| |
The letters begin shortly after David arrives in Fort
Dix for basic training. From there, he was transferred
to Fort Polk in Louisiana, where he was given the news
that his unit would be sent to Vietnam. All
letters © David
Cline. Reprinted with permission
9 Feb 67
Everybody,
Today we had a detail all the day, it was like a rest day for us. Yesterday we
were outside from 5 in the morning till 4 in the afternoon. Around 11 it was
6 [degrees]. My face is all red from windburn.
 |
David Cline's official
basic training portrait |
Today we got haircuts again. There was nothing to cut.
All the barber did was make 90 cents.
I think we're going to get a 3 day pass for Easter. We're supposed to get out
of boot camp Good Friday. They may graduate us on Wednesday because
Friday's
a holy day.
Yesterday a guy in my platoon stabbed himself in
the face during bayonet practice.
Boy bayonet practice is a pain, all we do is swing rifle into different poses.
Hand to hand combat is just as bad.
Monday we start going to the rifle range. We'll go every work day for 2 weeks
after that.
The other day I got to salute a general. It was
snowing real hard & he had
the window open to see if everyone saluted. What a duck.
Harper is getting a discharge because he has a trick
knee. What a lucky guy.
I have a bad cold so I bought some cough medicine today. Man does it taste rotten.
I got the books and goodies the other day. The goodies are gone already. Thanks
a lot. You don't have to send the latest issue of Ramparts cause I bought a copy
at the PX. I was sur prised to see that they sold it on an army base.
Tell Dad that on a collective farm in Rumania the parent gets an extra allotment
for a wife. Also the standard of living is lower there.
Linda, every time someone sees your picture in my writing case and asks who you
are I say you're my girl friend. Will you marry me? Please!
Man I hardly have enough time to write letters anymore. When we get done with
the day's training we have to polish our boots, clean our rifles, wash & shave & scrub & clean
our quarters. We get about an hour of free time. Usually I go to bed. In our
room the lights are always out early. My low quarter shoes are so shiny I can
see my face in them.
Well I got to go now cause I've got to get my locker up for an inspection. Tra
La.
Yours
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
13 Feb 67
Everyone,
Today we started to go to the rifle range. We only shot 3 rounds to sight in
our weapons.
Tomorrow we shoot 42 rounds. Those M-14s aren't bad. The recoil
throws the barrel up but it doesn't hurt your arm. It was about 10 [degrees].
We have rifle range for the next two weeks. We have to eat lunch outside everyday.
What a picnic! All 3 of my shots were bulls eyes.
I ran into Denny Thurber Sunday. I'm going to meet him & Al Jerge next Saturday
nite.
I put on a few pounds since I've been here. I lost all the fat on my gut too.
They don't give us enough to get full but the food ain't that bad.
We had our first locker inspection. We have to wear our dress uniforms & have
a locker & bed display. They inspect our rifle then too. It takes about 3
hours to set up for the stupid thing. Our shoes have to be spit-shined & the
captain that inspected us had shoes with mud and scuff marks all over them.
 |
Still with his buzz cut at Fort Dix. |
I've had a cold since I've been here. You can't get rid
of one cause you don't get enough sleep for the work you
do. Everyone has a cold.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This part of the letter is being written the 14th. I couldn't finish it last
nite cause lites went out before I finished. Today it was really nice. The snow
is melting. I hope it stays like this. Friday we have a 14 mile hike. Everyone
is complaining but I don't think it will be bad.
I got your letter with the post cards in it tonite. Find out if you can get Sikes's
address.
The pictures I'm sending with this letter I got 2 weeks ago. One of them is for
Granny Fink. I couldn't afford any more.
Well I have to write some other letters now so I'll close.
Yours,
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
19 Feb 67
Ma, Dad, Linda, Bruce, Steven, and all else who it may concern,
I'm all tired out from that heading. Between noon yesterday and noon today I
got 17 hours sleep.
Wed we had off but we train next Saturday. We qualify with
our weapons Saturday. Last Friday we were shooting in a snow storm & Thursday
the wind made a sand storm at the range. That's what you call shooting under
adverse conditions.
I went over to see Jerge and Thurber today. They have beautiful barracks.
Another kid, shot himself Thursday. He was in Victor Company & he blew his
brains out in front of a company formation. India Company is quarantined with
spinal meningitis
We're supposed to get one more baldy haircut & from then on they're only
cutting the sides off.
