I apologize for this letter being 2 days late. A busy Monday and Tuesday prevented me from uploading this letter of April 10th. So: “Good morning Mom, dad, and Sue. We’re back out in the field again on this bright morning. The sun is out. It’s nine-twenty and the sun is getting brighter and hotter. We’re out in the area where Delta Company was yesterday. They found a bicycle repair shop out here and plenty of bicycles. We’re doing the usual search and clear mission. We’ll be moving out in about a half hour.”
“I’m not longer a grenadier. I’m now 3/6 mike India – RTO for the platoon sargeant. I carry a radio! And I’m always in the rear of the platoon formation. So despite the fact that the gooks like to shoot at radio antennas, I feel safer and if I feel safer than you should feel better. So you better feel better. We got a lot of guys getting ready to go home this month, May and June. We’ve been getting a few new guys, but not enough to keep up with those leaving. The Company is getting smaller all the time. 1/6 only has two squads, we (3/6) only have two squads, and 2/6 has three squads. 4/6 (weapons platoon – 81mm mortar, and 50 caliber machine gun) has 14 men. My feet are rotting away, but they aren’t bad enough to get me out of the field. A clean pair of socks and some medication would do wonders for them. My new boots have helped some.” The popular term for this foot condition was “jungle rot” and most everyone got it from wet socks, boots and feet.
“We’re slated to go into Tay Ninh for a 3 day R & R in a few days. We’re hopeful that it will come off. We could all use the chance to blow off some steam. Morale is pretty low due to the men we lost awhile back. We received the casualty report a couple of days ago and all totaled there were about 30 killed and wounded.” I can’t remember if that was total casualties for a two company operation or just our company. That’s a big hit for a roughly 90 man company. Our weapons platoon had remained at LZ Jessie so they were not involved. They were rarely involved in a field operation as they stayed behind to help defend the LZ. “As soon as you can get me some stamps, I’ll get some more of that film off to you to be developed. There will be a picture of a dark haired guy and another guy standing next to a Playboy pinup. I’d like a couple of prints made when you get them.”
“I received a letter and card from Mrs. Elam yesterday. She sounded pretty well except that life seems pretty boring in Archie, Miss. The kids seem to keep her pretty busy though. She talked a lot about Linda and didn’t even mention Rita. I guess that’s understandable though. I’ll try to get a letter off to her in a couple of days.” I know that this family was a former neighbor of ours, but I don’t remember any of them. I’ll have to ask my siblings about them. Sue may have been friends with one of the girls. It saddens me when I can’t remember people who were in my life, especially those who we’re in our social circle, and of course the guys I served with. Most of us used nick-names, and in many cases didn’t even know each other’s given names.
“I think I told you I’ve increased the amount I’m sending home to you to $100. I don’t know when you will be getting the increased payment, but I imagine it will be quite awhile yet. Cav finance is pretty slow and unorganized. Now that my birthday is over, mail has been slow again. I even got a card from Mr. Pederson. Is he that chaplain that came to see my before I left?”
“Rob says he plans to meet me in Fort Lewis when I finally leave this place. I’d like to go from there to Texas to see Steve and Susan and talk to the Dean about getting back to school the following fall. Things look good and if I can get a part time job, I should make out ok.” That actually happened, but not in the time frame I expected when I wrote this letter. “Depends on how much money I make during the summer.” I worked for dad that summer and that did not go particularly well, reinforcing my desire to go back to TCU. “I really would rather not work until I had to, at least not until after that 1st semester to see how I’m going to do. Again I’m looking way ahead, but that’s the way it’s got to be.”
“Those pictures you sent that Rob took of you, dad, and the dog were really great. I noticed a few more grey hairs, but you both still looked very young and very happy. I love to see you smiling. It’s important to me that you maintain your cool. Don’t worry too much about me. I want you in good shape when I come home. We can all run around the block together! It won’t be too long, only 7 ½ more months to go. I’m already beginning to feel short. I am in the older echelon of the Company now. If I hadn’t become RTO, I would have become team leader, but I would rather be RTO. Less responsibility. I don’t want to have to be responsible for the lives of others, but if I do eventually get squad leader or team leader, I think I’d do a good job. Guess that’s all for now. Be smooth, Love to all, Dave” Be “smooth”? What a guy. Next letter is April 14th.
