The soldiers got a great deal of support from the States. Classes by the hundreds would write letters addressed to a soldier in Vietnam, and these were packed up and sent to our unit, and by and large, the soldiers would try to respond to these things. There was a groundswell of popular support behind the troops in 1965. -Ted Danielsen
Mom,
I got your package. Again, I ate almost everything, then shared the rest with the guys. We all enjoyed the cards as well, playing poker with cigarettes as money. It was fun.
We got word today that we'll be on some hill for a week, so I don't think I'll be writing much, and I don't think I'll be getting any mail from home. To be honest, I don't know why we're going out for a whole week, as (according to the others) our unit has only done so once before. Perhaps they think it's best now, as we are as close to full strength as we've ever been. The two men from the other unit are still with us, as enough replacements haven't been gathered yet. But don't worry, we'll all be together, and supposedly there's an old French fortification at the hill. That means actual walls, which means safety.
Anyway, that's the main reason I wrote. I should start getting ready. Send my love to Bernie and Uncle Jacob.
Your loving son,
John