March 1971
(These letters from former CAP 2-7-2 member Ken Duncan followed me to my new duty station with Range Company, Weapons Training Battalion, Edson Range, Camp Pendleton)
(Yes, folks, this is how young Marines really talked back in 1971. They may still talk this way for all I know. Unlike my carefully worded letters to my parents, the language ain’t genteel. In fact, the language is rough, crude and flagrantly adolescent. Don’t have a stroke.)
Mar. 2
Hi Fucker,
So you are still in the crotch. That’s too bad. (HA) I heard they might start RELAT? orders up again. I hope so. I don’t even want to stay in the suck when I get home.
Hucklebuck is going down to CAG tomorrow. He will stand day guard. So you don’t have to worry about him. Did you have a good time at Vail? It looked like a groovy place. I want to go on a trip when I get home. Like maybe to bed with some good looking broad. HA. I’m not even going to be patient. A year is long enough to wait.
I’m taking life easy now. I drink too much beer though. I’ve got a big gut now. Can’t go home looking like a pig, so I am going to slim down.
Nelson is back in the world by now. I guess he is happy. I have 75 days left. Wish I could get a cut out of Nam, but doubt if I do.
I gotta go now. Huck said to tell you “hi” and we’ll see you when we get home.
Ken
(This letter came after I wrote to Dunc and explained that I was a rifle coach working with recruits in boot camp.)
Mar. 15
Howdy Rocket,
You fucker, I always knew that you would enjoy fucking with the troopies. You should ship over for another 18 so that you can fuck with them all the time. Give em hell for all the guys in CAP 2.
Hucklebuck went to Guam. He was called down to CAG for his RTD, and he hurt his knee playing basketball. They sent him to Guam to get it operated on. I bet he is pissed off. Everyone else is doing okay.
CAG is finally pulling out. Supposed to be gone by May 29. First and second company leave in April. I won’t even get a cut out of here. And what is worse, I am going to Camp Lejeune. Oh wow, why me? All I want is out. They are fucking with me. (HA)
Are you getting any pussy old boy? I bet you haven’t even got your finger wet. Come on now, be honest with uncle Ken. I am highly disappointed in you if you haven’t fucked something. That just isn’t in the old CAP 2 tradition.
Being a club manager is a bitch. It is a drag. But I can’t complain, I’m still alive. Right? By the way, I have 60 days left. I ain’t even short. Everyone is leaving, so I can’t feel short. I waited a whole year to be short, and now everyone is short. What a bitch.
I gotta go Roch, so take CARE.
I’m still a lance (corporal).
Ken
CACO 2-7, 2nd CAG