5 April
Dear Dad,

Got your letter, only six days old. Got a letter from Marcia Mandrell with no postmark and an un-canceled stamp. Mail strike I guess.

Sent Joel a birthday letter a couple of days ago.

Had two fire fights in the last two nights. The gooks threw grenades and rifle fire at us. Nobody hurt except maybe a few V.C.

Slept out in the rain a couple of nights ago. Have a slight cold.

All letters and packages are appreciated. Canned puddings are very popular, also hard candy, big marshmallows, etc.

We get lots of fruit and fruit juice (In C-rations) so we’re not hurting there. If Mom wants to send cookies, tell her to send them in empty coffee cans.

I’ve been made a machine gunner since one of ours is rotating to the states. I don’t mind except that I don’t know anything about cleaning a machine gun, and cleaning is important. Also the machine gun is kind of vulnerable in a close fire fight. They made me turn in my rifle so now all I have is Mom’s pistol.

The M-60 is a mean weapon. It’s effective range is 1100 meters and it can penetrate light armor.

Glad to hear that Terry told her folks. I think I’ll write Willie and Marge tomorrow.

(My cousin, Terry Thornton of San Diego had secretly married her boyfriend, Paul Gleim, who was in the Navy)

I really hope they make me a rifleman again. I was trained for it.

We’re short on Marines now. We’ve only got eight and a corpsman. We’re supposed to have at least fourteen. We’re supposed to get five new guys in the next two days. I hope one is a machine gunner.

It’s getting dark. I’d better quit.

Love

Roch