19 February
Dear Mom,

Sorry I haven’t been writing much, no excuse.

Got your letter day before yesterday and one from Joel yesterday. Joel’s was a one-pager as usual but I’m not complaining. (Actually, that does sound like a complaint.)

Nothing very unusual has happened. The Navy PBR unit at Hoi An lost a man in a counter-ambush a few nights ago. They set up an ambush in the same place for three nights in a row. They got hit on the third night. Trust the Navy to screw up when trying to do something that is a job for the Corps. All of the PBR guys think that they’re John Wayne so they lose people they shouldn’t.

I want you to send me your pistol. (sentence crossed out) I just want a weapon I can have in reach 24 hours a day.

You’d better wrap it in foil so it’s not shaped like a gun. Send all the ammo and wrap it up too. I think it’s in my drawer or the hall closet. You might bury the stuff in a box of cookies, also wrapped in foil for a double disguise.(what a little smuggler I was!) Chocolate chip seems to stay tasty longer or pfeffernuss (sp) all my buddies like those.

I bought an instamatic camera yesterday (had a buddy get it for me). It was cheap, I guess, at $14.95. I looked at some nice, expensive, 35mm’s but all were too complicated, heavy, and fragile. I haven’t got the time or inclination to figure out the workings of a good camera. I also don’t want to lug it around. Also, if I have to travel light or in a hurry it’ll be less painful to throw or give it away.

The colonel was just in here. I’m “working” at HDQs all day today. Mostly I’ve been working the switchboard and running errands.

This is supposed to be winter here and it’s hotter than blazes.

Things are boring, boring, boring. We can’t go outside the compound and there’s nothing inside the compound.

I guess I’m finished.

Out.

Love

Roch