December 10

AS far as the Cavalry, the word "Air" was often left off of the name. It was the First Air Cavalry, and the horses today are Helicopters. (Today and 1968)





It is funny, it has been a really long time since I had a coherent discussion with mom, but when I read the joke about Johnny Carson, I had the urge to write her and tell her that the Ed Sullivan was home to the David Letterman Show.



Bong Son almost directly to the East of An Khe in the Central Highlands, in the Bong Son Valley. I did not know it at the time but yes, we were right in the area that mom was talking about, but we saw none of the action.

Polly is Polly Herman who lived a block up and over from us.

February 11, 1968

Have had some computer problems, so have not posted, but am up and running again.

Some time in January our Battalion moved from LZ Uplift north to near the DMZ. We landed in Da Nang and convoyed to Quan Tri or LZ Sharon. We were barely settled there when the 1968 Tet offensive occured. We were some of the last people to see Hue, the old Capital of Viet Nam , standing. The move and then Tet had the effect of stopping communications and Mom did not get letters I was writing.



A whole discussion here that is based upon a misunderstanding. There was never an intent on my part to buy a car in Vietnam. I was talking about when I got home.

Induction Center - Fort Polk, Louisiana

19 June 1967


I was taken, along with other boys from Brazoria County by bus to Houston on June 15, 1967. We were officially sworn in and then hung out in Houston until our bus left for Fort Polk in the evening.

There was no one there to tell the other guys that I was an outcast, so we got along fine and I actually kind of made a friend or two for a day. The next day we were given clothing and were separated from our hair. The next day we took tests. Then we waited. On the 19th I guess I had enough time to write and sent post card and a letter. Mom always sent pre-addressed post cards so I would have no excuse for not writing. I still have a few blank card.





My greatest concern at Fort Polk was that they got my Status right. I was a worrier then and I still am. Until I was certain that they had me as a non-combatant I did not rest well.



I would never use the words "colored boys" now, but it was the vocabulary I used then. In 1967 Alvin, Texas was still very much segregated. One of those "colored boys" went on to be awarded one of the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam.

The illness I had was from several sources. First the bus we rode had a exhaust fume leak, then I was not used to breathing the dryer air of Northern Louisiana. I was fine once we got out of that Bus. Somewhere along the line we changed buses.



I have no idea what I meant about "anyone as bad as me here" Bad back then meant not good.



The comment about the guys in the interviewing room was about the Army's attempt to get me to give up my CO status. I guess a lot of guys were influenced by their parents to be a CO, but my decision was one I made on my own. In fact, almost everyone tried to talk me out of it. I was told I would ruin my life. In past times that would have been true, but for one brief shining moment the US was moving on the right track and I suffered only minimal penalty. When I got out of the Army and went to Austin, I applied to the IRS office there. Scored every high on my tests and with my veterans and disability points my scores were over 100, the perfect score. I was never hired however. Later during the Watergate Scandal it was revealed that CO's were banned from federal employment.



I qualified for Officers Candidate School. Go figure.

December 16, 1967

Thought I would include an envelope. Humm, 5 cent stamp.



Mom's birthday was December 13. Carol, Wayne and Boo are my sister, Brother in Law, and niece.



Mom taught piano. I do not remember this Gala person.



Ica and Fritz were my father's brother and sister, Mildred was Fritz's wife. Gerald was Ica's husband. They had three children, Mary, Gerald and Jim. Jim had Hemophila and never married. Mom asks about my Christmas, see more HERE. Geneva is my oldest sister. She lived in Phoenix.



I think Miz Harry was a friend from Church. Mrs. Squyres was a good friend to mother and lived a block down the street. Mickey Calkins was a friend from Church.

Letter from Mom - January 15, 1968

There are only 6 pages, even though the last page is marked 7. My Mother was 62 and was a multitasker.



Allan was the man who bought my Dad's Feed store when my Dad died. He also kind of looked after my mother a bit. He had worked for my Dad as a young man.



My mother also taught Piano lessons. Carol is my sister and "Boo" is her first, and only at the time, daughter. Boo's real name was Judy Darlene.



Ms. Flagg was the lady across the street from us.



Stanton's was a strip shopping center with a cafe, grocery store, hardware store, and feed store all in one. Kind of a forerunner of Walmart or a Shopping Center.

Peggy was my mother's niece. She was Deans of Women's Athletics at Texas Tech.

Ms. S is Mrs Squires a very good friend of mother's who lived down the street from us. Neeves was an appliance store. Ivy at the time was Church Secretary and years earlier had been one of my Den Mothers when I was a Cub Scout.



I don't remember who Amanda was. Mother Taught Sunday School and it may be one of her Classmates.



Geneva is my other Sister. Both Sisters are older by Geneva is the older of the two.

Was good to know that I was getting a care package, however, we were on the move. We were moving up toward the DMZ. Flew into Da Nang and then convoyed through Hue and onto Quang Tri. Never got the package. There was Tet and every thing broke down for a few days. Hope some one got the package, Mom made the best Molasses Cookies.