Where's Charlie? Memories from a Time of war, 1966-68

Excerpts from letters

"Jeanie wrote to me daily, and I reciprocated when conditions permitted. She lived for mail delivery and I for mail call. In the summer of 1967, Jeanie and her family were at her parents' lake property for a long weekend. The property was between Austin and San Antonio, but Jeanie drove to her parents' house in San Antonio on mail days to collect the mail and then return to join the family. We both became depressed when several days would pass with no mail, and we reflected this despondence in our letters. Of course, the melancholy was temporary since soon three to five letters would arrive, and our morale went sky high. As time passed, we both knew that letters were on the way, and we learned to have more patience. We had only been married for a couple of months before I left for Vietnam and it was a tough year for both of us.
In many of my letters, I tried to give Jeanie descriptive information concerning my location. She had a map of Vietnam and attempted to track my location and movement the best she could. I was prohibited from writing about operational topics, but I tried to give her a flavor of my daily experiences and my location. I do not include excerpts from all my letters. I have used only those that I believe add to my war stories and the more poignant story of Tim and Jeanie. Periodically, I insert excerpts from Jeanie's letters to me to show the perspective of war from the home front. While her letters do not contain war stories, they do tell the story of a young wife left to wait for her husband's safe return. Jeanie was the most important part of my life while I was in Vietnam, and she was always on my mind. As you will see from the letters, she felt the same.
The following excerpts were reproduced faithfully as they were written. The regular font excerpts are from my letters, and the italic font excerpts are from Jeanie's letters:"

25 March 67—Well, I'm really having a swinging Saturday night. I'm lying on an air mattress in my platoon command post (two ponchos fastened together on sticks and tied to the ground) on a hill overlooking a village and rice patties, swatting mosquitoes, using a flashlight, and writing my Gigi a letter. How's that for excitement.... This morning we made an air assault three miles from our previous location. After we landed, the company went in one direction and I took my platoon on another air assault into the mountains. We didn't find any VC, but we found a number of booby traps.... 1st Cav is a great assignment because the air mobility seems to be only a call away.... These are the greatest bunch of guys I have worked with. Each man knows his job and does it.... Tomorrow is Easter. I hope you got the flowers I sent.... Happy Easter ... bunches of love and kisses.

25 March 67—It's so hard to live on memories. Of course, your letters help tremendously; that's what will get me through this year. But they just aren't a sufficient substitute for my Timmy.... I know you are with me in mind and soul, but I sure am partial to having your body around as well.... I love you, sweetheart.

26 March 67—Good morning Baby, I hope the Easter Bunny came to see you. He brought me two Easter eggs. Every morning the battalion tries to bring us coffee and donuts. This morning we had colored hard-boiled eggs.... I am usually in a hurry when I write, so I don't get to really explain everything. This morning we don't leave on a mission until 1030 hours, so I have a little more time. Most mornings we try to start patrolling around 0800 hours and finish up about 1600 hours, if all goes well. We do very little night patrolling. The night before last I took my platoon out just before dark and set-up an ambush. It was an ideal ambush site, but Charlie didn't come by.... This command really makes me feel great. Already the men, most with a lot more experience and age than me, look to me for guidance and leadership. It's really great.... When I am patrolling, the time goes fast, but my thoughts are first with you and second on the safety of my men ... eleven and a half months to go but only five and a half to R&R.... I haven't had a shower in five days now—I should be really ripe in five and one-half months ... getting close to assault time.... Be good, stay sweet and pretty. I love you bunches and bunches.

29 March 67—My morale is really sky high today. This afternoon we walked from the mountains to the valley below, about three thousand meters. The temperature is in the 100s, but when our supplies arrived, I got my first two letters.

11 April 67—Received some of your slides and they are wonderful.... I also picked up pictures made from your slides and will send the pictures of me to you in future letters. Please have more pictures taken of you.... I'm not so sure I want you to stay in the Army.... You can't depend on staying in one place for long and especially when they need people like you in Vietnam.... I just couldn't bear to be apart from you for such a long time again.... A life apart is not living, only existing.... Be careful and love me.

11 April 67—Hi there! This is your cheerful gift girl. (This note was included in a package Jeanie sent)
Instructions:
1. Fold-a-note—so you won't have to use GI postcards anymore (unless you want to, of course)
2. Mailers—sorry, I could only afford five this payday. I'll get you five more next month, okay?
3. Notebook—as ordered
4. The Green Beret—to fill in your idle hours and teach you about what's going on in Vietnam
5. Noxzema—as ordered
6. Plastic cigarette packs—who likes moldy, soggy cigarettes anyway?
7. Five ball points and five grease pencils—as ordered
8. Two Army men—for you to play war with—what else?
9. Water pistol—to protect yourself and is also good for taking showers
10. Darts—also to protect yourself, but also to throw at large nude picture of a Playboy Bunny
11. Various reading material
I Love You

12 April 67—The mailman forgot Charlie Company again yesterday. This afternoon I got nine letters! I love the smell on the letters. It must be your bath powder. I keep all of your letters in a plastic bag in my side pocket. I take them out and smell them from time to time, so I always have the smell of my Gigi with me. I love you bunches.

4 June 67—I never really expected love to be so wonderful, so fulfilling. That word wonderful keeps cropping up, but it applies to us and you so perfectly. Everything is wonderful (except being apart).

6 June 67—When I read the part about your nomination for the Bronze Star, I got all shaky and started to cry.... I'm very proud and happy, especially, now that it's all over with and you're safe.... I don't want you to get any medals. All I want is for you to be safe somewhere. I want you and not a bunch of ribbons and metals.... Just keep your head down, okay?