Dear Mom & Dad,
Greetings once again from Vietnam. Just a few lines this afternoon. There
isn't too much to do here during the day so I have quite a lot of time to write letters.
I haven't been able to get to the PX for four days now. Our truck is being
used everyday to help paint these ACAVs. You see, our truck has a built in air
compressor and they are using the hose to spray the paint.
You see, every day, up until the day they decided to paint these ACAVs, the mess truck
was used to take the guys over to Tan Son Nhut PX. So I could get over about every
day. Oh well, I am saving money. I put eight boxes of slides in a package
along with a commentary tape which I will send along as soon as I can get to the Post
Office. All of these slides were taken while we were at Bien Hoa. They show
the troop operating up by Phou Loi. Some were taken at Bien Hoa where the squadron
trains were and some were taken out in the field on combat operations. I think you
will find them very interesting. As before, please do not show these to anyone until
I can get home.
Well, not counting today, I have 187 days and a wake-up. It's hard to believe
that the first half of my tour is almost over. In five more days I will be on my way
down hill and they say the first six are the hardest and the last six take care of
themselves. With every passing day I get a little better feeling inside - I'll tell
you.
I will never be happier to get out of this place and get home where I belong. In
six months I have done a lot of things and seen things that I have never seen before and
will probably never see again. I have never regretted volunteering to come here and
I don't think I ever will. It's an experience which I will never forget. It's
an experience which I think has made a better man out of me. It has made me much
more aware of what this whole thing is all about and believe me, it makes me more
appreciative of what I have waiting for me at home.
This life is not a very easy life. All that were easy tasks at home are made more
difficult here. I am not complaining in the least because I know that they could be
a lot more difficult. I am only thankful that I am here doing what I am doing and
not out in some rice paddy carrying a rifle and shooting at Charlie every day like some of
these guys in the infantry.
Well, we are just about at the end of the monsoon season now. It's not raining as
much as it has and the ground is starting to get harder. Actually, I was surprised
that the monsoon season was not as bad as I thought it would be. It rained quite a
lot but actually, it wasn't too bad. I don't really know whether or not to be glad
if it's over or not. Without the rain to cool things off it might get quite hot
around December and January.
I am also afraid too that when the rain stops we will be going on more offensive
operations and be traveling with the troop like it was when I first got over here.
But, I am not too worried about it because I know the score now and I know what's going
on. You might say that I am "seasoned". I have more or less gotten
used to Vietnam now - if one really every gets used to this place. I think you know
what I mean.
Perhaps by the time I rotate from here, this war might be over with. I know this
is wishful thinking but someday, this war will be over with and it could very easily be
tomorrow as well as any other time. My own personal belief is that I don't think
this war will end while I am here but then again, one never knows for sure. If the
war continues at the same pace that it has for these past six months then I will be
satisfied.
Well, I will sign off for another day. Keep well and I will write again soon.
By for now!
Love,
Bob
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