The sixth weekend we are moving into new barracks. That means we'll have a G.I.
party all that weekend. A G.I. party is when you scrub the floors with a brush
and scouring powder.
Boy Linda these goodies you sent me were really good. At the mess hall they don't
give you enough food but after a while you get used to so much food and you get
full on that amount.
Mom ought to do that so Bruce & Steven don't eat too
much and get fat.
Friday when we marched back from the rifle range the trails were all ice. We
had to carry one kid back cause he couldn't make it. It's only five miles, but
with ice, it's rough.
One kid in my room lives in New Jersey & he went home today. He went surfing
in the ocean. It was 38 [degrees]. He's crazy. By it was 38 [degrees] I mean
the water was 38 [degrees].
Send me my radio & some money. I'll pay you back when I get paid. Send about
$5.
A bunch of the guys want to get tattoos when they get out of boot camp. What
a bunch of fools. Well I have to take a shower now so I'll close.
Yours
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
2 March 67
Everyone,
How's it going at home. We're aren't getting a pass this weekend because we have
guard duty.
The rest of the company gets them, just our platoon caught guard
duty. No one's doing anything for the company anymore. An insurrection, Ha ha.
I got my radio today. Thanks for sending it. The only other radio in the room,
you have to strain your ears to hear. Now I can blast away.
Tomorrow I don't get back from training till mid-nite. We have an infiltration
course with live rounds blasting over our heads.
I have only 3 more weeks of boot camp. We're supposed to graduate the 23rd. We
might be able to go home for the whole weekend, the one lieutenant said. I hope
we can. We probably won't get another chance to get a pass here. Next weekend
we move to new barracks and the weekend after that might be tied up.
We went thru gas chambers yesterday. We had to take off our masks in tear gas.
Man that stuff is wicked. The last few days training was a big farce otherwise.
This training is screwed up. I think they do WWI stuff yet.
The weather report said it might get up to 50 tomorrow. Today it was nice in
the afternoon but I froze in the morning. New Jersey weather is really screwed
up. It's completely unpredic table.
Now I get enough food here. For supper I go thru the line twice, by then I'm
full. Half the guys are starting to do that. I really get to shovel it in now.
Well I have to go to bed now.
Yours
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
26 Mar 67
Dear Everyone,
How do you like that heading. We've been so busy I didn't even get a chance to
go to church today. We had to get ready for an inspection this afternoon.
I've been reading that new translation of the bible you sent me. It's pretty
good.
We're all going to Vietnam a couple of weeks after we get out of here as infantry.
What a crappy thing to get stuck in.
We're in barracks down here like cabins at winter camp. 40 guys to a floor, 80
to a barracks. They're from WWII.
Down here there's coral snakes and water moccasins. I'm not going to sit down
anywhere on the ground. Down here they don't give you enough food to show up
on the tray. I'm going to starve here.
We're way out in the boondocks. 60 miles from the nearest town and the town is
Leesville. Real rebel country. We're 250 miles from New Orleans. That's the nearest
airport.
My address is
Pvt D Cline U S 51774270
Co E 4th Bn Brd BDE
Ft Polk, La.
71459
They call this place Tigerland. They have signs all over that say "1967
Year of the Tiger." I hate this place. We're going to have to sleep in
foxholes for a week at a simulated Vietnamese village.
At least we're getting
M-16s. They're automatic instead of semi-auto. They're the Army nomenclature
for AR-15s. At least we have good weapons. We'll have to qualify with them, grenade
launchers, & M-60 machine guns.
We'll be here for 9 weeks. Then we get 2 or 3 weeks of leave before we go to
Vietnam. That leave will probably fly by.
After a couple of weeks I might have you send my guitar & some civilian clothes.
I'm going to wait a little while before I have you send them.
Well I'm going to take a shower now so I'll close. I forgot to tell you it's
in the 70s and 80s here & it rains almost every day. Just like Vietnam.
Yours
David the
Unwilling Soldier
- - - - -
- - - - -
4 April 67
Hi Everyone,
How's it going? Ma did you fill out my income tax form & send it to me for
my signature? If you didn't would you please?
We were shooting grenade launchers today. They're about 2 feet long and like
a shotgun. The grenade is like a big bullet & when they hit, they explode.
I wouldn't want no one to shoot that at me.
 |
After jungle training at Fort Polk |
Me & another guy went to Leesville Sunday afternoon to see what it was like.
