Cu-Chi₁ Monday, July 14, 10:00 pm:

I was glad to get your friendly letter today. At least now I know you still love me. For a while there I wasn't so sure. Sticks and stones and all that, but names still hurt.

It was one of those days in the shop. I work slower now because I don't feel like hurrying and the day drags on. But after I got the mail with a letter and package of goodies, I immediately felt better. And tonight the movie was good, with Clint Eastwood in "Coogan's Bluff", so I feel better now.

My sunburn has kept me nice and warm all day and I imagine tonight will be a little warm also. It's nice to look at my shoulder and see something besides white for a change. But ouch!

Short letter tonight dear. Lan quit on me so my place is getting dirty again. She kept house around here like you would if you were here.

p.s. Thank you for the goodies and forget the German magazines till I get home.

Cu-Chi, Tuesday, July 15, 10:00 pm:

I'm glad you're so good at making decisions. I guess the "Virginia'¹ in the ivory china is what you'll get. I can't really think of anything except how much I want to come home. I went over to the PX today and asked the manager when the tape recorders would be coming in and he didn't know either. So here I sit waiting.

I bought me an oilstone to sharpen (or attempt to) my clipper blades. I sharpened my knives first so I can butcher the mama san that steals the water from our girls. But I tried it out on one of my blades, so I'm anxious to see if it works or not, tomorrow.

I can't believe that tomorrow we're really sending men to the moon. It seems incredible that they might actually follow in the footsteps of Buck Rogers and Dr. Zarkov.

I hope Gloria has had her baby boy by now. I think it's our turn for a boy next time. We'll see. I'm falling asleep while I write this so I'd better quit and go to sleep.

I love you dearest even with your many faults. Please don't change any till I get home, except for maybe a suntan.

Cu-Chi, Wednesday, July 16, 8:00 pm:

I guess I owe you a long letter since the last couple have been real short. A few things have happened today so it won't be as hard as usual.

First, guess what? I got my tape recorder today. One of the guys went over to the PX and came back to tell me there were a few left so I'd better hurry. Well, I grabbed my money and fled to the PX and bought one and rushed back to my waiting customers. About an hour later I got to play with it and set it up to hear the demo tape. And alas, one of the amps was shorted out and would only play half the tape. I blew four fuses trying to get it to work and finally gave up. So I packed it all up again and tomorrow morning I'm going to exchange it or get my money back. It had the leather cabinet anyway and I wanted the wood, but beggars can't be choosers. This is precisely why I wanted to buy it here and try it out before I sent it home, because it's hard to exchange once it's home. Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow. And to think that I was going to record you a big tape tonight on my new toy. I know you don't approve of two of anything, but I like the feeling of extravagance it gives me.

No movie tonight so it's Mission Impossible at 9:00 pm.

I went out with the chemical people after work and helped lift 60 drums of tear gas (55 gal drums) powder onto a truck bound for Tay Ninh. It was good exercise and my legs could feel the strain.

I felt like phoning MARS tonight for some reason. I've been trying for a month to call you and couldn't get through, and so tonight I just had the feeling to give it a try and I got them on the first ring. So if they get contact and my turn comes up, I'll give you a call tonight.

My new hootch girl is a hard worker and might work out OK except she doesn't look like the back rub type. Too bad!

It's sickening to lay here and look at my tape recorder that doesn't work. I just figured out why I wanted it in the first place. It has a built in amplifier of 40 watts, which is quite a lot for a tape recorder. The others have about 8 watts. So all I have to do is get some good speakers and we can have wonderful music. I almost bought a Richard Harris tape today but I was in a hurry and didn't.

So tomorrow morning at 9:00 am I have to be at the PX to exchange my recorder and maybe I'll get some tapes then.

Taking off your ring when working in paint thinner is a good idea. Otherwise the thinner burns your skin where your finger sweats. It's just like the burns I get on my legs when I get thinner or gas on them and don't wash it off.

Keep working dear. I'll be home before you know it. Have you heard from Mrs. Eisenbeiss lately? Can we have the house September 1st?

Well, dear, I've run out of things so goodnight and maybe I'll talk to you a little later tonight.

The Shop, Thursday, July 17, l0:30 pm;

You're getting pretty good with those long letters every day. I really enjoy them too.

I just came back from the shower (the cold shower), which I do against my will every night because I abhor the thought of someone’s hair all over my beautiful body all night. So I suffer through the cold shower as fast as possible.

