"... writing a letter home ... sealing the letter ... looking at the letter, knowing how much it will be appreciated by our faimlies ... thinking of home ..." -Anonymous
Mom,
Sorry for not writing yesterday. They kept us busy all Thrusday filling sandbags to stack around certain areas. (Those areas will be used as bunkers if the NVA ever launch a mortar attack or something of the like against us.) Yesterday, we were told at breakfast we would be going out on patrol. I know I speak for Stanley (that's Klaiman) when I say that we were both scared out of our minds, nervous as all get out. However, DAvid has taken us both under his wing, showing us what we should take and telling us what and what not to do while on patrol.
Choppers flew us out and we walked through rice paddies for the better part of the day. Before it got dark, the choppers came back and picked us up at the LZ (landing zone). When we finally returned to camp, I was too exhausted to even write. I had about enough energy to eat dinner, and then I fell asleep.
Today, they sent us on another patrol, though thankfully it was shorter than yesterday's. Upon returning, I forced myself to write, fearing you would worry if I didn't.
Anyway, enough of those things. I take it everything is going well at home? Please tell Bernie I plan to write him as soon as I have a spare moment. Also, tell him that if he doesn't get going on his English book, I'll write to his teacher. I haven't had mail from either of you yet, but that's understandable, seeing as I've only been in country for four days. I do hope you have been writing, though. Most of the men here come to rely on correspondences with their families and with girlfriends and the like, and I expect that I'm already beginning to rely on it. Please, tell me what the daily going-ons are at home. No politics, no anti-war protests. I just want to be home, and since I can't be, let me know what I would be doing if I were home.
Your loving son,
John
A/N: NVA- North Vietnamese Army