Curtis Scott Englehorn, Hospital Corpsman Third Class [HM3]

Third Marine Amphibious Force [III MAF], Third Combined Action Group [IIICAG]

Civilian Assistance Program [CAP] 3-5-5,  Da Nang, SouthVietnam,   Oct 1969-Oct 1970

Letters sent to Mr. & Mrs. V.A. Englehorn [parents] Phoenix, Arizona

In flight photo of aircraft on front, promotional/informational message on back reading as follows:

Continental Airlines, under Military Airlift Command contracts, is servicing long range overseas operations with a fleet of powerful, Boeing 707-320C aircraft. These new long-range Fan Jets are familiar sights in Hawaii, the Pacific and in the Far East.

Stopped in Okinawa for three days and now flying to Da Nang. Somewhat unreal to be going off to war aboard a commercial airline with meals, stewardess= etc.

Aloha

Scott

October 21

We arrived in Da Nang yesterday. This morning came out to HQ= s to check in. What I= ve seen so far isn= t too pretty. We= ve made a mess of the place, junk scattered all over, nothing but military trucks & jeeps driving around, dust, bunkers everywhere.

I= m waiting on word about what my job will be. The HQ is an old converted complex of some sort, concrete of Vietnamese style, maybe an old school or monastery.

I= m slightly disoriented as so far the word is no word. No one tells anyone what= s going on. We just sit and wait.

Haven= t really seen anything of the country or it= s people yet. Just military - military - military.

Force Surgeons Office, IIIMAF, FPO San Fran 96602

October 24

I can say now that some of the confusion is gone and that I am more aware of what I will be doing. My arrival in Da Nang was slightly sour. I only saw the outskirts of the city and the military supply and storage areas. As with any city, south of the tracks seldom differs, primarily slums. Our HQ= s here are located in abandoned French garrisons, and are not new as I had expected. The entire city of Da Nang is fortified with barbwire street by street, building by building, with sentry bunkers about every block. I went through the city of Da Nang itself prior to leaving two days ago and found it to be french-oriental style, very crowded, obviously militarily occupied and slightly run down. Damage from the Tet offensive hasn= t been repaired.

The III MAF keeps only about 6 medical people in Da Nang, the rest being assigned to Combined Action Group, which is Combined Action Program, which is Civilian Assistance Program (how about that for titles!). That program, of which I will be a part, is basically an armed peace corps group consisting of marine squads with corpsman who move through the villes treating the local people and teaching the Vietnamese National Guard how to repel the VC.

I will be in the Phu Bai district just north of Da Nang. I= m in Phu Bai now and will be at the base here till November 2^nd. On that date I return to da Nang for two weeks of language/culture school, then back here. This district sees little of the VC who are in the mountains. The situation reminds me of some defenseless Mexican town that labors to the harvest only to have the banditos sweep down out of the mountains and steal the crop.

Rural Vietnam (near Phu Bai) is very similar to rural Mexico or rural Hawaii. Very down to earth with villes of huts with thatched roofs and naked children running around. The area is bordered by the ocean and the mountains, relatively flat, and mostly rice paddies, banana groves, and tropical brush.

To me it is quite beautiful, resembling a cross between Hawaii and Mexico. I= m actually looking forward to getting out in the field and learning about these people, even possibly helping them.

We toured one district in operation today and I= m impressed with the Program as it exists here. Who would ever think that I would even do a peace corps thing while doing my service at the same time.

Aloha

Scott

October 30

Now that I= m more clearly aware of where I am I= ll give you a more specific location. Phu Bai is actually a small local village almost encircled by military bases, one of which is Army Engineers, and at that one our C.A.G.(Combined Action Group) HQ= s is located. Hue= is north of us by maybe 8 miles. There are topog maps of the area and when I am assigned to a particular spot, I= ll try to send you one. Hue= should be on the maps you have and is just north of Da Nang along the coast.

