Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
13 August 1967
Eighteen to go! Yes the ammo dump blew up [the result of a "short" outgoing round]. It was about a few hundred meters southwest of our compound. It started in the afternoon and lasted til midnight. [The most frequent utterance heard in the trench lines was, "Hey, You got any water?" Water is heavy and one had to lug all his gear everywhere he went. Why not lighten the load a little by emptying the canteen? That strategy worked most of the time, but not that explosive day in the dry trenches!] Better than the 4th of July! Sure wish I could have captured all that money that went up in smoke. We were on alert in the trenches most of the time because it was thought the barracks and other structures might collapse because of the concussion (shock). I heard that the closest part of our perimeter was taking shrapnel but I couldn't and didn't try to confirm it.
If I get discharged overseas and penny-pinch, I hope to make it back in time to watch the end of the regular football season. Guess I'll have big winter clothing bills to look forward to. Can't let CiCi freeze her pretty little butt off. Can't think of any more cept Jeff [new nephew] sure is cute and a whole lot bigger than 9 months ago!
29 August 1967
CiCi is living with a girl friend of hers (and mine) in Taipei. I believe that is where we will be living in Taiwan. At any rate if you want to write you may use this address [Omitted for privacy. Let's call the friend, "Sumi."] Sumi will make sure I'll get it.
Received a wire from the legal officer in San Miguel stating that my passport and Chinese visa are being held for my arrival. This indicates I will be able to be discharged in the Philippines as I hoped.
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Jerry Chandler, whom I worked with in Taipei, arrived on board to relieve me the other day. He's checking in and I'm checking out. I like it like that.
Much thanks for the Playboy. Once again I'm the most popular guy around. I'll probably not write again until I get to Taipei. Maybe I will in San Miguel.