I won some money off him playing pool. The name of the pool hall is "The
Emporium." The whole town is army-navy stores, pawn shops & bars. This
section of the country is a real poverty area. The whites, Negroes & Cajuns
all live in shacks. The only rich people are the ones that run the town.
Within the last month about 8
trainees died from coral snake bites. They have
water moccasins and rattle snakes too but they have medicine to counteract their
bites. There's nothing for a coral snake bite though. We can't sit down
when
we're in the field. The other day we were in the swamps
& a guy killed a
water moccasin & brought it back,
I've got a little poison ivy on my one arm. I have to get some calamine lotion.
I'm all sunburned too. Man does it get hot down here. Even my wrists are sunburned.
I went to church Sunday. All they had was communion and a few hymns with the
word soldier.
When you get a chance send my blue pants, paisley shirt & that checkered
shirt. I might have you send my guitar down but I don't know yet. Oh yeah, send
my reversible belt, suede shoes & a few pair of my dark socks.
We can have civvies now so I might as well have them. They let us go where we
want at nite. We all go to the PX for a cold beer before we go to the barracks.
Well I've gotta take a shower now so I'll close.
Yours
David
PS If you write me, put a number one in the right lower corner of the envelope.
- - - - -
- - - - -
28 April 67
Everyone,
How's it going? I didn't get to write this week cause we've been on bivouac since
Sunday. We walked all the way. It was 14 miles going out. We marched to all the
rifle ranges & back.
Altogether we walked about 50 miles. Man are my feet
sore. We got back last nite.
On May 20th we might go to Houston to march in a parade. The captain didn't have
any details but he said we'll probably go.
I haven't been doing much but go to the movies on post. The closest town, Leesville,
hasn't got hardly anything but bars that sell watered whiskey & a house of
ill repute. Usually passes aren't overnite but if we get an overnite this weekend
we might go to Shrivesport [sic].
I ate all that food you sent me. There was so much in there I thought it was
Thanksgiving.
I got a letter from Jack Adams last week. He's got the same MOS as I do. He ought
to be in Vietnam the same time I am. He said his company is going there too.
Today we were training with Armored Personnel Carriers. They can do 40 in a field & can
go across lakes. I'd like to have one of them for in field. They have big Chrysler
engines in them. If they took the governor off they'd really fly. They weight
18,000 lbs. cause they're all steel plated.
I don't know if I told you but I graduate May 26. That's only a month away. Time
goes faster here than in basic. We don't get harassed here & we have more
free time. I think there's a few direct flights to Buffalo from New Orleans.
That won't be too bad. I hope I can get a jet, a prop job takes too long.
Buggenhagens parents were down here but I didn't see them. Buggenhagen is going
to OCS but I decided not to go.
I got a letter from Harold the other day. He just told me about his ball team & and
that he was out to the house.
When I was on bivouac my back bothered me & I told the medics. They didn't
do anything so I'm going to the dispensary tomorrow. It feels like it's twisted
from marching so far.
Last note the guy in charge of quarters woke us up at 12 because a few guys forgot
to lock their lockers. I could have punched him in the mouth. I thought [page
break]
Well I gotta set up my stuff for tomorrow's inspection so I'll close for now.
Yours
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
8 May 67
Hi Everyone,
How's it going? We go out to Recon Ridge Sunday. It has a Vietnamese village & we
live under combat conditions for a week. The day after we come back we go to
Houston. I don't know if I told you but May 20th our company goes to Houston
to represent Ft. Polk in a parade. It'll be fun cause we get a nite in Houston.
I don't even know what the parade is for.
I'll be home in 17 days. I can't wait to get out. I probably won't be home till
Saturday. I can't wait to get home. It doesn't seem like I've been here 6 weeks
already.
 |
| At Fort Polk, David Cline is back row left.
Front row right is William Grant, who was killed
in Vietnam (see Cline's letter of October 29) shortly
after becoming engaged while on leave home. |
Tomorrow nite I won't get in till 11:30. We have patrolling
all day. We ambush other patrols & that junk. That's usually a pain cause they give us Mickey
Mouse classes too.
I got the latest issue of Ramparts in town & they had a great speech by Martin
Luther King about the war. It was really great.
Did Bruce get his bike fixed? Clyde
Crashkoff rides again.
I probably won't be going directly to Vietnam after my leave. A bunch of us have
to go to Ft. Lewis, Washington, cause
they're forming a new unit. It's only 20
miles from Seattle. That won't be bad.