We toured some of the units around Hue= this afternoon. Hue= is a very old and well established city. It is surrounded by water from a large river which was re-channeled into moats. The original citadel is composed of these moats and a 20 to 30 foot stone wall within which are temples and gardens. All this is still intact, even after the Tet of 1968. The North Vietnamese took the city that winter and Marines took it back with heavy casualties primarily because they didn= t use explosives at the request of the South Vietnamese to preserve the historic structures.

French influence is very easily seen in Hue= . Huge french mansions line the river outside the citadel and are complete with shutters on the doors and windows, second story porches and surrounding gardens. These homes are all abandoned now and beginning to look run down.

Catholic influence is seen in a huge cathedral and nuns on bicycles radiating from it. There is a 20 foot statue of Christ standing in a square outside the cathedral, his arms spread out slightly from his sides, palms up, and his head bowed, looking almost shamefully at the ground. A heavy sight in this city where so many have seen war for so long. The old citadel itself indicates a history of war dating back a long, long ways.

As I get a chance to get out into this country I almost wear myself out trying to soak it all up. So many different things to experience. Probably one of the problems the U.S. has had here is the impossibility of comparing the Vietnamese culture to western culture. It= s really hard to find many comparisons. Even the french influence is distinctly french and wasn= t really absorbed so much as it was tolerated. I= m not so sure that our influence is even being tolerated. We= ve judged on our standards.

Great expanses of rice all cultivated by hand aided by water bison. Market places where people bring vegetables, cloth, etc. in baskets to sell to each other. Bicycle powered rickshaws and three wheeled motorcycle buses. Dogs everywhere, and ducks, chickens, children, and more children.

Headed back to Da Nang tomorrow night for two weeks. If I have any mail from the mainland it is probably being held there.

Aloha

Scott

November 3

Started school today. Classes in language, culture, political structure, and counter intelligence. This for two weeks. Looks like then I= ll go back up to Hue= to stay for no more than 10 months. It= s anyone= s guess as to how long this program will continue to operate. Vietnam is prepared for de-escalation as far as the Navy and Marines are concerned. If the word comes out it would only take a month for the Marine Corps to pull out completely. Nixon holds the power.

Spent a few hours on reading mail. They held it for me here to prevent it from arriving in Phu Bai and me arriving here at the same time. I= ll give you a more specific address in a week or so. That prevents delay in sorting when going up to Phu Bai.

The school is on the beach and I can see beautiful waves rolling in right now (sun is setting behind clouds and I= m outside). Rains every day or night but from clouds moving across the sky so there is sunshine about half the day. Temperature about 85E and super humid. No problem for me, sweat a lot but that keeps the pores clean and I feel real healthy in this climate.

Aloha

Scott

November 8

2 way through school as of this weekend. Classes have been informative and taught some good concepts for getting along with the locals.

Interesting to talk to guys who are over here. Some have been in Vietnam for three years. Some are real screwed up in their outlooks on life, others are just the opposite. Generally the guys here for 1 year tours fall right into a click-like pattern handed down from group to group as they rotate out. Special new slang expressions, ways to wear the uniforms etc. The U.S. culture we are exposing the Vietnamese to sure isn= t representative of the U.S. as it really is.

Close to a month already gone, getting short.

Scott

November 10th

As far as Christmas goes this year I would suggest that no gifts be sent my way. I won= t have any real permanent place to keep anything and will have to keep my belongings at a minimum as my home is my pack and I carry it on my back. There is of course the possibility that I will be able to establish a permanent clinic in some small building in one of the Ville= s. If I do that and need anything I'll let you know. Positive thoughts sent my way would be the best gift I could ever receive here anyway!

Something I do need and haven= t been able to find. The long wallet or business wallet that fits in the coat pocket. It would suit me very well. Would hold a few cards & papers, paper money, etc. Some have note pads also. Another item you might be able to find for me would be undershirts, about 2 in number, maybe dad= s size (38-42 or so). The problem here being that they must be green, just about any shade of that color will do. Don= t worry about the shirts too much as I can easily get by still it gets just cool enough at night to use something like that.

