Cu-Chi, Thursday, August 7, 7:15 pm:

Very slow day today so I spent money to overcome my boredom. I bought me an Air Force type flight bag (2 suiter suitcase) for R&R and DEROS. It's a $30 bag that cost's $l5.50 at the PX. I needed something anyway and I didn't want to put out the $23 for samsonite. So I'm happy with what I got.

By now you've read the Hong Kong R&R pamphlet through about three times and are drooling over the lists of goodies to buy. Well, I wish you were coming with me dear. I have more fun shopping for you anyway. The way it looks now I'll have barely enough to go, let alone buy very much. They won't let you leave Vietnam on R&R with less than $200 and I won't have much more than that.

Tomorrow night or Saturday morning I'm going down to Bien Hoa to visit Pix and give him my silkscreen equipment. He has some scene worked up so I'm letting him have the stuff and I'll get me some more when I start printing again. Or else he can bring it with him in November.

It's raining good and hard outside and a little inside in spots. But I'm laying here on my bed nice and warm, just having returned from my bath and writing this letter while on duty (tonight is my late night to be open). Due to the rain I won't have any customers anyway.

I sure am getting short dear. One more week of cutting hair and I'm off to Hong Kong to spend money and then I'm coming home. Wait for me, don't do anything exciting without me. I got a letter from Bishop Odd finally, so at least he knows I'm in the Army. I even got two copies of the Church News from the Salt Lake Tribune. Now is a fine time to start.

I love ya sugar, keep getting those rays and spending that cash.

Cu-Chi, Friday, August 8, 10:45 pm:

Howdy! I love you too! (In answer to Sunday's letter) I could hardly wait for today to end so I could leave this place. I'm tired enough to go right to sleep, but they're playing groovy music on the radio so I'll wait till it ends.

Everyone got a 4-10 day drop off their DROS (date return from overseas) which would have put me home a week earlier, but those with school drops were exempt. It's a good thing too, because I would have had to leave in the middle of my R&R. But now everything still stands as planned.

I can hardly wait for next week to end so I can go on R&R. I'm really looking forward to it. There was a notice in the daily bulletin about meeting your wife in Hong Kong for only $600 plane fare from L.A., but it turned out to be sometime in November. Sorry dear!

Goodnight dear. I'll send a tape Sunday or Monday after I get back.

p.s. Keep working on that suntan.

Cu-Chi, Tuesday, August 12, 10:00 pm:

It was so nice to talk to you this morning. It's been a long time since we last said "over" to each other. I finally got through to the MARS station last night and I was disappointed this morning when I woke up because they hadn't called. But at quarter of seven they called me and you weren't home (as usual), so they called back at 7:30 am just as I was supposed to start cutting hair. But even with an audience it was nice to talk to you.

I don't think I made much sense because I had said everything on the tape before, so forgive my methods dear. I did tell you to look for some living room furniture for us, so that ought to keep you busy. And the extra money that I asked for means just that. If we have any uncommitted funds to spend, then send me some in Hong Kong. If not, I'll get by on what I have with me. I'll love you tremendously either way. So don't worry if we can't spare any - you know best.

Now back to the news. We are expecting some fireworks tonight, skyrockets, etc., since Charlie has picked up the action the past couple of days. So I'm going to sleep as soon as I finish this letter to my lover.

We changed our money yesterday and today so they wouldn't let any of the gooks come to work for the two days because they would try to smuggle in the old money to get it changed over and they aren't supposed to have it anyway. The new money is cute anyway. On one side of the change bills (5,l0,25 & 50 cents) there's a submarine, and on the other side an astronaut floating in space and printed in bright colors. All my tips today were crisp new bills and easy to count.

My replacement has been interviewed and is on the way here. He's a professional barber and Negro. That's all I know, since I haven't met him. Oh well, I'm too short to worry about what happens anyway.

It sure was nice visiting Pix but he has some playboy ideas now. He doesn't want to get married for a while. But I still like him.

The CO tried to burn me for staying all weekend, but the 1st Sgt. told me not to worry about it. I think the 1st Sgt. finally knows what a hassle the barbershop is and sympathizes with me a little. I'll sure be glad to hang up my clippers come Sunday.

It's been real dry here the past week or so. We aren't getting the monsoon rains that we should so Charlie is starting to move around again.

I sure am getting short dear. - I don't take any guff from anyone in the shop. I sure hope I don't get in trouble before I leave.

There's a butterfly flying around in here and I had a lizard peek in a minute ago, plus I killed about 5-6 cockroaches when I turned the light on. So things are normal for Cu-chi, Vietnam.

I have about 100 books to send home with my hold baggage next week, mostly history and literature. Right now I'm reading a novel "The last Unicorn" just for fun. That book on Russia got too heavy.

I love you dearest and pray for your safety every night. So do your part and keep safe for me.

That butterfly just turned out to be a moth so I'm going to have to squash it before it attacks me.

I sure could use a neck rub. It's been bothering me for a couple of days now. It goes away for a while but comes back to haunt me when I don't need it the most.

I love you again dear. But I just can't finish a letter in the middle of a page 50 I have to think of something else quick.

I'll call you as soon as I get to Hong Kong and before I leave again, just to see what you want.

Cu-Chi, Wednesday, August 13, 10:00 pm:

Another day shorter, only three and a half more in the shop before R&R. The tips were pretty good today. A new high of $22.70 for the day. If that keeps up I won't have to worry about more money in Hong Kong.

Whoops! I just remembered I haven't got my mail yet. Be back in a flash. Another shorty, but loved just the same. I thought I sent the class schedule inside the tape box. I didn't send the times, just the class numbers. If you need the time schedule just look up the class in the catalog because I forgot to keep a copy for me. I trust you completely dear.

I went up to the pool for an hour tonight and got the kinks out of my legs. I made sure I wasn’t here for the practice "red" alert with full battle gear. We’re expecting something soon so everyone is sleeping light tonight.

I'm really getting anxious to go on R&R, but I wish you could go with me. I like to shop with you dear, except that we both buy too much for each other. I hope these allotments have cured you of your economy in buying for yourself.

Keep your eyes open. The way they're killing people in L.A., nobody is safe.

My mind tells me my body needs rest so I'll quit for now and try again tomorrow night. I sure am lonesome all alone here in my bed. I hope it won't be too much longer before I'm not alone anymore.

I love you dear and I forgot to get Hugo a birthday card. I knew I was going to the PX today for something.