I went to see the movie "Casino Royale." It was a James Bond movie
but a big mock out on James Bond. That was one of the best movies I've seen in
a long time. It was hilarious.
How's Linda's paining & drawing coming along. Pretty soon she ought to be
going into portrait painting, good as she is. How's she doing in school? She
better do good to become an intellectual of the caliber her brother is.
How's Dad's job coming along? Is Bruce still working at Western Electric? Tell
him if he needs a job that bad the army can find an opening for him. I'll go
ask the boss if he can get in.
I ought to save about a thousand dollars when I'm in Vietnam. I'll be making
$200 a month tax free & I can save at least a hundred a month. Have my bonds
been coming home? I forgot to ask you in the last letter. They should be coming.
I should have 2 of them right now.
I haven't had a chance to do too much reading here. I read a couple books but
only about half an hour at nite. One guy's been reading "Manchild in a Promised
Land" since we've been here & hasn't finished it yet.
We took out final PT (physical training) test today. I got 475 out of 500. That's
the highest I've ever got on a PT test. I'm in a lot better shape than I was
when I left basic. This training is alot better than basic but I still hate the
army.
I heard Everett got hurt in a motorcycle accident. Is that true? I heard his
leg was busted.
Today we had maintenance of the barracks. An I.G. inspection is coming up & we
had to lay asphalt in all the drains & square off the side walks. We have
to finish Wednesday. It was so hot today that you started sweating just standing
still. When we were working we were drenched.
Well I'm going to close now to do some reading.
Yours,
David
P.S. If you can, send me $30 till I get paid.
DDC
- - - - -
- - - - -
13 June 67
Ma,
How's everything going? I didn't think the household could keep going when I
left.
Has Dad gone sailing again? Did he get any good wind? There's supposed to be
a lake here where you can take boats out. I'm going to try & get a sailboat
to take out. I think sailing is cool. I can't wait to go out in the "Linda
Teacup" again. By the time I get home again, Dad will have sea legs.
We're in brand new barracks here. They're pretty nice. I'm in a 10 man room.
They tell us we're going to the 25th Infantry Division. They're just north of
Saigon. We're going over by boat. It'll take 26 to 29 days to get to Vietnam.
That time counts on our time over there. I'll only be over there 11 months, that
means. They said the exact date of departure is classified but we're on alert
to leave any time after July 9.
When I got on that plane, I go to Chicago & got on my plane right away. I
got in Seattle at 7:30 West Coast time. Ft. Lewis is about 35 miles from there.
Some guys left Thursday nite to get here--the fools.
When we got here we found out everyone's orders got screwed up. We weren't supposed
to be here till the 19th. We're just wasting time here now. When I found out
about that I was really mad.
I had KP today. Man is it easy here. Half the day was a break. We didn't even
G.G. the floors. They have pretty good chow here.
I went to see "Hurry Sundown" at the movies. It was so good I watched
it twice. It was really great. When I get a chance I'll write & tell you
the story.
I think when I come home I'll only take a 14 day leave. I'll have enough leave
days so I can get out before Christmas of 68. I'll have 46 days left till I get
out. When I come home I'll only have 6 months left.
We all had interviews with our lieutenant yesterday. I told him about my leg & he
said maybe I can get a profile on it. I doubt I will though. A profile would
get me out of the infantry. He said he can get me a lift. Then we started talking
and I told him what I thought about the war in Vietnam.
He didn't get mad or
nothing. That surprised me, darn it.
I forgot to bring my green dress uniform so you'll have to send that to me. Also
see if I left my soft caps in my closet-box (coo, huh).
My address is:
Pvt D Cline US 51774290
Co D 339th Eng Bn Const
25 Inf Div
3rd Plat Sub Pkt 2
Ft Lewis, Wash.
98433
Well I'm going to close for now. Let Linda read this letter, she'll be impressed
by my verbal discourse.
Your admiring son,
David
P.S. Bruce, up here cyclists have to wear helmets too. "Evil is amongst
us."
- - - - -
- - - - -
20 June 67
Everyone,
How's everything going out there. We haven't done too much so far. This week
we're going to start going to the rifle ranges for some practice. I ran into
Don Cooper up here. He's stationed in a communications unit.
We can see Mt. Rainier from our barracks. On a clear day it looks real cool.
There's snow on the peak of the mountain all the time.