Aloha

Scott

November 16

Returned to Phu Bai today. The school was very informative and I believe I got a lot out of it. I= m going out to the area within which I= ll be working tomorrow. I= ll be about 3 to 5 miles south of Phu Bai. Will let you know about that when I find out more myself.

Beautiful weather through the last week. Lots of sunshine with brilliant sunrises and sunsets. Went swimming in the South China Sea. The water is even warmer than that of Hawaii. Also looked like it could be surfed on certain days.

The address I used this time will speed up mail by coming directly out to me rather than being forwarded. Hope you are enjoying the fall Phoenix type weather.

Aloha

Scott

Did my package of clothes ever arrive there?

No Date

I= m trying to get a topog map so you can see exactly where I am. Right now I= m living in a compound of underground bunkers on a hill in the village of Phu Loc. This is about 27 miles south of Hue= . To the east is a huge bay at least as big as San Francisco Bay. To the west a large valley stretching into the mountain foothills. In the morning before sunrise you can see lantern lights from fishing boats out on the bay.

Next week we will go mobile and start touring the villages just north of here. We will work in an area about 7000 meters square. Lots of villages with lots of people. I= ll be sharing a clinic with another corpsman so medically I= ll be set up well. Lots of coughs here as everyone smokes from age 6 to 70. Mostly ugly little cigars probably made from water bull shit, at least they smell like that as they burn. Their lungs are somewhat stuffed up to be sure. The buda religious doctors (witch doctors) prescribe chicken shit as a medicine for cuts & burns. After a week or so they see it won= t work so they come to us. By that time the infection is well set in.

Football is about over and I see that Notre Dame is to play a bowl game this year. It= s about time! I= ll take UCLA for the Rose Bowl. ASU maybe in a bowl too.

Phoenix Suns seem to have a good club going for them. Have you gone to any games? Just realized that the stock show is only two months away. What= s planned for the show this year? I see this letter is turning into a question session. Sorry.

Hope you are well, and ready for thanksgiving. The holiday season really gets going soon and winter visitors to add to the confusion. Should keep you busy. I= m checking to see what the locals do for the holiday season. There are so many different religions that there is always some group doing something special about every other day.

Well, write more later. I= m alive and well in Phu Loc and wishing you the same in The World!

Aloha

Scott

November 28

We are now what is considered to be mobile. Two nights ago we slept in a combination chicken/hog barn attached to a house. The hogs wallowed and the chickens chicked. Last two nights spent in a Buddhist Pagoda. Medically mostly coughs and minor infections. The Marines have the usual bad feet and minor colds.

Weather wise its been raining for about a week, day and night. Everything stays damp most of the time.

Food, mostly c-rations, comes out daily, along with mail, on a truck we call the Pony Express. In fact, at times this seems to be re-living the old west. About 1/3 the Marines wear revolvers, bush hats that resemble the old Indian fighters, and moustaches out of the old west. We have VC turncoats called Kit Carson Scouts used in the same way. A whole area south of here is called the Arizona Territory.

Received one letter via the new address, other mail is probably in Da Nang. I= m now located in the village N.E. of Truoi Bridge on the map I hope you have received.

Doc Holiday

December 3

The gift box arrived yesterday. I opened it as I guess I= ve always opened Christmas gifts, super slow! This approach makes the inside even more beta. Tangerines from the old backyard tree, pecans, dried fruit, nuts, wow, all the things I really like but have done without. Thanks! The wallet is exact so also thanks.

This country sort of grows on a person. A very pleasant place. Without war and a little private investment scattered around this spot would be a pleasant place to visit or even live. The people are very different but happy even in these trying circumstances.

Hope you are having a nice fall, one hangup here is the monsoon, rain constantly, resembles the Oregon winter but warmer; Oregon rain with Hawaii temperature.

