Editor's note: After Bob Press was killed, my letter writing deteriorated.
I wrote some letters and left off the date. This letter I mistakenly dated as
November 10th. It was actually written November 11th, Veterans Day. The penmanship deteriorated as well and I was careless about spelling.
In hindsight I attribute this to the loss of Bob but also the more frequent enemy
contact. The war for me, was heating up.
Dear Mom & Dad,
Greetings once again from Vietnam. I realize that I have been neglecting my
letter writing, lately. I have been quite busy. If it isn't one thing it's
another. I no sooner get in from the field and I'm right back out again. I am
writing this letter from the trains at Long Binh.
It's now Monday, the 11th. I didn't get as much written yesterday as I wanted to.
I am still at Long Binh but I will be going out to the field this afternoon by
myself and I will be back on Thursday. This will probably be my last time in the
field on this operation but I know that I've said that once or twice before.
The reason that I didn't get any more of this letter written yesterday was because
Larry Blumenstock asked me if I wanted to go to Saigon with him. Naturally, I said
sure. So I spent yesterday afternoon in Saigon. It was great. I spent a
few dollars on some goodies.
Several days ago, I put in for a second R&R to Bangkok but it was turned down by my
First Sargent. He said that I should try again in January. So, in January I
will probably be going back to Bangkok but I have decided not to see the same girl that I
saw last time. I wrote to her yesterday and told her that I would not be writing to
her anymore. I would like to go back to Bangkok again. It was great fun.
I have been receiving quite a lot of mail lately from people that I don't even know.
Two letters came from girls, single and young, who wanted me to write to them.
I wrote them both the other day and thanked them for their letters. Another
letter came from a married lady and I got a Christmas card from my old high school English
teacher, Mrs. Jones. So, my mail situation is getting better. Perhaps I will
look these two girls up when I get home. One is 20 and single from Eliot and another
is 23, single and a nurse in Methuen, Massachusetts who lives in North Hampton. So,
who knows? Maybe I've got something going.
You mentioned that you were making a Christmas package to send me. There are very
few things that I need or could use as my storage facilities are quite limited. I
would however, like to have an electronic flash gun for my camera. We can not get
them here. Perhaps some magazines, etc. but nothing special. The greatest
Christmas present is the one you can give me the 11th of April. We can celebrate my
21st birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all in one big party.
Today, Veterans day, I have been in Vietnam seven months. Time has really gone by
fast. We have got two new cooks in and they both have over 300 days left. Man,
am I short! Let me tell you, it feels great. Things are going great for me.
I'm happy as hell about everything. Everything is going well. We have
two more cooks, the troop in the field is getting a body count and the war is going our
way, a little.
Well, I must get this in the mail.
By for now!
Love,
Bob
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