We got a bunch of sergeants yesterday to form up the unit. Yesterday was when
we were supposed to have arrived if they hadn't screwed up our orders.
One of the guys in my room had to go to the hospital cause of his appendix. When
someone gets sick-call here they have to pack everything in their duffel bag.
That's so people don't use sick call to fake out, but if you're sick it's a pain.
This is pretty nice country out here but I believe New York is a better state.
I haven't gone to Seattle on pass yet but I might go this weekend. It all depends
on if we get paid or not.
The kid that went to the hospital, for your enlightenment, is Rodriguez. His
first name isn't Louie though.
I was looking at an atleas of the United States yesterday. They had Eden & Langford & all
the little towns on it. That was cool.
How'd Bruce do on the engine for his bike? How's the boat coming along?
I just came back from the swimming pool. It's an indoor pool. The water there
is so warm that it's warmer than the air. Only trouble is there's too much chlorine
in it.
They gave us a chance to make out wills today but I didn't make one. I figured
that my money & bonds are taken care of. The only other things I'll have
are my bike & guitar. I can just have my guitar sent to Bruce if I get killed.
Here's a joke for Linda. "What's green & lies on the bottom of the
ocean?" Answer--Moby Pickle.
Well, I've been in the Army over 5 months already. I should make P.F.C. around
the 16th of July.
We'll be on the ship by then.
Well, I'm going to do a little reading now so I'll close. Pray for peace.
Love
David
P.S. When you get a chance, send out my guitar.
- - - - -
- - - - -
29 June 67
Everyone,
I got that one letter from you the other day. I got my uniform in the mail yesterday.
Yesterday I got 5 shots. My arms were stiff & I felt dead afterwards. Today
my arms feel okay though.
Today we had to go to the pool again. Saturday we have a water survival class.
We have to jump in with clothes on & inflate our pants for a life jacket.
That won't be anything.
I doubt that we'll get a leave before we ship. We leave sometime between the
9th & the 15th.
We got issued all our field equipment yesterday. We got bullet oroof vests & everything.
Only trouble is they won't stop a rifle bullet. We got ruck sacks like that one
Dad has. Only difference is they weigh about 2 lbs. They have an aluminum frame & a
nylon pack. They're really light.
You know those hats like the "Boar War Colonel" used to wear. They
are Army issue for a field hat starting in September. I be just like on Rat Patrol
with that & my Army issue sunglasses.
We get paid tomorrow. This weekend we might rent bikes in Seattle if they're
cheap enough. If we do we're going to ride up to Mt. Rainier.
I see there's a little excitement in Buffalo. Those people out there rioting
are just defeating themselves. Most of them aren't even out there to fight injustice
but just to loot & have some excitement.
Here's a cartoon in here I got from the Seattle paper. Don't throw it out cause
I want it. That cartoon shows cops, I think, just like they are.
I've been doing alot of reading down here. The post library has some good books.
I just finish a book on Buddhism & politics iin Southeast Asia & I'm
reading a transcript of the trial of those 2 authors in Russia. I got a book
of poetry by Negro poets. There are some real hairy poems in there. For an Army
library they really have good books. Usually they just have military books.
I went to see "taming of the Shrew" the other night. Burton & Taylor
did a great job. Usually Elizabeth Taylor does a crummy job but she was great.
It followed Shakespeare's play right thru.
You should go see that movie. It really
is worth seeing. I'd place that with "Hurry Sundown" in the best movies
I've seen.
Bishop Pike is going to be in Seattle at a Unitarian Church next weekend. If
I'm still here I'm going to go hear him. I doubt I'll be here though. I hope
I'll be here.
You know how the govt. and LBJ have been saying all along that the VC are controlled
by Hanoi. In the paper today there was an article on how the govt. might negotiate
with the VC & bypass Hanoi. One of the guy's who's running for President
in South Vietnam wants to do this & even Ky said that at most the VC are
50% communist. That sounds a little different than what LBJ's been saying for
the last few years.
Well, I gotta close for now so I can shave & take a shower.
The unwilling conscript
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
11 Aug 67
Everyone,
Sorry I haven't written sooner. I've been here 8 days but we've been training & doing
detail. We usually don’t get done till 10 & we don't have electricity
in our hooches yet. Hence I couldn't write.
I'm at Cu Chi base camp. It's all mud all over. It's the monsoon season here
now & you wouldn't believe the rain. It really pours.
 |
Cline's Vietnam "cherry shot." |
We're supposed to go down to the Delta in about a week.
