18 April

Dear Dad,

This leaflet is V.C. propaganda. Keep it and the yellow poster somewhere safe. They are rare and hard to get. (Really?)

Roch

(The VC leaflet is about four inches by six inches, mimeographed both sides on cheap, white typing paper. The text is below.)

C.A.G. UNITS’ SERVICEMEN !
The policy of Americanization of the Vietnam War
has met with complete failure. This military adventure
has cost the US tens of thousands of American lives and
brought dislocation to the American economy and blemish
to the honour of the United States.
Under the so-called Civic actions,the US rulers are
pushing you into the same path of death…
C.A.G.’s activities serve the US odious program of
Vietnamizing the war which would prolong it in another
form. They go countering the interests of the US people
and trample on the sovereignty of the Vietnamese nation.
Be aware that the Vietnamese people don’t need the
presence of C.A.G.units on their soil! Even if you are
assigned to work in those units, it is very wise for you
to keep a neutral attitude. Don’t risk your lives to make
yourselves a shield to protect the traitorous Thieu-Ky
clique despised and hated by all the Vietnamese people.
Refrain from patrolling and setting ambushes to massacre
the Vietnamese people. Remain in place and let the people
go freely to farm and earn their livelihood.
If you keep such an attitude you will be welcomed and
safe until you return home with your beloved ones.
Otherwise, if you keep on doing harm to the Vietnamese
people, you will be severely punished by the People
Liberation Armed forces and even by the puppet troops
who are working at your side,since they are also Vietnamese.

18 April

If I don’t write it’s usually because it’s business as usual at CAP 2-7-2. Or maybe I’m down unloading sand for the marketplace we’ve been trying to get built for a month.

It’s a real bust unloading truckloads of sand by hand in 90 degree, 80 percent humidity weather.

Two of the last three nights have been unusually wild. Lots of loud noises, etc. We still haven’t had anything but very minor injuries. I don’t think the VC have been so lucky but we don’t know for sure.

I can remember how much confidence I gained when I bought myself an expensive pair of football shoes in my Jr. year. That’s probably what happened to Jeff (My little brother). I remember what a blow it was to my morale to be issued ancient shoes, and sweat clothes when I was out for track in Jr. High, Sr. High too for that matter.

I’m growing a moustache. It’s slow work but I’ve got a whole year to kill. I should have something to show by the time I get R&R. I’ve about decided on Bangkok for R&R since Steve Tadtman isn’t in Australia any more. I’ve got about 3 1/2 months to wait yet but I’m already anticipating it.

The sailboat sounds like a great idea. It ought to be a lot of fun taking big groups, etc.

The kids in Winfield (Kansas, my hometown) must be really desperate for a place and an excuse to gather if they go to a dance with a band like that.

Putting “Ned’s” off limits left a lot of kids in the air for a place to hang-out. Maybe hanging-out is not very beneficial but, let’s face it, there’s not much to do in Winfield.

Those dances at the armory were a good thing for a while but kids started abusing the privilege; coming drunk, fighting, etc. It got to be a bad scene so people stopped going.

You may not believe this but I’m gaining weight, both muscle and probably, fat. We eat almost nothing but C-rations, and big cans of fruit that we get on re-supply. Every other day or so someone gets a package full of candy etc. and we eat that too. Every ten days the whole CAP gets a crate that contains cigarettes, candy, stationary, toilet articles, and misc. Add this to just brief periods of fierce activity and long hours of waiting for something to happen, and you get the idea.

(Called an “SP pack,” the ‘crates’ also contained Red Man chewing tobacco, used occasionally by Dennis “Hucklebuck” Prock to the fascination and disgust of the Vietnamese. You’d think people who accepted blackened teeth from chewing betel nut wouldn’t quibble at chewing tobacco.)

Than Quit is beginning to seem just as familiar as home. Maybe more so. I know a lot of the people and all of them know who I am. The Vietnamese daily routine seems a lot more natural than it did at first. I know the trails of the area as well as I know the sidewalks of Winfield.

Our Area of Operations is about the same size as the city of Winfield.

Nothing going on so I’ll quit.

Love

Roch

17 April

Dear Folks,

No contact last night, light contact the night before.

The Korean Tiger Division is on our south and the White Horse Division is on our east. They must have had some Korean holiday the night before last because they filled the whole sky with colored star clusters and flares.

I hear that Steve Tadtman (my best friend from high school) is back in Manhattan.

I found a 60mm mortar shell this morning. We’re going to blow it later on. The bore riding safety was still in it so I moved it to a less inhabited area for disposal.

The Courier has finally started having my new address on it. It had the notiec of Kathy St. Peter’s engagement in it yesterday.

Patti Walker wrote and told me that Julie Hauber is engaged. Is that true? Who to?

Mike Kubina had a birthday a couple of days ago. His mom sent him two angel food cakes (store bought), a can of icing, cake decorating icing, and candles. We all had a blast. We threw a real stateside birthday party except we didn’t do any spanking.

Today we’re staying in an old French house. It’s a two storey stucco job, with tile floors, high ceilings, and pastel painted walls. It must have been a really nice place once. It has balconies all around the upper floor and huge windows. We really like to stay here.

Somebody must have had a pretty stiff fight here once because there area at least three huge holes left by anti-tank rockets and the whole thing is splattered with shrapnel holes.

We’re supposed to be getting hot chow every day now. I guess that baloney sandwiches are supposed to be hot chow. It’s better than nothing though.

Today is the 74th day of my overseas tour. Only 291 more days to go.

Not much to say right now. Will quit.

Love

Roch

14 April

Dear Mom,

I wish you would send me a couple of paperbacks. The days get pretty long sometimes. Don’t send more than two because I wouldn’t have anyplace to put them.

