeks go by before cluing his family in on his Navy mission during Vietnam.

"It served no purpose to make the families concerned," says Jacobsen.

It took a near-death experience for his parents to hear his voice. Just once though, in seven months time.

"I was instructed to call home and let them know I was okay."

That was typical back then. But today, soldiers around the world can talk on cell phones, email and even see relatives via video conference. Some communicate every day. Such technology is how Kim White learned her son Cody was okay after last week's Fort Hood shooting.

"I text messaged him and was like Cody are you okay? He called and said he was fine and that they were on lock down," she says.

Being so connected helps some families cope, others say it just makes them homesick.