We'll stay down there till November or December.
I saw one of the guys I took AIT with here. Another one of the guys got hit in
the head with a 50 caliber bullet & lived. A kid I knoew from Kenmore got
killed. I saw his name in the paper today.
The VC are always attacking this place. We always keep a couple hundred rounds
with our rifles in the barracks incase Charlie attacks. A few months ago he overran
the area where we sleep & he mortars the camp alot. He hasn't hit it yet
since I've been here. I ain't complaining.
This place is hot & it's winter here. You're always sweating & it's hard
to get a shower here.
The other day I bought a 35 mm camera. It's a
Yashica. I think that's the same
company that made that camera Dad has. I want you to get me about 20 rolls of
color film for a 35 mm. It's hard to get color here. I'll send you whatever it
costs.
I'm not going to have you send my guitar or records till I find out what kind
of hooch I'll live in when I'm in the field.
They don't give us hardly any time off over here. We even work on Sunday. It's
hard to keep track of the days because of that. Only way you can tell when a
new week starts is every Monday we take a malaria pill.
My address is:
PFC David Cline US 51774290
Co D 4th Bn 9th Inf
25th Inf Div
APO 96225
San Francisco, Calif
I forgot to tell you I'm a PFC now. Pretty soon I ought to be a general.
They have a pretty good radio station here. It's an Army station but they have
good music.
Well I gotta go so I can get out before I get on a detail.
Yours
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
17 Aug 67
Everyone,
How's everything going at home? We haven't done to much here. They have everything
screwed up here. We've just been monkeying around here.
I bought a transistor record player so you can send my records. I'll put a list
of the ones I want in this letter.
I have 328 days left over here. I think this stuff stinks. You're always dirty
cause it's hard to take a shower & it's always muddy. Everyday when it rains
we stay outside to get wet. I never thought I'd do that.
 |
Cline, left, and his friend Ron Chingery
in the Cu
Chi barracks. |
Lately I've been thinking a lot about the problems America's
got. We get Time & Newsweek
over here & I've been reading about the riots in the cities. You know, over
here we don't have any racial tensions. Everyone hangs around together here.
There's a few whites & colored guys who hate each other but there's only
a few of them.
I've been reading about the riots & reasons &
attempts to end them. I
read where one writer said that with the formal destruc tion of discrimination
the masses are less patient in their quest for equality. I believe this. We're
over here fighting for "freedom." Whether all of us believe this or
support this war is doubtful. But when we come home everyone they give their
sweat & blood for whites & blacks & if people mess with anyone about
his worth people here won't take it. When this thing ends either the cooperation & equality
we have over here will go back with us or America will be a house on fire. God
gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water, the fire next time.
Well I have to close now because we have to put sand bag walls around the barracks
in case of mortar attack.
Your sociologist
in Vietnam,
David
Here's a list of the records I want
Paul Butterfield
All My Animals & Stones Records
Eric Anderson
Both Tom Paxton records
Phil Ochs in concert
"Joan Baez in Concert"
Both Koerner, Ray & Glover albums
"Highway 51 Revisited"
All my Pete Seeger Records
"What's Shakin"
"Daydream"
Len Chandler
2 Simon & Garfunkel records
I don't want my guitar sent just yet but I'll let you know. Let me know what
the postage is & I'll send the money
David
- - - - -
- - - - -
31 Aug 67
Everyone,
Don't get worried when I tell you this but I got shot yesterday. I wrote you & told
you we were going out. Well the VC were waiting for us. I got shot in the back.
The bullet bounced back out off one of my ribs. They have a drain in my left
chest cavity because it was filling up. When I got shot they had to give me mouth
to mouth respiration for a few minutes.
Altogether we had 8 killed & 44 wounded. I knew almost all the dead or wounded & I'm
sick about that fight. They sent us out there & we get slaughtered. Warner
heard I got killed & he came in the hospital this morning & cried when
he saw I was alive.
After I got hit I had to lay under water in a rice paddy for over an hour before
they could get a chopper in to get wounded out. One guy died because he bled
to death from a bullet in the leg.
They just couldn't get to him because of the
enemy fire.
What I saw out there yesterday was the most terrible thing of my life. I ain't
going out there ever again. It scares me just thinking about it. This place is
hell.
