February 23, 1969

Hi, Mom, + Dad + Dan

Well, I’m sitting here waiting for the phone. Boy, what a line standing in front of the phone booth. Tomorrow starts basic training. This is Sunday 23rd. We have to start wearing helmets and full pistol belts. That ponchos, canteen, ammunition packs, first aid pack, boy this is going to be something. How is everyone? I’m going to try and send a letter to nana and Grampy today if I get a chance. How did Mr. Day like his letter? I just wrote to Gra.

Well got to go check the phone booth again and see if my turn has come up yet. Be right back “hang on” well what do ya know I finally got the phone. It was real good talking to ya. Too bad dad wasn’t home cause I really wanted to talk to him. You wait till I get home on leave do I have some stories to tell ya. My drill sergeants name is Mulligan. He yells a lot, but he really is a nice guy. We have a lesson on military courtesy and how to march. Today we just got finished. It’s about 5:30 now we just got back from chow. We had turkey, mash potatoes, strawberry shortcake, carrots, salad, cranberry sauce, choc milk. That wasn’t too bad. Boy that was real good talking to ya. Boy did your voices sound good. Did Danny get my letter yet? Danny you better write on when I get home (this rough tough general will really take some of that fat off). We got the rest of the day off. I’m in charge of getting the lower floor of the barracks cleaned up and the floors swept. When I get done me and two of my buddies are going to see a movie about how the U.S stands in Vietnam. The Chaplin will serve cookies and drinks. That’s the reason why we are going.

Boy isn’t this stationary really sexy. I bought it Sat when we went to the P.X. pretty good ha. I hope Mr. day liked the letter. Well, I got to go.

Dad. Thanks a lot for getting my car down to the house. I’ll pay ya when my ship gets in. I should be home in about 8 weeks. Read the card I’m sending with this letter. Say hi to everyone from MP.

Mom. Boy did your voice sound good today. When I get home, I’m going to take you and dad out to eat. At some big restaurant. That’s what we should have done before I went. You know what I did last night. I woke up in the middle of the night and got up I thought I was home. No kidding, I still can’t believe that I am really here. Boy, do I miss your cooking and every everything you did. You don’t really know how well off you are some places until you go someplace that isn’t so good. When I get out, I’m going to live with you and dad for a couple years to make up for the time I missed. (that’s if the board money doesn’t go up ha ha) (you should see me in an army helmet!!)

Danny. How’s school going? Are you keeping good care of my cars? don’t let anyone near them ok. I think I can bring you home a helmet liner. that’s the plastic helmet that goes on under the steel helmet. There real sharp (ok).

Clem. Be good and you must be having it easy now that you don’t have anyone to fight with. But when I get home on leave, I’m going to bang on the window and scare the “hell” right of ya. Pardon the English but that’s nothin compared to the drill Sargent.

Well got to go for now

I’ll try to write tomorrow

Mickey