I found out that halazone is not so much dangerous as useless. I tried some halazone on one canteen H2O and had dysentery for two days. Iodine is supposed to be better but still not entirely effective.

Don’t feel guilty about not going through what I’m going through. In a way Dad and the uncles paid the bill of responsibility for your generation. I feel like I’m doing approximately the same thing now. Unfortunately the issues are a lot less clear cut now than in WWII.

In WWII the guys who did the fighting could feel that they had their friends and everybody else behind them. Now I know that even if the kids my age don’t oppose the war the chances are darn good that they don’t support it either.

With younger people, opposition to the war often extends into hostility towards people in the military. There were two reasons I didn’t wear my “greens” while I was home on leave. I didn’t like being stared at and I didn’t feel like being forced to clobber some anti-war loudmouth.

I don’t mind people being opposed to the war, I’m against it in a lot of ways myself. I just get hot under the collar when someone bad mouths me because I fit a generality.

If you can find a copy of “Stranger in a Strange Land” for me please send it along. I’ve heard a lot about that book.

Sorry to hear about Corky’s leg. I hope he gets better fast. The cast must make him really frustrated.

I’m going to see if I can get authorization to hitchhike south to see John Dietrich and Jim Tadtman (an Army engineer who was the older brother of my best friend from high school) when I get my 3-day in-country R&R. I sent a letter to John but I kinda doubt if he got it. I haven’t gotten any answer yet. See if you can get Jim Tadtman’s address for me from Monica, OK? Tell her that Tommy had better get on the stick and write me a letter.

Also ask her if Steve is still working for J.B. Malone in Mareeba, North Queensland. I sent a letter for Steve to that address and haven’t gotten any reply yet.

Neither my letter to John D. or the one to Steve have come back since I mailed them so they may have been delivered.

My R&R isn’t due for four more months (at least) but I’m already looking forward to it. I want to go to Australia to see Steve and maybe Rodney Watts. If Steve isn’t in Australia by the time I get R&R I think I’ll go to Bangkok. I’ve heard it’s a fantastic place and dirt cheap.

I wish I could send my watch home, the crystal is getting badly scratched. It’s difficult to turn the bezel because of the dirt in the grooves. It’s too bad there’s no way to make a package, and no way to mail it if I could.

The yellow rice paper is a poster the V.C. put up in our village. A rough translation (very rough) is that it says, “The Popular Front is well armed and will soon slaughter the Marines.” I imagine it was made by a little slant-eyed optimist with communist leanings.

The spring rains will be along soon (according to the old salts). It’s been windy and uncomfortably cool at night for the last few nights.

My camera is in my seabag at CAG headquarters, I can’t get it out until I go on R&R. The camera wouldn’t weigh much but I would have no way to carry it. Even 1 lb. is too much extra weight with all that I’m humping now.

How did Corky break his leg?

Save that poster for me.

Will quit for now.

Love

Roch

11 April

(Written partly on wrapping paper and partly on a piece of onionskin paper torn from a page of another letter)

Dear Dad,

CAP 2-7-2 is temporarily out of stationary so we are making use of available materials.

I had to “stand tall” in front of the “Man” this morning. I received non-judicial punishment for goofing off when I was at CAP school. The Captain fined me $15 for having a disagreement with the OD at CAP school.

The Marine Corps does have something similar to WD-40 but it’s very hard to get and, naturally, when some does appear the office pogeys at HQ get it.

Iodine tablets are supposed to be the only effective method of purifying Vietnamese water in the field. I’ve tried halazone but it didn’t work.

I got a big package from Mary Graham yesterday. She sent home made cookies and pumpkin bread, also some hard candy, and Corn Nuts. It was all delicious and went fast.

It may not be exactly couth to say, I told you so, but I’ve always thought (and said) that Nan was spoiled. End Message.

The new boat sounds great. I assume that each family paid $400.

The latest rumor has it that all Marines will soon be pulled outexcept for one Brigade and 2nd CAG (my outfit). Khong bich?

My CAP leader, Sgt. Burd, is being transferred to another CAC (Combined Action Co.). I’m not very happy about it because Sgt. Burd is good. He knows what he’s doing and doesn’t get people killed. His replacement is supposed to be a real craphead.

No contact last night. I blew up an anti-tank rocket, an M-26 grenade, and a 60mm mortar round this A.M. All were supposedly dud ordnance turned in by Viet kids.

The Courier is getting here about every day now. I got the April 3 issue today.

I’m in good health and keeping fairly clean. I’ve had no attackes of dysentery (Basically diarrhea from bad water) in a week. Since the dry season is here we have no more trouble with jungle rot. I don’t even have athletes foot.

I’m thoroughly fed up with war as a way of settling disputes. Especially this one. I think I could go for the rest of my life without being shot at again and not mind at all.

(Well, DUH!)

I’m already looking forward to R&R. I’ll be eligible in about twenty more days. I don’t think I’ll go until July when I’ll have some money saved up, and by then I’ll really be desperate for a change.

I think I can manage to save about $1,000 (at least) while I’m over here. I have $300 saved already. With the ten percent interest (compounded quarterly) that I’ll get on my savings the total will be about $1100. I want to buy some kind of used vehicle for traveling etc. when I get back to the “World.”

I was thinking about a panel truck, about ’67 or ’68 vintage in decent shape. Maybe a VW or GM. It could be fixed for camping out so Joel and I could make long trips at reasonable cost.

With a flashy paint job and some mag wheels it would also be reasonably stylish. I don’t know anything about gas mileage for such vehicles, but I imagine it would be better than many passenger cars. I wish you would tell me what you think of the idea. With the G.I. Bill and my summer work I don’t think I’ll need whatever I save for school.

I’d better quit for now.

Love

Roch

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