I'll be at this hospital at Cu Chi for about a week then they'll move me somewhere
else. They might even send me to Japan or the States but I doubt that.
I told the Army not to send you a thing telling about my wound because I figured
I'd better tell you so you wouldn't worry as much.
I'll be okay. I get morphine shots once in a while but I don't need them but
only a few times a day.
This letter may look sloppy but that's because I'm writing in bed. I'm going
to close now, but I'll write in a day or two. Don't worry.
Yours
David
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3 Sept 67
Everyone,
How's everything going? They took that tube out of my lung today. Now I can get
up & walk around some.
Right now the VC are mortaring Cu Chi & some of them must be out on the perimeter
cause I hear a 50 caliber machine gun firing. Last nite 3 VC were captured out
there.
Today the Major in my battalion came to the hospital & gave everyone their
Purple Heart. I'll send mine home as soon as I get to mail it. I wish I never
got the stupid thing.
 |
The barracks at Cu Chi |
I have 310 days left. Man I can't wait till I get out of
here. The Army is heaven compared to being in the Army
over here.
They brought a guy in here tonite who got half his face & one of his eyes
shot away. It just seems unreal that people can do stuff like that to each other.
They brought a Vietnamese woman
in here yesterday. She had a baby boy & that's
here too.
They also have a little girl that got hurt. See, if they have empty
beds, they take in civilians that need help.
I'm going to close for now cause I feel tired but I'll write again soon.
Yours,
David
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- - - - -
5 Sept 67
Everyone,
I got Ma's letter & package last nite. I see Michael is really getting into
the big time. Five dollar jobs. That's as bad as those guys that robbed Uncle
Ed.
That film you sent is for slides. I'll send it back. You should get it for color
prints. Also you don't have to send much now cause they have it at the PX. I'll
be sending some pictures I took when I get a chance.
This letter looks all sloppy but that's because I'm lyng down & trying to
write. It's not too easy.
The other day they took the drain out of my lung & yesterday they sewed up
my back where the bullet ripped me open. I'll be healed up before I know what's
happening.
I just sat up so maybe this part of the letter will look a little neater.
You can send my records because I'll leave them in the barracks. We're never
gone from there more than a week at the most: what did you think I was going
to do, carry them on my back into a fire fight. When you send them, make sure
you also include "Bringin’ it all back home" by Dylan. I forgot
to put that on the list.
Company D should be coming in from the field today. They had us out there because
of the elections to make sure there was no massing of VC's.
I've got 308 days left. Pretty soon I'll be down in thw two hundreds.
They brought a wounded Korean soldier in here last nite. The Koreans must be
bigger than the Vietnamese. This guy has a little weight on him too.
So Hoffman got married, huh. Man he'll probably want to get a divorce in about
a year. I figured that he'd get out & blow his cool. I can't see Grewshaw
getting married either. Who'd want to marry a fool like him.
Did Cary take his physical for the Army yet? I hope they don't draft him cause
I doubt that he could take it.
You know them colored guys that beat up Uncle Ed & all, they're really punks.
Over here colored guys & white guys don't have any trouble. We have a real
brotherhood here. Guys like Rap Brown
I wish they'd send over here. He yells
for riots & all that but you never read about him charging a cop. He's too
scared to do anything but talk.
Well, I'm going to close now but I'll write again soon.
Yours,
David
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- - - - -
11 Sept 67
Everyone,
I'm not at Cu Chi anymore. The other day they sent me to the 36th Evac Hospital
at Vung Tau.
This is also an R&R center. They have a beach here that we can
go to. I can't go in the water though till my stitches are removed. They found
small metal fragments from the bullet still in my back but they're going to leave
them in there. You can bet I'm going to try and get a profile for that. I'm going
to do everything I can so I won't have to go to the field again. I'm too scared
to go out there again.
I got a letter from everyone I used to work with at the bank. Nothing new is
happening though.
I found out how my back looks. There's two 6 inch cuts on line with each other
where the bullet went in & out. They'll take the stitches out in about a
week, the doctor said.
See if you can find out what Everett & Gary's address is for me. I want to
write them & tell them not to come over here. I heard they were home last
weekend. Ah for the days when I was in basic training again. At least then I
knew I'd be done in 2 months. I have 10 months to go here. 302 days to be exact.
Don't mail my records if you haven't sent them already until I get back to Cu
Chi. They won't do me any good here.