Hey fluorescent wood! Glows at night, very brightly, like running lights along the trails. Huge butterflies and moths, much insects.

I= ll give you an exact location for you. Find 797 on the bottom and go up to 1805. Those markings (II) are Buda temples & we are staying in these as we move every two or three days. I= ve been taking baths in the river every couple of days, rain or not, as the water is about 75 E . Even wash clothes there. Usually sleep on the dirt or sandstone floor. Good for the posture.

I= m getting along well with these guys. They are straight over here from boot camp & infantry training and aren= t petty at all. Each has a job & each completes the job without any hassle. More like a sports team, and functional. The local militia doesn= t seem to be interested, just as our National Guard, A weekend warriors,@ so training them is difficult. Medically also problems as a lot of the people just want pills to either sell or plain swallow. The ones who really need help are beyond my reach as they are too serious to assist out of a field med bag.

Aloha to you!

Scott

December 14, 1969

Tui Tan, Vietnam

Wishing you all at Western Farm Management the best this Christmas. I hope you and your families have a successful year in 1970!

Again, Merry Christmas to you all!

Scott Englehorn

December 18, 1969

It is still raining and I suppose it will keep doing so for another month and a half. I= m used to the mud now so things aren= t so bad from that view point. We are on a steady program and the days go by almost unnoticed. No real break in any particular day so its just a smooth flowing setup day running into day. That will make the time go by quickly.

Football is just about all over. Basketball now takes control. I noticed that the suns are doing well this season. No news on the Roadrunners out this way. The San Francisco paper is coming through now so I= ll be able to keep up on the news. Life/Time, Newsweek/etc. here are the Asian issues from Japan and are slightly different from stateside publications; not censored by any means, just some articles deleted. The Sunday Examiner gives a fill-in for those areas not covered by the Asian magazines.

They uncovered a huge supply of stored rice just across the river, up to 4 tons, along with medical supplies and stolen fighting gear all meant for the VC or even NVA. A very large store that they must have been counting on for Tet. Loss of those supplies will set back any plans for the enemy for a while. Our constant activity with the local friendlies often results in information leading to discoveries like these.

Now that the critics are looking back over the past five years it is becoming clear that a commitment like Goldwater suggested would have achieved a military victory for us here maybe as early as two years ago. Johnson= s slow escalation allowed the enemy time to match it and prevented any gains for our effort. Hope the politicians can learn from their mistakes and avoid another situation like this one. Even Russia can provide arms and advisors, as in the Arab/Jew thing, to a cause that was beaten and loose no face in doing so.

So much for world politics.

Aloha

Scott

December 22

The second of two clear sunshine days. The first in 3 weeks. Went swimming both days. The river is runoff from rain in the mountains just 5 miles away. This area is really beautiful in the sun. Bamboo grows to 30 feet, bananas 25 feet, fantana as in the islands, here too.

The trails dry out almost in 24 hours. Good drainage through sandy soils. The old man who lives where we are now has been to France, speaks french, and is super interesting. His clothes are old traditional Vietnamese rather than the usual Americanized way of dressing.

Oakland just beat Houston in a game on the radio. Very little Christmas music on the radio. I think that= s good as most of the guys think too much about home this time of year anyway. 18 years old first Christmas away and away in a war zone is a heavy experience. Sometimes more of a psychologist than a corpsman. These guys would have been students of mine had I been teaching for the last 3 years.

I= m not too separated from them though, in thoughts of home, as I= m thinking now.

Aloha

Scott

Christmas Night

I spent the day at Truoi Bridge compound. They had a USO show with two South Korean bands complete with go-go girls. Relaxed and really enjoyed myself. Kind of a different Christmas.

Thanks for lighting the Christmas candle for me last night. The flame was showing through. If there were prayers, they were answered. I certainly picked up heavy positive vibrations.

Many thanks!

We all seemed to be feeling the spirit of Christmas here. No commercial contamination. Just feelings of home, loved ones, and a desire for peace. I want that for everyone. War just doesn= t make the grade.

