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