I just now got to the shower because the movie just ended and it was a fantastic flick. Vincent Price in Edgar Allen Poe's "Conquerer Worm". I, along with everyone else, wanted to really bring hurt on Vincent Price for being such a bad guy. He was the witch finder of old England and went around hanging, burning, and seducing witches for money. It was such a good movie I don't think I'll sleep too good for at least a few minutes. Oh yes, he was killed by the hero - chopped to death with an axe. And all he had done was raped the hero's wife and was sticking her in the back with an ice pick to make her confess she was a witch. We had hot popcorn and cold sodas to eat while we sat outside on this warm summer night with its cool gentle breeze whispering just a dab.

Right now I'm laying on my bed listening to my new $228 tape recorder I exchanged today (Akai l800SD). I'm listening to the tape Kerry made me. It sure sounds good on my recorder. There's hope for him yet.

I played the tapes you sent me today and put everyone asleep in my shop. It really was relaxing. The one feature it has that is handy is the automatic shut-off so you can put on soft music and when it's through it shuts itself off. Anyway, it's a new toy for awhile. I'll send it home in a couple of weeks with all my other books, etc. It should arrive about the same time I do.

I got the word today that my R&R to Hong Kong was approved for 19-24 of August, 50 I have to start saving my money in earnest. I know I won't have enough to get all I want but I can have fun at least.

I guess I'd better not make this letter too long or I'll spoil you more than you already are. As soon as some tapes come in I'll send you a couple.

Cu-Chi, Friday, July 18, ll:00 pm:

Dave's here visiting again. He took a seven-day leave to come visit Pix and me before he goes on R&R to Japan. He got his school drop and leaves five days before me. He's done with fighting for this war. He can just wait around to process out of here.

We went to the movie tonight to see "Fitzwilly" again for two reasons. First, because Dave doesn't get to see movies very often. And Second, because it was opening night for the HHC movie in our mess hall. It was nice to see Barbara Feldon again anyway.

After the movie we came back and Zip and I walloped Ron and Dave in Pinochle. Then I had to go over and borrow some steaks from the mess hall for our party tomorrow night for Capt. Shaw, the 9th Chemical Detachment CO, who's leaving soon. While I was there I borrowed a gallon of ice cream for Dave to eat. He doesn't get all the things that we take for granted here.

During the movie, when Barbara Feldon kissed Dick Van Dyke, he said, "Jake, do you know that it's been seven months since I kissed a girl?". Since I wasn't too much better off at four months, I felt sorry for him. I hope I haven't forgotten how!

Tell Jonette that daddy is coming home on the Freedom Bird in just a few days. (48)

My tape recorder is great and so are the tapes you sent me. I play them in the afternoon in the shop and everyone goes to sleep on me.

I'm healthy, not happy, because I miss you and am anxious to come home.

I don't know whether to have Hugo come and pick me up at the Airport and surprise you at home or call you and have you meet me there. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

p.s. I got letters from Larry and Hugo today with a note from Robbie.

Cu-Chi, Saturday, July 19, 9:30 pm:

It's Sat. night and the guys next door are really corked (drunk) and making so much noise it's hard to think.

We had a going away party tonight for the 9th Chem. CO who's going home soon and initiated Dave and Zip as honorary members of the 9th Chem. Det. Dave went on a "sniff" mission today so he became an honorary "Sniffer" of 9th Chem. and I gave him one of my T-shirts to wear.

Dave and I broke away at 8:00 pm to go to the movie, "The Extraordinary Seaman", with David Niven, Faye Dunaway, etc. It was a riot but when we got back, the guys at the party were drunk and loud. So it's going to be hard to go to sleep for a while anyway.

I hope Nikki gets better soon. I'm glad you know enough to take her to the doctor just in case. I don't think I could stand to lose any one of you. I hope your throat is better. I can imagine that it is getting to be a nuisance. Maybe when it clears up you can send me another tape so I can hear your wonderful voice again.

My tape recorder is much fun. I think you'll even like it once you get to use it, just like the camera.

The Astronauts will be on the moon tomorrow and I can't even get home for another 47 days yet.

I sure wish we had an extra $200 to spend. I could sure do it easy in Hong Kong. I hear that you can buy anything and everything there.

I can't think anymore so I'll quit for now. I do love and miss you Janet. I realize that your life isn't and hasn't been too easy during my absence, but maybe we can get straightened out soon. I hope we can get our house back Sept. 1st.