Well, bye for now, writing soon on bigger paper.

Aloha

Scott

December 28

By the way, I received the box with the shirts some time ago. First time I wore one I got soaked to the skin in rain and discovered later that I was Marine Green all the way through the first layer of skin. That= s what I call a heavy dye job. They have been washed clear of loose green via the river. Good fit and are very comfortable. Thanks!

Would you drop by the Valley National at 1st and Willetta and see if they received my check for December. I mailed it to them but got no receipt. Changed address so maybe the receipt was sent to Da Nang and got lost. I am getting mail in small groups of letters. Comes through in about 6 days. May have a letter or two floating around Vietnam somewhere. Think I= ll send January= s check to you if you can drop it by the bank. They send me envelopes but as above I don= t have one for this month.

Bowl games coming up. Big Pro games too. Ball games come through about 1:00 or 2:00 am. Might just take in a game this week. The San Francisco paper is great and gets here regularly. Keeps me up on what= s going on in The World, sport wise and other wise.

Dad, no present could be more appreciated than those thoughts you have sent my way. It= s a great warm feeling to know that my father is proud of me.

Barry Goldwater is A telling it like it is,@ too bad so few listen to him. He was right about Asia when he was a presidential candidate. I think that he may be right again. The commanding general of III Corps predicts war of this type for Asia for from 50 to 100 more years. We won= t be involved for that long but maybe we should exit with as much face as possible. Still call this the confused war; and how can someone place a human life value standard on A face@ anyway?

Aloha

Scott

January 6, 1970

We moved back into one of the day pauses we had used before Christmas. I looked into the living room of the people living there and saw the red paper Christmas bell hanging inside. One that you had sent. They are Buddhist and are enjoying it as they would a paper lantern.

Last of the monsoons starting now but warmed up compared to the December rains. Soon to be sunny again. Things dried out a lot over the break in the rain and the river dropped about three feet. They even started to irrigate the rice paddies. A two peddle job can grab up a good size head. Portable and carried by two men (or women) from spot to spot. They planted a hell of a lot of rice in two weeks time. By hand after conditioning the paddies with plow, drag and water bull. How about one of these to irrigate the lawn, what a work out!

Can= t see it, yet when limited to 4 or 5 acres I guess economical. Some of the progressive farmers co-op and buy those gas rototillers which can work a lot of acres. One of those Sears green-thumb, walk-behind type tillers.

Aloha

Scott

January 12, 1970

I= m going to take you up on the banking set up. I= ll just mail the checks to you. Enclosing the passbook in this letter.

Listened to the Super Bowl starting at 4 am this morning. Live broadcast and quite a game.

Why don= t you check the astrology for me for March/April. Interested in what might be in store around March 15 to April 15.

I= ve been carrying the key on my belt. Now I= ll send it your way. This one is from one of the temples we=ve stayed in. I think it opens a huge hand crafted chest, very old indeed.

Weather cleared again today, hope for lots of sun for a few days. Like to dry out as its been raining lots lately.

All for now.

Aloha

Scott

January 20

I received the box of goodies today along with several letters. Great! We received some oranges too. A little bit of sunshine broke through from The World. Thanks! I= m drinking tea as I scratch off this note.

Some of the villagers are building a house and temple down the trail. No nails used. The walls are hand mixed sand mix blocks. The support beams hand hewn, cut & fit together by hand with hand made saws & awls. Wood pegs driven in to insure tight fits.

Now in the last phase of monsoons with rain during the day, fog at night, cold as hell. Should break up soon.

Isn=t a challenge that which keeps us competing in life. New challenges, new accomplishments, productive living.

Aloha

Scott

January 22, 1970

Here comes the sun! All day today. Warm for the first time in a couple of weeks. Hung out all my gear for drying. Some bugs jumped out here and there. Went to the river for a swim taking some kids with me. Some are finally using the soap instead of selling it.

