Rick Holt's Adventures in Vietnam
Letters Home from Vietnam, 1971

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During my year in Vietnam I tried to write home almost every day and my parents saved all those letters. I sat down one day this year (2003) and decided I'd read them all. Quite a nostalgic trip. It seemed only natural that I add them to the web pages here on my personal website so as I read them I transcribed them here. It took a while as there were something like 300 of them. The journey begins...

Postcard from Anchorage, Alaska, January 25, 1971
Postcard from Yakota Air Force Base, Japan, January 26, 1971
Letter from Long Binh, January 27, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh North, January 30. 1971
Letter from Da Nang, February 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 3, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 4, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang February 4, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 5, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang February 5, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 6, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh February 6, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh February 7, 1971 around noon
Letter from Long Thanh February 7, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh February 8, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 9, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 10, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang February 10, 1971 around noon
Letter from Da Nang February 10, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 11, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 12, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 13, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 14, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 15, 1971 in morning
Letter from Da Nang February 15, 1971 in early evening
Letter from Da Nang February 15, 1971 in late evening
Letter from Da Nang February 16, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 17, 1971 in early evening
Letter from Da Nang February 18, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang February 18, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 19, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 19, 1971 later in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 20, 1971
Letter from Da Nang February 21, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang February 21, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 22, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang February 22, 1971 mid-day
Letter from Da Nang February 22, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang February 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh February 24, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh February 25, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh February 26, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh February 27, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh February 28, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh March 1, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh March 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 3, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 4, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 5, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 6, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 7, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 8, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 9, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 10, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 12, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 13, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 14, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 15, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 16, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 17, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 18, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 19, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 20, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 22, 1971 in the wee hours of the morning
Letter from Da Nang March 22, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang March 23, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 24, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 25, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 26. 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 27, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 28, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 29, 1971
Letter from Da Nang March 31, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 1, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 3, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 4. 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 5, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 6, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 7, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 10, 1971 in the early afternoon
Letter from Long Thanh April 10, 1971 in the last hours before bed
Letter from Long Thanh April 12, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 13, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 14, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 15, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 17, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 18, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 19, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 21, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh April 21, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh April 22, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh April 24, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh April 24, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang April 25, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 26, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 27, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 28, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 29, 1971
Letter from Da Nang April 30, 1971
Letter from Da Nang May 1, 1971
Letter from Da Nang May 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang May 4, 1971
Letter from Da Nang May 5, 1971
Letter from Da Nang May 6, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 8, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 10, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 11, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 12, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 14, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 16, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 17, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 19&20, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 20, 1971 written during the day at work.
Letter from Long Thanh May 21, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 24, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 25, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 26, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 27, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 28, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 29, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 30, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh May 31, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 1, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang June 5, 1971
Letter from Da Nang June 6, 1971
Letter from Da Nang June 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 8, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 10, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 11, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 12, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 13, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 14, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 15, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 16, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 17, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 19, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh June 19, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Nha Trang June 21, 1971
Letter from Nha Trang June 22, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 22, 1971 later in the day
Letter from Long Thanh June 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 24, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 25, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 26, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 28, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 29, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh June 30, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 1, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 2, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 4, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 5, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 6, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 11, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 12, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 13, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 14, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 15, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 16, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 17, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 18, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 19, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 20, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 21, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 22, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 23, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 24, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 25, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 25, 1971 mailed to the family while they were camping at a local state park
Letter from Vung Tau July 26, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 27, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 28, 1971
Letter from Vung Tau July 29, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 30, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh July 31, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 1, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 3, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 4, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 5, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 6, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 8, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 11, 1971 around noon
Letter from Long Thanh August 11, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh August 12, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 13, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh August 14, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 15, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 16, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 17, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang August 17, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang August 18, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 19, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang August 19, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang August 20, 1971 after lunch
Letter from Da Nang August 20, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang August 21, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 22, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 23, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 24, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 25, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 26, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 27, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 28, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 29, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 30, 1971
Letter from Da Nang August 31, 1971
Letter from Da Nang September 1, 1971 in mid afternoon
Letter from Da Nang September 1, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang September 2, 1971
Letter from Da Nang September 3, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 3, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh September 5, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 5, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh September 7, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 7, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh September 9, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 9, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh September 10, 1971
Letter from Da Nang September 11, 1971
Letter from Da Nang September 13, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang September 13, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Da Nang September 14, 1971
Letter from Da Nang September 15, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Da Nang September 16, 1971
Letter from Da Nang September 19, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 19, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh September 20, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 21, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 22, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 25, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 26, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 26, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh September 27, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 28, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh September 30, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh September 30, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh October 1, 1971 around noon
Letter from Long Thanh October 1, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh October 2, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 4, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh October 4, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh October 5, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 6, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 8, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 10, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 11, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 13, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 14, 1971 in the morning
Letter written in flight over Nui Ba Den October 14, 1971 in the late afternoon
Letter from Long Thanh October 15, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh October 16, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh October 17, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 18, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 19, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 20, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 21, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 22, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 24, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Pleiku October 24, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh October 25, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 26, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 27, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 28, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 29, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 30, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh October 31, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 1, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 2, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 3, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 4, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 5, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh November 5, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh November 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 8, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 10, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 11, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 12, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 14, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 15, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 16, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 18, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh November 18, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh November 20, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 22, 1971 about 8 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh November 22, 1971 about 10:30 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh November 23, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 24, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh November 24, 1971 in the evening
Letter from Long Thanh November 26, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 29, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh November 30, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 1, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 2, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 3, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 4, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 5, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 6, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 7, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 8, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 9, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 10, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 11, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 12, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 13, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 14, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 15, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 16, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 17, 1971
Letter from Long Thanh December 18, 1971 in the morning
Letter from Long Thanh December 18, 1971 in the afternoon
Letter written at 10,000 ft. December 19, 1971 above Nui Ba Den on a Radio Relay mission
Letter from Long Thanh December 20, 1971 this was the last letter written in Vietnam.

Things didn't go as well as I'd wished because of the Christmas flight crunch. I ended up being sent to Da Nang to catch a flight out of country and spent three days including Christmas Day in Da Nang, but not long after that I was on that Freedom Bird and headed HOME!

Copyright 2003 Rick Holt. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.