November 1970
(The following letter was written at LZ Baldy, down towards Tam Ky, I believe. Typhoon Kate roared ashore in Quang Nam the end of October after killing 32 in the Philippines the other side of the South China Sea. I believe the southern CAPs in 7th Co., 2nd CAG were flooded out of their areas of operations then choppered to Baldy. Our reception there was less than friendly.)
2 November
Dear Mom,
We’re going back out into the bush tomorrow morning and I can’t say I’m unhappy about it. Whenever we go to any of the unit mess halls on this base they kick us out. The same goes for all the enlisted clubs. They say they don’t have enough food or beer for their own units so they have to exclude outsiders. As far as I can tell from personal observation, that isn’t true. They just don’t want the extra work of handling more people.
Our philosophy is that when combat troops are pulled to the rear they should be treated at least as well as the people who work and live in rear areas. We didn’t ask to be flooded out of our areas.
Unfortunately, none of our officers or staff-NCOs came with us, so we have nobody to raise hell in our behalf.
The mess hall where we are supposed to eat has resorted to a lot of tricks to keep us from eating there. Food is served on paper plates but the mess hall claims that they don’t have any. Therefore we have to go to the unit Enlisted Club and buy some kind of food there in order to get the plate which is then saved for use in the mess hall. Some guys insisted on digging plates out of the garbage because they don’t have any money to buy food at the club.
You can see why I don’t mind going back to Thanh Quit. If you don’t have your own club and mess hall in a rear area, you can hang it up.
Do not write to the damned Congressman about this because, even if he tried to bust heavy on somebody, he’d probably get the wrong person in trouble.
I haven’t really gone hungry; we’ve had C-rations. I’m not nearly as uncomfortable as I sound. I can go for a long time without beer or hot chow.
I saw a USO show yesterday. The first I’ve seen in about five months. It was a cruddy show but it was free. I sat in the rain for 2 hours and fifteen minutes to get a seat, (I had a rain jacket on).
I’ll be sending you a thank you note to give the Tredways. They sent me a package last week and I forgot to get their address to send a thank you note.
Gotta quit.
Love
Roch
(My address book got soaked during our escape from the flooding of Typhoon Kate and I wrote down some addresses and sent them home.)
Mom + Dad,
Save these addresses for me. It’s hard to keep an address book dry.
Becky Jarvis
(A high school classmate)
Pi Beta Phi
1819 Todd Road
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Richard A. Smith
(A buddy from boot camp)
1115 Ann Ave.
Independence, Mo. 64056
Barb Fields
(A high school classmate)
109 Mitchell, Box 71
KSC
Pittsburg, Kansas 66762
Dan Gallagher
(KIA from CAP 2-7-2)
Box 173
Blanchardville, Wisc. 53516
J.J. (John) Arteaga
(KIA from CAP 2-7-2)
2409 South Logan Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisc. 53027
Richard Dennis Erpelding
(WIA from CAP 2-7-2)
2808 Trentman Ave.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806
Patti Walker
(A high school classmate)
1760 Gentry, Room 203
Wichita, Kansas 67208
Deborah Cope
(A high school classmate)
1106 College St.
Boulder, Colo. 80302
Jenny Trulson
(A girl I dated once or twice in Manhattan)
2007 College Heights
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Willy Thornton
(A favorite uncle)
3799 Ibis St.
San Diego, Calif.
Rick (Doc) Doggett
(The corpsman for CAP 2-7-2)
125 S. Delaware
Wenatchee, Washington 98801
Marcia Mandrell
(A girl I met skiing in Colorado after boot camp)
Box 513
Austin College
Sherman, Texas 75090
12314 Pine Rock
Houston, Texas 77024
Miss Pat Converse
(My high school French teacher)
Cricket Hill Apts.
Box 125-B, Kyserike Rd.
Accord, N.Y. 12404
Pat Gordon
(A high school girlfriend)
Rm 847, McCollum
Kansas University
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Eddie (Mac) McIntyre
(A guy in CAP 2-7-2)
4392 Mahoning Ave.
Youngstown, Ohio 44515
David (Red) Cook
(A Marine dog handler who spent time with CAP 2-7-2)
1911 Griffith Rd.
Falls Church, Va. 22043
L/Cpl Mike Turner 2574553
(A buddy from Staging Battalion and CAP School)
HQ III MAF, Security
FPO, S.F., Calif. 96602
Box 314
Hamilton, Montana
6 November
Dear Mom + Dad,
I assume that you got my letter explaining my activities after Typhoon Kate hit this area. The water is back down to its normal level in most places. Our area should be back to normal in a few more days.
I was surprised to learn that very few people in our area actually drowned, although most spent two or three days on their rooftops in the rain. Most people lost at least part of their rice supply but there is no immediate hardship for anyone.
I haven’t been able to replace the clothing I lost in the flooding yet, so I am wearing the green sweatshirt that you sent me. It is just what I need. The socks were also very welcome.
I distributed most of the candy and all of the Halloween masks to the children of our village. They really dug the masks, and candy is always in order.
The papers seem worried that the flooding will hurt the pacification programs but, as far as I can see, this is not true. The VC were scrambling for their lives like everyone else.
I received the books you sent from Boston and enjoyed them a lot. Also rec’d book by Namath, etc. Sure changed my opinion of Joe Namath. The apples were in excellent condition on arrival. Everyone commented on how good they were.
I’m sorry to hear that Joel is doing poorly in school. I wish I could guarantee my own ability to study when I get home but I can’t. I doubt if I’ll have as many outside interests as Joel has, though.