Moon is so bright at night that you can see colors. That= s bright.

Three months now and decided to request R&R as soon as I was eligible just in case I left early on some withdrawal. Asked for Singapore but got my second choice instead. Hong Kong= s where I= m going. Wanted to visit Squire Jones via Singapore. Have written to him so he knows I was close but couldn= t quite make it.

I start on the 13^th of February & get to Hong Kong the 15^th. Stay seven days and return here. Really looking forward to this trip. Hong Kong is a spot I have always wanted to visit. Will close for know, hope your trip to the stock show was a good one.

Aloha

Scott

No Date

Two weeks of sunny days. The population seems to have increased as there are more people around now. Maybe our being here has encouraged their return, maybe spring is the reason. The trails have all been worked on, cleaned up, resurfaced with sand and packed down. Rice is really looking good. Each garden has been hand tilled and most give the appearance of a Japanese garden (South Mt Jap farms a good comparable). Very beautiful and seemingly productive.

New Years, i.e. Tet, is the big holiday for these people. New clothes, lots of decorations, Buda meetings, village meetings and parties. Starts now and lasts till the middle of February.

They opened a school in the ville. A country type separate from the government school at Truoi. All ages of children. The teacher is a young girl, maybe 18 to 20 years old. Another indication that the ville is more secure as young women used to stay in Hue= .

Got maybe 15 to 20 kids using the river to wash. Sure clears up the jungle rot on them. The sun seems to help clear it up too.

Almost 2 weeks till my trip to Hong Kong. Should really be an experience. City of international flavor from what I hear.

Denver sounded like a good trip for you. Also sounds like a personal decision as to WFM is up & coming so good luck! Best to the family.

Aloha

Scott

January 29

Went on an operation back to the foothills yesterday. Used an Army tracker team with a dog as we were looking for storage pits for stolen rice. The mountains further on back were beautiful. Jungle type with vines and huge leaved trees.

Lots of birds, slightly familiar, doves, egrets, killdeers. Insects of many unusual types. Moths, & butterflies the size of hummingbirds. Beetles like the rhinoceros beetles around Payson.

Cooled off in the river as it was HOT. One hell of a nature hike to be sure. Didn= t find any rice storage so we returned in the early evening.

Aloha

Scott

February 3, 1970

The bush cover I sent is just as I wear each day. My whole uniform is cami like that. Hope it comes through OK. Also sent some pictures of me. Hope they make it without sticking together.

Vietnamese New Year is really a big deal. Everyone gets new duds and takes baths and eats a lot. Yesterday the PF= s gave a big feast for themselves & we were invited. Ate all kinds of strange food, all good. I think I did eat every part of a pig, and I mean every part.

Two small boys (Tei Tei and Pig Pen) have been A house boys@ for us for about a month. They make coffee, cook c-rats & a-rats (eggs, bacon, etc.) for us and clean up the temples where we stay. We each gave them $5.00 payday and they showed up with new clothes and smiles today. They totaled out about $30 each which is a lot, but black market prices have driven clothes prices up, so really not much considering that a pair of pants costs about $5.00.

I=ve been making a few house calls on children too sick to come to me. Have had success with almost all of my patients. Attended two auto accidents splinting compound fractures and stopping (Candle is short and caught the corner of this letter on fire) bleeding. Army helos are on call 24 hours a day and I have the authority to call them in on my decision. I= ve used them about 6 or 8 times to evacuate patients to Army hospitals. Don= t need to treat so many skin infections as the kids are beginning to wash more often. Still the peoples confidence in me has built up so more difficult cases are cropping up. Diagnosis is difficult as the language barrier poses a problem. Still giving it the old Navy try in any case. Thank God for penicillin!

