August 4th 1965

Dear Matt,

We just arrived this morning. Clear skies, the bluest of blue water, and sandy white beach! It's just like a real vacation! I wish you could see it. I swear it's more beautiful than Hawaii. I can't believe I'm actually going to be over here for a full year!

When I first arrived I met a really pretty Vietnamese girl who kissed me on the cheek! She had really long hair and was wearing this white dress. She didn't look more than 12 years old. I'm proud to know I'm going to secure a free life for that girl.

I promise to write every day.

Your hero,

Al

August 7th 1965

Matt,

Nighttime in Vietnam is a whole different place than during the day. The night is scary quiet and we have to be on the lookout for snipers all the time. Francis, a guy in my unit, says he knew some guys who died from sniper attacks. I don't think that could ever happen to me. I can't even imagine myself dying.

When I'm on duty during the night I like to look at the stars. They are so pretty and noticeable! You wouldn't believe how easy it is to see the stars out here. Looking at those makes me feel a little closer to home knowing you're looking at the same ones I am.

Sometimes, if it's quiet enough, you can hear that little girl signing. She hides over in the bushes and sings some song. It sounds like a lullaby.

Sorry I forgot to right on the 5th and 6th. They had us changing our socks.

Your hero,

Al

September 1st 1965

Matthew, we ain't got no business being here. We've been wading through grass so thick and tough that it's been cutting up my arms. Yesterday we found some dead grunt. His legs were blown off and most of his face was scorched. He smelled rotten. I stood there frozen, Matt. I couldn't do nothin. I feel cold inside. Vietnam is becoming real scary, real fast. I can't wait to be home.

Al

September 5th 1965

Matt,

I came face to face with death yesterday. I stared him right in the eye without flinching. I don't think I can flinch anymore if I tried. We've been running so much. Two days ago a sniper starting picking off men in my unit one by one. A bullet grazed my cheek. I didn't think I could breathe anymore. I froze up. I just stood there while some of the men cried for their mothers. I wanted to cry too. Arthur screamed so much for his mom that Francis had to shove a sock in there to keep the Charlie from hearing him. Gilbert is dead now. He was the first one shot. Matt, I wanna go home.

Your hero,

Al

September 6th 1965

Dear Matt,

I can't believe I'm still here. How can they expect us to serve a year if we keep getting shot at and blown up! I miss Gilbert a lot. He's still dead. I saw him get shot myself.

Matt, swear to me that if I die you'll do whatever it takes to find my body. I don't care if it's just a head. I don't want to be one of those MIA's. I can't keep my breakfast down. I'm so worried I'm gonna die tomorrow. We start out before dawn.

Your hero,

Al

September 9th 1965

Matt, turns out that little 12 year old girl was a Charlie. I caught her myself. She was setting up a trip wire in the bushes. She was working out a way to kill us while singing a child's nursery rhyme. This place is so fucked up! I don't know what to do anymore! I don't know who to trust! She was a 12 year old girl! This place ain't right, Matt. It just ain't right.

Your hero,

Al

P.S. I shot the girl in the head right through the eyeball and left her there.

September 15th 1965

Dear Matt,

Something is terribly wrong with this war. I heard from a guy who just joined my unit that a two year old ran up to them holding out his arms like he wanted to be picked up. The guy said he was interrogating a farmer a little while a way. He looked over to see a man from his unit hold out his hands and then there was a big explosion. Turns out the kid had a bomb strapped on him.

Matt, when people start sticking bombs to kids is it really a war worth fighting? Maybe Ho Chi Minh ain't so bad if these people would kill their children just to be out of S.V.'s rule. If their killing their kids maybe we should just get out of the country and let N.V. take over. At least then we ain't gotta worry bout 12 year olds setting trip wires and 2 year olds with bombs strapped to them.

Love,

Al

September 18th 1965

Matt, I wish I was there with you. I wish you were holding me in your arms telling me everything was gonna be alright. Death was holding my hand today. We stood side by side just like buddies. We were jokin and laughin and carryin on. We were real good buddies today. I killed two fourteen year old boys today. I thought they were running at me to kill me with guns in their hands or a bomb or something. I shot them both in the head before they even got near me. Death is much too close to me in this war and yet he is never quite near.

Al

PS. The boys just had two bundles of food.

November 5th 1965

Dear Matt,

I can't wait until August. I just want to be done with this tour. As much as I like the guys in my unit, they can't even compare to how much I like you, I just want to go home. I want to sleep in a real bed again. I want to see our cat. I want to relax on the couch and watch TV. Maybe get a nice foot massage. Hint hint!

It's really pretty again tonight. Nothing bad has happened yet. All the guys are on high alert. We're all ready to run, shoot, yell, do back flips, and blow shit up at any moment. You've never seen so much tension as with these guys. I tease Arthur all the time about getting gray hairs. Truth be told I'm sure I have some too. You'll still love me when I come home with a head full of white hair, right?

Love,

Your hero


A.N./ This is going to be a short little series. Vietnam is such a remembered war and yet hardly anyone can recount any actual battle. Alfred is writing home to Matthew in these letters. I'm trying to keep it realistic.