Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
20 January 1967
I'm awful busy but I have to write a short note now because of the commotion last nite. As you probably know from the papers, this place and the airfield finally got hit by a few rounds of mortar shells. A couple GI's from here got superficial wounds and that was about it. Everything is under control. Don't worry. It sure causes a lot of extra work. We had to stay out in the trenches and bunkers all nite.
I was waiting up to see the mid flick [late movie] and the projection lamp had blown out. A half hour went by waiting for the projectionist to fix it and then I heard a familiar CRUNCH-WHOOMP sound. I heard a lot of mortars at Camp Pendelton and this sure wasn't any of our out-going 105's or 155's. It makes an entirely different sound. I helped alert my barracks and grabbed my gear (with civies and tennis shoes) and beat feet to the trenches. I spent over five hours out there watching and waiting. It got a little cold, but at least it was during a break in the rain. Quite an experience. [One memorable highlight was watching Puff the Magic Dragon, a converted cargo plane outfitted with superfast Gattling guns mounted on the side doors. The tremendous firepower eerily rained a futuristic death ray of reddish tracers from the sky. It made an audible "Ehrrr" sound when dispensing slugs about six inches apart covering a football size swath of no man's land.] I don't want to earn any more combat pay. Surprisingly, I was real cool and don't think I was excited at all.
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Paul Gerhart sent me a letter and included in it a brochure for a special introductory offer for hygienic products (rubbers) and for a book of illustrated sex facts for married people. [What a buddy!] I thanked him but told him what I really needed was vaseline.
24 January 1967
Phu Bai is about 17 KM (12 miles) south of Hue. Hue is about 30 miles or so south of the DMZ
[Demilitarized Zone]. From Da Nang, go up or north about 40 KM [about 25 miles] and there is Phu Bai. We're between Hue and Da Nang, but closer to Hue. Hope you can find it on the map now.
It's been raining again and we've all been out in it. There have been some precautionary alerts from 2300 (11 PM) to 0300 (3 AM) whereby we stay in the defensive trenches. These are the times when the VC are apt to spring an attack if any comes.
There is a crash program on to build a wall of sand (mud) bags around the ops [operations] building and to dig another trench from the ops building to our defensive trenches. All comes out of us! Ain't no overtime here. [The operations building was composed of aluminum skinned trailers. Shrapnel would zing right through it like a knife through butter. There were shrapnel holes in the bulkhead by the head; probably scared the shit out of somebody. And an embarrassing way to earn a Purple Heart. Thus, the work area certainly needed the protection of an outer wall of sandbags.]
Life has been a little dreary lately - work, sleep, work or in the trenches, but we're safe! We've been sleeping with our clothes and boots on and our alert gear by our side. A trench starts about 30 feet from where I sleep and I can get there in no time flat if I have to. But don't worry, we're as safe as can be and more so than almost anywhere else in this country.
In an earlier letter I may have mentioned the noisy artillery. Well, it sure sounds good to me now. It's outgoing!
I got two new "old" Newsweek's I've been wanting to read, so I guess I'll close and get to it.
27 January 1967
I don't think I'll be able to remember everything [re the hold baggage pilfering claim], but I'll try. You must list item, quantity, description, date purchased, price and value now. It's a pain in the ass. I'm 2 for 2 [His baggage was broken into enroute from both Germany and Taipei.]. By the time I get the list back, and it's processed thru to Washington, I'll be senile.
My work isn't that nerve wracking because it isn't as difficult as at Taiwan. It does keep me very busy and there is more responsibility involved here than any previous assignments [including indirectly saving pilots' lives].
The sun has been out the last few days! It must be about 80 degrees or so. I was out playing softball and throwing a football around the other day and got sunburned. We took some beer out on the field with us and did it up right. You can't drink too much here because we work everyday and it's against Navy regs to drink 4 hours before watch. Until the other day, I only had about 3 beers in the week. Pretty good!
29 January 1967
I should soon be hearing whether I've been accepted at American U. Sometimes I wish I'd have applied to another two or three schools. It would be hell if I weren't accepted. Especially after I was so confident.
My pay record is maintained by a Cpl. over in 3rd Marine Division. He makes more mistakes than, rather, if he were a bartender and drank his mistakes, he'd be drunk in a half-hour. I was expecting to have near $400 due, and the list recorded only $231. I sent a note with the pay roster and am anxious to see what develops on payday. We get paid on the first of each month here.
I saw a note a few days ago that so far in January we received 20.4 inches of rain - January average is 7. Please say hello to grandma and grandpa for me. I got another letter from grandma the other day. She says you call them when I write. Thanks.
31 January 1967
It is late and I have to get up early to get my gear cleaned for a personnel and rifle inspection. It is a bit cooler now. I guess the hot weather isn't quite here for good yet. I got a haircut and my head is peeling from that sunburn of a few days ago. Can't wait to get back to the barracks and shower.
Got the bologna today. Thanks. A couple guys want to know how much they cost so they can send you money for some too. What do you think? This bologna arrived bearing a stamp "Received at San Francisco in open condition, not properly packed," but the bologna was unopened when I got it. Just thought I'd tell you.
03 February 1967
I received the cigars the other day. Thanks very much. They were the right kind. I'm not crazy about the plastic tips, but there weren't too many of that sort. That was the only kind [plastic tipped] that were at the PX when they were available.
I really don't feel like writing, reading or anything. A little liberty or even a drink with a bunch of friends would cheer me up. I'm in a depressed mood. [Again, you spoiled RAMF! (Rear Area Mother…)] My trip to the P.I. may be postponed another week, and then I don't want to go because Pete Wyatt is scheduled for R & R the same time. That would leave only two guys working 12 hours on and 12 hours off for a week or more. Maybe I'll go later in the month or March.
The cigars are a major bright point! I guess I mentioned the cold, wet monsoon returned as suddenly as it departed. We'll probably have to bear with it til March and then suffer the opposite extreme. This eight hours plus each day, week after week, month after month, begins to get to you.
Time magazine and Newsweek are available about two to three weeks old at the PX. I buy them up immediately anyway. The most current news in the Stars & Stripes military oriented paper is always four days or more old. Still it's read cover to cover.
When I leave here, I'll be so relieved to reasonably be able to do as I wish.
Mornings it is so damp that it is really an effort to leave the rack (bunk). If I wouldn't have to urinate, most of the time I'd stay in bed and keep warm til I had to go to work. Lately, I've been getting up, dressing hurriedly, and getting a free cup(s) of coffee next door at the club. Of course, a shot of cognac enhances the warming powers of the coffee.
Since the mortar attack, club hours have been shortened and the special one and one-half hours from 0000-0130 for eve watch personnel only was cancelled. My only time to get a drink or beer is about an hour or so from 1000- 1130 in the morning. [Navy Regs prohibit having a drink less than four hours prior to assuming a watch. The mid watch probably commenced at 1530 hours.] Most of the time I don't even bother, unless for coffee. I'm drying up!
I find myself writing you more frequently, but at the expense of others. I don't even read very much for lack of time. This peeves me, too. Well, I get off work soon, and am looking forward to the luxury of a hot shower. In Vietnam, this is a luxury! At least up in this neck of the woods.