Will be sending thank you note for Mrs. Tredway as soon as I get some time, very busy lately.
Re: about big pot raid. At least the local pigs have finally found something to do besides drinking coffee and setting speed traps.
The last figure I heard of 2nd CAG personnel was 546; don’t know if that includes headquarters personnell; about (nearly) 200 men.
No, it is no longer raining, at least for the present. The days are cool and clear, nights are starry and cold. Heavy dew every night.
I never took a 3-day in–country R+R because they are hard to get. They are reserved for men with proven combat leadership ability who start to suffer from combat fatigue. I fit the first category but not the second.
It’s not unusual for a guy to start feeling desperate and then start asking for appointments with the chaplain, the psychiatrist, or the C.O. Sometimes they begin to show suicidal tendencies. If the Captain considers the man an important member of the company he usually gets a three day R+R to “snap out of it.” Rank is usually not a deciding factor.
Also if a person trys hard enough to get 3 days R+R on his birthday, he usually gets it.
I haven’t seen Yin for quite a while. I don’t know what he’s doing.
I received the boots on the same day that I was to leave for the hospital so I left them at a local cafe frequented by CAP 2. I told Co Lin, the girl that runs the place, that the boots were for Yin, and when he visited the cafe while I was in the hospital, Co Lin gave the boots to him. No, personal mail is not opened if the addressee is gone. I got the batch of prints you sent, Nantucket, Philly, etc. I really enjoyed them.
If you get a chance to pick up another one of those travel folders about Hong Kong, please do. The last one you sent was lost in the flood. I think I’ll use some of the information.
Gotta go to sleep.
love
Roch
7 November
Dear Mom,
I don’t know about those Christmas cards. I can’t think of any of my pictures that would be especially suitable for a Xmas card. If I change my mind I’ll let you know.
I’ve been following the Wildcats in the Stars and Stripes and I’m pretty happy about the results even though I never hear anything about the games themselves. It gives me something to be pleased about and, believe me, it’s nice to have something to be happy about.
I enjoyed the flics you sent of your trip, etc. Not enough pictures of the family to suit me, though. Jeff’s long hair is pretty cool. Everyone here thought Nan had pretty nice legs but I noticed that her posture was same-same noodle.
Am sending statement on my 10% gov’t deposits and flic of myself and some buddies.
I got a barrel of popcorn from the Yadons today in 3 flavors. I sent them a thank-you. It’s pleasant to know that people are thinking about you.
The rest of our operation was cancelled since it is impractical.
Who’s governor? The radio hasn’t mentioned Kansas while I’ve been listening.
Gotta quit.
Love,
Roch
15 November
Dear Mom + Dad,
I’m sitting here listening to the K-State vs Nebraska game, halftime now, very nerve wracking. Whenever I watch or listen to a football game I really want to be out there myself. It’s frustrating to know I’m not skillful enough. I wonder what I’ll do to keep in shape in school. When I’m in poor shape physically it makes me feel badly mentally.
Mike Montgomery is thrown out, not his fault the announcer says.
I’ve received every package you mentioned in your letters and a couple of others. All of the paperbacks were very good except for “God Bless You Mr. Rosewater” which, I thought, was confusing, dull and unfunny.
I also received the money you sent. I really do appreciate everything you send. I don’t write to acknowledge because often I’m busy or just tired. I haven’t had a decent sleep since I left the hospital. I don’t write much any more.
It hasn’t rained for five days now and we’re back out in the boonies again. We (CAP 2) killed 3 VC on November 10, captured two rifles and a rocket launcher. CAP 1, operating with us, fired on 4 VC in a sampan last night, sank same, found lots of blood and three Chicom grenades this A.M.
It looks like the Cats will have to wait until next year.
Will is in the hospital now so I’ve been squad leader for five days. It’s a very tough job to handle but I’m starting to get the feel of it. I’ll probably be CAP commander again when Will goes home in January. We don’t know how long he’ll be in the hospital now. I hope he gets out soon so that I can avoid the hassle of being a CAP leader.
Imagine me telling people to get hair cuts, etc. A real lifer!
It’s hard to enforce discipline on guys you’ve lived with for nearly a year.
I told you not to write to the damned Congressman. They hauled me down to 2nd CAG HQ yesterday to explain the background of a telegram they got from Washington stating that I hadn’t been allowed to go on R+R. I told them that I had a meddling mother and they asked me to inform you that they have nothing to do with R+R assignments at 2nd CAG HQ. It’s true, they don’t. If somebody persecutes me I’ll raise my own hell so keep out of those things.
My diary was ruined so I threw it away. I also lost 90% of the pictures I have. That’s why I sent home my drivers license and those other things.
I’ve written about three times already explaining my new R+R dates. I don’t know why you didn’t get those letters.
I was offered a bonus 3 day R+R in Hong Kong but since Will is in the hospital and I’m in charge here, I couldn’t leave. Damn!
I’ll try to telephone on T-giving if possible, the phone facilities will probably be strained. I will definitely call collect if possible. The “Word” has it that you always need every cent you take with you to Hong Kong. So much to see, do, and buy.
Yin came by the other day to visit. He’s growing like a weed! Looks like he’s grown an inch since I saw him last. The boots were too big. Yin’s older brother is wearing them. Yin will have them when he grows into them. That won’t be long either. Yin is going to school in Da Nang now, he’ll probably end up as an officer or NCO in the ARVNs. He’ll have no choice with the draft. I predict that he’ll go far.
I try not to say the same thing every time in my letters. Especially thank-you notes. It makes the thanks sound convincing.
Will quit.
Love
Roch