Moved over to a school house in Que Chu for the New Year as the people need to use the temples. Staying in a school house. Pig Pen lives next to the school. He has grown about 2 inches and has finally taken a bath. Looks different but still salutes me every time I see him. The people here know I won= t just hand out pills to them now so maybe I= ll be able to set up sort of a clinic in a couple of months. Talked to my boss from Da Nang last week and he said I= d get supplies for such a project if I asked and I will do just that when I and the people are ready for it. Want to break them of the A give me@ habit first.

Aloha

Scott

Hotel Merlin (H.K.) Ltd., 2 Hankow Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, hotel stationery

February 16, 1970

Here=s some things for each of you from China via Hong Kong. Really had a great time shopping for them, even did some haggling, though damn little as I= m just to easy to bargain with.

Since I was in sort of a family frame-of-mind my gifts will reflect that feeling. Each is individual, yet all the same; sort of like a family should be.

Mother, that single piece is for you, it is over 100 years old. It= s hard to tell what it was originally meant to be. Should be fun, right?

The necklace is for you Joy. Hope you like it. I bet it will look great on You!

How about the three horses. They were carved as a set. Like father, like sons. Dad, for you! Con, that one is yours. And one is mine.

Best wishes to you all! And peace!

Scott

Hotel Merlin (H.K.) Ltd., 2 Hankow Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, hotel stationery

February 19, 1970

Too much of a surprise I guess and too much to say. I even sort of caught myself short when I heard you and didn=t say all I wanted to. You sounded great! I am having a good time. Sent some things home. Hope they came through O.K. One package will go to Bryce at the office; the coat won= t fit him so grab it from him before he has it re-tailored. Its for me but Dad can sure wear it till I= m back. Couldn=t get raw silk as I= d need an import license to get it to the U.S. If it= s in the form of clothes it=s O.K. I had some clothes made which will be sent home at a future date. I sent some gifts which should arrive soon. Sort of lied on the customs declaration as to value and origin. As a U.S. service man I have a gift exemption but it has a value ceiling which I exceeded. The origin says no goods from Red China. Afraid I fudged there too. Exceeded gifts/person which explains the package sent to Bryce. I= ll tell you all about Hong Kong in the near future. Still seeing it and spinning a little in the process as there is more to see, hear, and just experience, more than would fit in a letter! Those clothes are the first fully tailored I= ve had.

Aloha

Scott

February 21

Back in Da Nang this evening and back to the Ville Sunday or Monday. Sent some things I used on R&R and didn=t want to store or throw away. The fire engine is for Mat for his birthday. Got it in Hong Kong last night and brought it this far in my baggage. The suits will take about 4 to 5 weeks as they come by surface. Also mailed $160 for you to deposit please. Later on I= ll send field glasses I bought. Aren=t available in the U.S. as are Japanese and couldn=t send them direct so I mailed them to myself here. Nothing special but good for birds etc. which will be what I need when I return. Might even use them here for a while.

Checked with the brass at the home office (Da Nang) to see about withdrawal rumors. All I can say is that when the 1st marine Division leaves Nam I should be going too. The only Marines left are the 1^st Mar.Div., an Air Wing, and the C.A.G. (Me). The Army assumes command of activities in Nam on march 9^th. The Navy will turn all its supply responsibilities over to the Army by June. Join me in my optimistic mood and hope for a trip back to The World before June! I= ll either leave with C.A.G. just before the 1^st Mar.Div. or be transferred to the 1^st Mar.Div. and leave with them. Nixon= s next move should tell the tale.

A little about Hong Kong. Got up the 1st morning before the sun. Rode the 1st ferry to Hong Kong Island and the 1st tram to the peak of Mt. Victoria. 3 hawks and I watched the sun rise over Hong Kong Harbor that morning. I saw all of the island on my own by foot and bus. Ate Chinese food ordered via sign language in hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Visited the most impressive fish market I= ll ever hope to see. Ate at the famous Aberdeen floating restaurant. Toured the mainland deeded to Britain and saw the Chinese border. Toured the outer island group leased to Britain seeing one of the newest Buda temples (not yet complete). Even ate a steak at the San Francisco Steak House; just like steak in San Francisco. Last night I watched the sun set in brilliant orange-gold over the Hong Kong Harbor and ended my week in a great eastern world city. A fine R&R, a great vacation. Now to wait for the Freedom Bird home. Hope time goes by as fast as it has for the 1st five months.

