Rick Holt's Adventures in Vietnam
Letters Home from Vietnam, 1971
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Long Thanh
April 21, 1971
Wednesday
9 pm
Dear Folks,
It doesn't look like we'll be going north after all. Kelm and Duff came back down this afternoon saying the mission was over. Actually it never started. They didn't fly at all while they were up there. There are rumors that we'll be going up north again soon, but nothing definite.
We had a practice alert this evening. Happened to get on a truck headed for the helicopter revetments this time. So I stood next to a chopper for an hour instead of sitting in a bunker. I'll have to remember to get on that truck next time. When they have alerts after duty hours like that you get to see the real army. Everyone is wearing their bell bottoms and 'hippie' clothes. That must really get the lifers where it hurts.
Well, looks like I'll have to put up with old Cox for a while longer. His latest mandate is that everybody has to wear their rank on their hats. Seems like he comes up with something new every day. Doesn't really matter though, I wear my rank on my hat anyway. One step ahead of him.
Sat in Avionics all day doing nothing. It was a long day. I did get up and empty the trash one time.
Got 3 letters today. One from Dad of the 16th. One card from Aunt Marie. And that pamphlet you mailed regular mail on the 14th. Didn't get any mail this afternoon.
It's real quiet around here now. Everybody went to the club to see the movie. Paulson is still here. Doesn't know any more now than he did two months ago. They're really giving him the run-around.
I'm expecting to get some pictures back from Wards soon. I mailed them on the 10th.
Guess that's it. Sorry about the pencil but my trusty old pen finally ran out of ink.
Rick