Dear Dad,
It's been awhile since I have written. A lot of things have happened. Big things. Monumental things. Klinger is staying in Korea. He's met an amazing woman. Honestly, I cannot believe he's staying. He is the least likely to stay in that hellhole. Sorry for being so frank with my terms, but if ever there was hell, Korea was the place. However, maybe with no war it will become a heaven of some sort. I'll have to ask Klinger.
I can't believe what I did to that woman. Grief still fills my heart when I think of what happened and the look upon her face. I don't know why the baby was replaced by a chicken in my memories.
I can't wait to get home. I want to put Korea behind me. However, I don't want to forget the people. The nurses and doctors were the finest people I have ever met. They are now probably the best doctors I have ever worked with.
I think the people I will miss the most will be BJ and Padre AKA Father Mulcahy. They could lighten any situation like nobody's business. They were wiser beyond their years, though BJ was a wise cracker beyond his more then wiser. Every time I think about the jokes he and I played, I laugh. Trapper was King of practical jokes, as you certainly know from the mass letters I've written on him, but BJ is the Emperor. Only Dr. BJ Hunnicut could have set me up in such a way the first week he was there. I do not think I've ever seen a prank so intricately played upon one person. Don't tell him that though. Yeah, I know, pride falleth before the person. I swear that he set it up so that everyone would notice when I strutted my naked self through the mess hall. I don't have proof, but something tells me so.
Father Mulcahy, wisest and oddest man I ever met. He could be speaking about one thing and mean the other. For a Father, he sure is spiritual. He seems connected to the spirit world - more so then some, but less the others. It really kept him grounded. He takes everything in stride. I cannot believe he even participated in the contest to see who was most like Father Mulcahy. But, strangely, Radar did the best job pretending to be him. Margaret Houlihan by far did the worst impression.
She does not have any acting talents. If she ever comes to visit, don't ask her to sing. However, Nurse Houlihan sure has talents in the Operating Room. She is a natural and has the natural ability to keep calm in a heated situation. Just like Col. Potter.
Col. Potter was a father to us all. I think we all needed one being so far away and so scared. He was the most hotheaded man I have ever known, but he always used that heat to drive us all and to keep us all calm. I didn't know that could happen.
I'm not sure I'll miss Winchester. Oh, I am joking. Beyond his pompous attitude, he truly is a good man. He's very bright and quick-witted. He gave the Swamp some class.
Well, dad, the plane is about ready to land in Hawaii. I'll be seeing you soon.
Love,
Your son, Hawkeye