This letter of July 2nd is shorter than most and it included a letter that Brenda Lee had written to me from Hong Kong. Remember Brenda Lee from my Hong Kong R & R? I’ll include her letter at the bottom. Being able find and communicate with Max’s family and discovering the letters I wrote to Jennifer has awakened emotions and feelings that had been dormant for quite awhile. I hope that before this journey is over I find others from my past who were part of it. The letters to Jennifer actually started before I was drafted, so as I delve into them, I will be able understand the young man who chose to allow the Army to take him rather than make different (better?) life changing decisions. Anyway, let’s move on to LZ Ike.
“Dear Family, Enclosed is the magazine of the Air Cavalry Division. Something to look through in your spare time. There is a lot of grunt crud in there and some good pictures. There’s little or nothing about our group (battalion) in it, but then again there usually isn’t. We’re too far from civilization and don’t get too many writers or photographers out here.
“Official word is that our battalion is going back to Phuoc Vinh in awhile – 4 – 6 weeks for a one month stint. Should be a lot easier on us than it is here. There’s supposed to be another big push for Tay Ninh within the next week. We were supposed to get hit last night, but didn’t. We fly back out into the boonies tomorrow. It’s been a pretty good 5 days back. We also expect to get 5 days securing LZ Barbara this month. It’s a lot closer to Tay Ninh than we are and it’s bigger and better there than it is here. I believe they’ve got their own airstrip. There’s a big infiltration Route in our AO called Mustang Trail or Road. This is what the gooks use mostly in this area. Someday I’ll explain how their infiltration routes work. The set up is amazing. The gooks are smart little bastards.
“Anyway things may look up for us in a little while. I expect I may be taking my 7 day leave in about 90 days, then I’ll only have about 40 days left in the field. Take care all, Love Dave. PS: Dad, I got your letter 2 days ago and really appreciated it. Good luck this summer.”
Here is the letter from Brenda Lee. It’s pretty hard to read, so I hope it got it right.
“My Dearest Dave, It’s very nice of you to keep your promise and write to me as soon as you arrived at your outfit. Of which please accept my most sincerely appreciation and thanks. Please take best care of yourself as long as you are working with your services for your country in Vietnam. And keep your eyes open whenever you are in the field. I am here at any moment doing all my best prayers for you and wishing that God bless you and keep you well and safe until some day until you come over here for your next leave in Hong Kong. I am sure our meeting then will be more enjoyable and cheerable than ever.” (Not sure about the word “cheerable” but it doesn’t look like it could be anything else)
“Please don’t hesitate to keep on writing me and telling me how you are doing there because truly I have always remembered you and expected that our friendship may be brought forever and our correspondences may bring us a better understanding as long as we liked, okay.
“Don’t worry about your writing. I can understand and read it by myself. You know I don’t like to show the letter to anyone else but myself. So long honey. Take care of yourself for me and come here whenever you can. With love, Brenda.” I honesty don’t remember if I wrote to her or heard from her again. Maybe future letters will tell. I did post her picture in a previous letter. See you next Monday, June 20.