Cu-Chi, Thursday, August 14, l0:50 pm:

You'd best get more sleep and worry about the crib later. I can't have a run-down wife meeting me in 21 days.

From the amount of sun you're getting you should be turning a little pink around the edges. I sure hope so. I'd love you anyway but a good tan means you've been getting your vitamin D.

I didn't have to work tonight because there was a USO show over at one of the hangers. Miss America (a dud!) and six other starlets came to boost our moral, and then said look but don't touch. I guess their idea of moral boosting is different from the guys here. Anyway, they put on a nice show considering it was about 100 degrees and sweaty in the hanger from the 1,000 smelly GI's crowding around the stage. But even with the lousy army p.a. system, and having to sit on the dirty floor, I had a good time. Of course, I would have enjoyed it more if you were performing for me, but I guess second best is Miss America - although not a very close second at that. In other words dear, I miss you, even if you are shy and ashamed of being looked at (sometimes).

I sent off birthday cards to Hugo and Loretta today, so that's taken care of. I guess I owe Marlene a letter but that can wait till later.

Tips were good again today so if it keeps up I might have enough for a good R&R after all. Sorry if I cut this short but this late I forget all the neat things I had planned to tell you. I guess I'll have to start earlier except I like to have you on my mind as I go to sleep.

A letter from the Fire Dept. will be fine, I guess, but all I really want is to get stationed near our house.

I love you - all of you!

Cu-Chi, Friday, August 15, 10:00 pm:

One more full day in the shop and then an easy Sunday morning and it's all over with the hair cutting in Cu-chi. I can hardly wait till Monday when I leave Cu-chi for Saigon and then Tuesday morning (Monday night for you) I fly to Hong Kong.

I hope to be able to stay at the mission home or with some members, thereby saving the $40 I would have to spend on a hotel. I hate to be alone anyway.

I just got back from the flick, "I Love You Alice B. Toklas", with Peter Sellers and that groovy hippie girl with the nice no-bra look. It was old home week with all the shots of the San Diego Freeway, etc.

I'm laying here fighting the cramps in my legs and my sore neck, both of which have been getting worse lately. Do you realize that three weeks from today I should leave Vietnam and arrive in Oakland, and three weeks from tomorrow I should be home (I hope!). I sure hope it goes fast dear. I'm anxious to see all three of you again (but especially you, you doll).

I love those pictures of the kids in their pool and that TV picture came out OK. I'll have to come home and find out who poked holes in Jonette's pool and beat the hell out of them.

I must have some sort of virus in my sinus system. Every morning my nose runs and my head aches for a couple of hours. I take my Vitamin C and it goes away till the next day. Oh well!

We were awakened by Charlie about 6:00 am this morning finally. We took a few rocket rounds to give Miss America a war story to tell when she gets home. Unfortunately, we suffered five wounded when one of the rockets hit a hootch with guys sleeping inside. As long as they keep missing me.

p.s. Letter from Draper today.

Cu-Chi, Saturday, August 16, 10:00 pm:

You're marvelous when it comes to picture taking. I have a lot to learn from you when I get home. I hope the lens I buy will help to improve your technique a little (not that it needs it any). Today was my last full day of work. I only have a half day tomorrow morning and then I'm finished and can relax. I have church tomorrow and Monday noon I leave for R&R, so time should go quickly.

The new barber is here and starts to work Monday (thank goodness). I wish him luck because if the CO doesn't buy my clippers tomorrow, the new barber won't have any to cut with. If he doesn't want to give me $35 (I paid $25) I'll just keep them and send them home to use at the firehouse.

The way it looks now I won't need any money in Hong Kong, but if you send me some I'll spend it wisely or just save it till I come home. Everything is going to happen so fast this next week, I'll just have to take things as they come.

About the new living room set dear, we don't have anything to even sit on so you'd best get something and make sure it's the best, because the Jakes only go first class.

Think young dear because I plan to go out dancing and dining a lot when I get home. We've got to find a good baby sitter.

Cu-Chi, Sunday, August 17, 10:00 pm:

It's raining again tonight after raining all night last night and starting again tonight looking like an all nighter. The lightening is zipping through the sky to the roll of incoming thunder.

Charlie has been shooting a few rockets in here every day just to make our lives exciting. But I can do without them just a few more weeks.

I had to move out of the barbershop after church today and back into the hootch I used to live in when I first got here. The new barber started cutting hair this morning and I started the wheels to get me out of here as soon as possible. I'm trying to get out even earlier than September 4th just to leave this place. I'm getting anxious now that the final days are approaching, I don't want to sit around two weeks after I come back from Hong Kong.

So my dear, things are picking up for me. I sold my clippers to the company for $35 today and I get the check tomorrow, which will give me about $300 for my R&R. So if you haven't sent any yet, wait till I call you, which will probably be long before you get this letter.

Those pictures are again adorable sweetheart. Wait till I get you a telephoto for close-up work. I'll have to start entering you in photo contests.

The roof leaks right over my bed so I'm sleeping moist tonight.

Goodnight dear, tomorrow night I write from Saigon and Tuesday from Hong Kong.