I heard Ray has to go for his physical. If they draft him, I wonder if he's still
getting married. Mrs. McCormick will probably make him get married anyway.
Well I gotta close for now. I'll write again soon.
Your loving son
David
P.S. My new address is
36th Evac Hosp. Ward 6
APO 96291
San Francisco
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14 Sept 67
Everyone,
I'm getting that I write you so much that pretty soon it'll be an everyday affair.
I got that box of goodies when I was still in the hospital at Cu Chi. The pepper & swiss
cheese was spoiled but everything else was okay.
I got a letter from you the other day. Man you act like something bad happened
to me. All I did was get shot. I though all parents wanted that to happen to
their son. Just think of the glory & honor--B.S.
I've been going to the beach every day lately. I can't go swimming because of
the stitches but I wade in to my waist. Exciting huh. The beach is really nice.
There's no rocks at all. It's all on a sand bar. We go there on buses & go
thru the town of Vung Tau. Vung Tau must have been a resort area under the French
because there's a lot of big hotel type buildings in the town & most of the
people are Catholic not Buddhist.
This one guy from Alabama, who's in the same battalion as me, is next to me here.
He got shot the same day as me. I taught him how to play rummy, now he beats
me all the time. I beat him tonite though. His name is Willie Garner. Willie
is his legal name.
In the last letter you asked if my leg and back bothered me. When we're walking
out in the field you're too tired and scared to even worry if your leg hurts.
However I'm sure that my back does bother me now.
That picture tou sent me was poor photography. When I get up to the Post Office,
I'll send you some pictures I took. Then you'll see some good photography. By
the way, how about getting me some pictures of all of you & one of my room.
Don't get a picture of all of you together because that's too many people in
one picture for it to be good--I feel. Also, when it snows, get me a picture
of snow--we don't get it over here. I'd like them to be in color, that is if
you don't mind taking them.
Lately I've become quite interested in photography. I sling my camera over my
shoulder & play the typical tourist. If you get a chance, go to a camera
shop & find out how much they charge for a Yashica Electra 35, an Asahi Pentax,
and a Takumar 1000 mm super telephoto lens. I want to find out about the Asahi
Pentax & the telephoto lens because for the Asahi there's 24 different lens
you can put on it, the 1000 mm being a lens that enables you to take close-ups
of a subject up to half a mile away. I want to find out how much I'd save by
buying it here.
Well, tell Linda to do good in school so she can go to college & won't get
drafted. She won't like the Army either.
I'm going to close for now but I'll write again soon.
Yours
David, the
unwilling conscript
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- - - - -
22 Sept 67
Everyone,
All those letters I get from Ma are so full of questions that I couldn't answer
all of them.
I think that they'll keep me at Vung Tau till my back is all healed up & then
send me back to Cu Chi.
I got a letter from you & Mr. Godlin & Jim Rotenberg today. I'm going
to write them tomorrow (this is being written the nite of the 21st. It won't
leave till tomorrow so I wrote 22nd on the top)
My left lung was collapsed but they re-inflated it. It hurts when I take a real
deep breath but other than that it's okay. Maybe I won't have to go out in the
field if I get a profile for my lung. I doubt if I'll get a profile though.
If I played my Dylan records in the field, the VC might lay down their weapons & I
could have a dialogue with them. We could wear buttons like "Make Love Not
War," or "Johnson Is a Rat Fink, Ho Chi Minh Is Too." Maybe I
could even get a few to be hippies. Then we could all write "Flower Power" on
latrine walls.
I've been reading a lot here back at Cu Chi. I had a couple of books going but
I didn't have too much time to read them. I've read "Lord of the Flies." "1984," "The
Slave," "The Ordeal of Change" by Eric Hoffer, "Great Tales
of Old Russia." The last book is a collection of short stories by pre-revolutionary
writers.
I haven't had a chance to send about $150 bucks home because I couldn't get a
money order. I'll send it soon.
One of the suture holes in my back is infected so I haven't been going swimming
for the last few days. I play checkers here alot with another guy from my unit
though.
The 25th is out in the Ho Bo Woods for an operation right now. That's the place
where I got shot at the first time. That's part of the Iron Triangle & it's
full of VC. I don't like going out there.
I started growing a mustache. It has a few dark hairs in it now. It might have
to be shaved a few times before it comes in good but by the time I come home
I will have one.
I'll finish this letter tomorrow morning cause it's almost time for lites to
go out.
To continue reading the letters, click
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