Letters by Charles H. ‘Willie’ Williams
(My mother, Helen Thornton, wrote to CAP 2-7-2 Marine ‘Willie’ Williams and received these letters from him — Roch Thornton)
16 Aug 70
Dear Mrs. Thornton,
I am very thankful for the package you sent me. I really do appreciate what you did. I enjoyed all of the contents of the package and I think that the package was very good.
Although I don’t know you personally; I am sure you are a very wonderful person and to do what you did can only be done by someone who is beautiful and an original example of love of life.
I hope you and your family continue to enjoy life and I wish you all many more years of happiness.
I must thank you once again.
May God bless you all.
Charles
27 Aug 70
Dear Mrs Thornton,
I once again am sending my thanks and appreciation for your thoughtfulness and kindness. Your kindness has once again left me speechless and thinking better things of the world.
I have often heard of people as yourself but, did not ever really come in contact with anyone such as yourself.
You have really changed some of my view points on life. Until now, I often thought it was the same with everyone. (Everyone for himself.)
I really appreciate the package and you can please believe me it was enjoyed.
I hope the Lord keeps this love which you have for man-kind instilled in you and that he bless you with many more years of happiness, love and gratitude.
Thanks once again.
Charles
8 Sept 70
Dear Mrs Thornton,
I received your letter and was very pleased to have done so. It is nice to know that you and yours are well and do fine.
I am a Black American from the state of Louisiana. I once lived in a small town by the name of Opelousas which is 60 miles west of Baton Rouge, our Capital. I am 19 years of age and I am in the Marine Corps for four years. I will have 2 1/2 years of duty left when I return to the world.
I hope to be stationed in Quantico, Va. when I return.
My hobby or the thing which I like most is football and a good football team is what Quantico has.
I am planning to start college as soon as I am out of the Green Machine.
I have no regrets in being here in the Nam because I did volunteer and if I would not have, just maybe, I might not be here. Plus I strongly believe that who so ever is here in the Nam that the Good Lord has his reasons and what ever his reasons they are good enough for me.
There is not really much to say. There still is the same old wears and tears happening every day but, everyone seems to be happy which is what really counts.
I know that I am happy and just waiting.
Tell everyone hello for me and give them all my regards. Take real good care of yourself and may God bless you and yours.
Bro. Will
29 Sept 70
Dear Mrs. Thornton,
I am and was very pleased to hear from you and yours. It is good to know that you all are still making the most of life and enjoying it too.
I also received the fine package which you sent me and I thank you sincerely. I really appreciate the packages.
About the pulling out or disbanding of the CAP program, it is half true. That is the thing that you heard is half true. There is no longer any 3rd CAG, 1st CAG or 4th CAG and CAF Head Quarters has also been disbanded. But, 2nd CAG is left and it will be here for awhile yet. No one really knows how long but most people seem to think it will continue to exist until Feb. or March. By that time I will already have rotated.
I am still having tremendous luck. I have now picked up promotion to Sgt. Thank God.
By the way we now have only 5 Companies left in our CAG. 2nd CAG is the only Combined Action Program left.
I will be going on out of Country R+R on the 12th of Oct. to Ban Kok.
I hope you all enjoy your trips.
Well that is about it for now so take care and be Happy.
Bro. Will
P.S. Give everyone my regards.
28 Oct 70
Dear Mrs Thornton,
I hope you and yours are doing fine at this time and continuing to make the best of life. I hope you all enjoyed your trip beyond.
Once again I am thankful to you and yours for your thoughtfulness. I enjoyed the package very much. It was really nice.
As you know I also went on a small trip of my own to Ban-Kok for R+R. It was really enjoyable. I had the best time I have had in a long time. After all of that good living in Ban-Kok it was really a bust returning here. But, after 3 or 4 days I was back to my old Viet Nam “Self.”
I am doing fine at this time and all is well. All the rest of the fellows are also all-right.
Like about a month from now one of the gang will be going home. And with the help of the Lord 3 weeks after he leaves I will swoop on back to the world myself.
Take real good care of yourselves and may God bless you all.
Bro. Will
Dear Mrs Thornton,
I am doing fine at this time and all is well. At this time I am no longer in CAP 2-7-2 because of a previous operation and I doubt seriously if I shall return to CAP 2. I am now in our CaCo “Rear” until I lose these stitches which I have. Then back to the Bush.
I am supposedly getting short from the rumor which is going around. You see, the rumor is that all January rotation dates are supposed to be home for Christmas. So actually I may leave Nam on the 15th of December instead of the 1st of January.
I hope you and yours are still enjoying life and gathering in its best fruit.
I am glad you took time out to describe your travels to me for I doubt if I shall ever see any of those places. But, I am still hoping to.
I really would like to meet you and your family someday. With 2 1/2 years of service left I just might at that. But, I do know that it won’t be soon for I already have my orders and they are for Camp Pendleton, Calif.
I hope my leaving Nam does not stop your letters for I really enjoy them.
Tell everyone of yours hello for me and take care.
Bro. Will
Dear Mrs Thornton,
I am doing fine and all is well at this time. I am really looking forward to heading back to the world at this time. I have received my flight date. It is the 1st of Jan. I am also supposed to be pulled out of the bush on the 25th of Dec.
I hope you and yours are still in good health and enjoying life.
Since I am now in another CAP (actual at CAP 2-7-7), I have not seen your son Thornton for quite a little while. As I can recall the last I saw of him was the day he left for R+R (A few days before Thanksgiving).
Yesterday, (Tuesday) I got a chance to see one of my homies and main P’s (Friend). I had not seen him since the 4th Oct 69. We joined the Marine Corps together.
It was really a great feeling to see one of my P’s from the high school days. There was so much we had to say to one another but, there was only 10 min. to do it in. And that was impossible.
I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and I wish you all a happy and Merry Christmas with a most Rewarding New Year.
Tell everyone hello for me. Take care and may God bless you all.
Bro. Will
Dear Mrs. Thornton,
I hope your holidays will be most cheerful.
I am well and all is moving along just fine. I have been trying to think of something to write you all. But, my mind is just blank for the exception of the usual things I have to say. And I just hate being repetitious. But, what can I say?
Well as time moves on all of us over here get a little closer to home.
How is everyone? Have you all gone to any basketball games since the season started? If not will you?
Thanks a lot for the package and double that for the sweat shirt. I really dig on sweat shirts. This shall be one of my most cherished gifts. For I know that this is one gift that was given from the heart.
I really am missing for words at this time. So this may be a little short.
Tell everyone hello for me. Take care of yourself and yours. Enjoy the Holidays.
Bro. Will
(CAP 2-7-5)