Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
16 January 1966
I was intending to send these clippings and a letter to Uncle Shun but I never get around to doing anything I want. [The youngster was learning that when one is approximating marriage, one must sometimes take the spousal equivalent to the club to play bingo.] Perhaps, you'll pass them on to him.
Remember this is Free China! I see where Taiwan is trying to start an aid program for Africa. [Probably trying to buy votes in the U.N. to keep its membership intact and retain the coveted U.N. Security Council seat as the fictional ruler of China. The "One China" Policy.] Seems to me with all the poverty here, they ought to spend it on Taiwan. A person on social security in the states could live better here than most of the upper middle class, hell higher than that. Quick personal observations lead me to believe the Taiwanese live worse than Filipinos. THAT'S BAD!
I guess with two MP's [military police] on every street corner you can't run a stable government without substantial amounts of US grants. Can't wait for Chiang and Mao to kick the bucket! [Presumably, so the two could settle their differences in Heaven without harming millions of innocents?] Well, gotta close or I'll miss me bus downtown.
25 January 1966
I'm still fine, except very stiff from taking a physical fitness test. Chinese New Year is next week & CiCi needs extra money - "old Chinese custom!" Am enclosing a snapshot of her - please return it as it's the only one I have. Thanks.
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Probably the ideal solutions would be for me to keep an index of reportable or interesting topics to expound on and later tape. However, lack of tape recorder precludes this - and I am not asking for one since they are readily available at the PX. I've been soaking up books like an alcoholic whiskey. Looking back at my handwriting I believe a typewriter would be a better investment than a tape recorder.
I've heard sketchy details about a Cold War GI bill that promises to be more substantial than I figured the Defense Department would allow the Legislative branch to pass. In any event save National Emergency, I'll be home, at least temporarily, July '67. I better start looking for a school that I like that will accept me. Contrary to what you probably believe, I do not believe I'm getting smarter (more intelligent). At this point I will introduce a contrary bit of evidence in the form of a clipping. It is still unexplained, possibly an error, because I only took one course here. Maybe Maryland carried over my credits from Europe. [Believe AG2 Fehr was on the Dean's List from the University of Maryland.]
13 February 1966
You may have remembered reading in the papers this date of an earthquake in this (far east) part of the world. CiCi woke me about 0030 local (12:30 AM) and I felt the apartment moving & shaking. The lights [suspended on a rigid pole from the ceiling] were swinging back and forth [as if hanging by a loose chain]. I didn't know whether to run down stairs & outside like it appeared CiCi was about to do, or jump under the bed.
Before I was wide-awake I found myself with my pants almost on hopping around the bedroom with one sock on. Then & there I decided since I couldn't do a damn thing about the situation, I'd go back to bed. About then, everything quit shaking & settled back to normal. It sure is a horrible experience feeling and being so utterly helpless!
I've been reading quite a bit lately, but not in association with U. of Md. Courses. I mostly like to read non-fiction, such as "A Thousand Days" by Schlesinger about JFK. Quite a nice bit of history in it too. I like the red pen better. [Now he's printing black.] I believe I'll read more historical novels about English monarchs, too. I find them informative. I recently finished "The Concubine" about Queen Anne (Bolyenn) in the 1500's. Maybe I ought to read my military requirements and AG1 & Chief courses? Hell, I ain't staying in, though.