March 1, 1969
Hi Mom, Dad, Dan
It’s Saturday March 1, 1969 or 9060 in truck driver language. That means 9-69 and the 60 is the 60th day of the year. This is the way we write the date on our sign in and sign out sheets.
We had a big inspection today and we came in last. We have the rest of the day off, I think. I got your letters today. Boy was it good to hear from you guys. I got two from you, one from Dad, one from Jill, one from Gra. I sat and just read them for about an hour. They really sounded good. That’s pretty good about Tommy Reza “ha”. I was talking to two kids that are only 20 years old that just got back from Nam and they got Seargent just for being in Nam.
Well, I should come out a general. We got our gas masks today. Today. That means we are all set for combat training in the field. We got sleeping bags, chow eqip, half tints, shovels, nap sacks, rubber air matrasses, helmets, gas mark, M-16 rifle, canteens, pistol belts, ammunition belts, first aid packs. Boy are we ready for combat.
When we got mail call today we all ran out and got around in a circle, they started to call off names starting with the A’s. then the B’s and on well after the D’s I thought I wasn’t going to get any so I was just going to leace when dave “ a buddy” ask me if I would listen for his name because he had to report to the 1st Seargent so I said ok. His name begins with “R”. so, I stood there and got two letters for him. Just as I was going to leave, my name was called. I yelled out “here Seargent”. Ran up to him and got that letter. Then another and another. I never ran so fast in my life so I could get back to barracks to read them. Out of the four I read your letters first. Boy that was really good to hear from you. Danny how have you been? How’s Clem? I was going to call today but you’re in Maine. I should be able to call you about Mon night or maybe tomorrow night.
When the inspection was going on we had to stand in front of our bunks in our class A uniform with our brass and real shiny shoes. I was the only one in my squad that he didn’t find something wrong. He asked where I was from and how old I was and what I did before I came into the army. He was a captain and he was drafted to. Hes only 26 years old and the captain for company B. that’s what I could be if I went to O.C.S. officer candidate school but that’s not for me. Could you see me a captain? I couldn’t. most everyone now is writing letters. The Sergeant just came in. He’s not too bad a guy. He’s taking some of us to the laundry tonight to get some of our dirty clothes cleaned. My clothes should be back from the quarter master laundry Mon morning. That’s pretty good I can send 26 pieces of clothes a week for 8 weeks for only $9.00.
I packed all my stuff like 2 other razors and a bunch of extra shaving cream and after shave cream in the bag you gave me and they stores it for 8 weeks. Its real sunny outside now but it’s a little cold out. Today you need your sleevs down. B ut other tyhan that its real nice down here. We were just outside lying on the grass talking about our different home towns. Boy some of these guys have it rough. One guy is 25 years old and has 9 kids. Id say that about 30% are married. I wrote nana and grampy