Aloha

Scott

February 24

I= m trying to shout A Aloha@ half way around the world. Can you hear me?

Back in the Ville. Sunny & hot, looks dry so finally the end of the rain. Citrus trees are blooming and the air is heavy with the sweet scents. Rice about knee high. Bananas getting ripe.

Going to enjoy the sun! The moon too. Its so bright you can see colors; that= s awful bright.

Wish I could have spent another week in Hong Kong. I suppose one would never see everything but another few days would have been nice. Well maybe return when I= m an international executive.

Hope to get home soon, till then, more notes, good thoughts, and......

Aloha

February 28th

It was a different sort of cake and a funny place to celebrate and Buda was celebrating today so I shared his party with mine. I saved the candles and I= ll light them on March 9^th. Thanks!

I= m pulling for you, and whatever is decided during these changes will work out to the good I= m sure. I= ve got confidence in the future for you and for me too. Sounds like some rough changes taking hold yet you shouldn= t have too much trouble making it through.

Thanks for the Birthday. OUCH! 27 years.......approaching middle age with grace. No generation gap though, I guess somewhere in-between is my bag.

Aloha

Scott

COMBINED ACTION GROUP LOGO - 3D COMBINED ACTION GROUP stationery

March 6th

Pig Pen is over by the well, he gets water but not for washing. Good old Pig Pen hangs in there as dirty as ever. I= m back in the old groove here as far as work goes but things differ as the dry season approaches. New crop of butterflies, green, blue, black, red necked lizards, bamboo colored snakes, and huge bullfrogs.

I was afraid of breakage on that package, hope its repairable. Sure came through fast. The suits should take a month or so.

Looks closer every week. No more R&R for our unit after may 1^st, rumors of cancelling R&R for April. The 1^st Mar.Div. may go real soon, us with it I hope. You know you get news on numbers and units before we do. Keep pulling and I=ll push from here.

Aloha

Scott

March 8th

Overcast and foggy this week. Warm though, and more insects than I= ve seen anywhere. Huge beatle-like night glowing, flying type. White light that blinks, about like a pen-light.

Cut out most all med-caps now as I can= t carry enough medical supplies to make it worthwhile. The new CO has cut back on gear for everyone in the program. We are A mobile@ and must be able to carry everything on our backs. Apparently we are supposed to be able to just get up and move out at a moments notice. I= m ready to go! Carrying one change of clothes, shaving kit and a few pills.

We are to be included in the next withdrawal. No date yet, but before June and probably in April or May. A few people will stay but I think I=ve got enough time here to be able to catch the plane, boat or sampan home. Supposed to get the word by April 15^th.

Would it ever be great to have the summer back in The World. Out of the service! High hopes, but after three and a half years I can dream. This has probably been the most restricted time of my life. All important decisions made by someone else and I with no choice in the matter. Many lessons learned by me and lots of good times yet a heavy price payed for those lessons & times. I= ll always be confused as to the whole thing, the positive and the negative of it all so I think I= ll just have to chalk it up to experience & head on out to bigger and better things.

In a way it=s all over but the waiting (in the service you know waiting could be a long spell) and I have the feeling called Agetting short.@ If I was careful before, then I=m twice as careful now. And that=s damn careful!

Tomorrow I=m 27 and today that sounds old. Tomorrow I bet 28 sounds old instead. Thinking about home, family, & friends a lot and hope you are doing well.

Hoping to see you in a few months.

Scott

[peace sign drawn in lower corner]

March 14th

Yes I=m still here. Waiting as is everyone else. Nobody knows anything but everybody is packed & ready to go. Just sort of standing by. Hope to have positive dates within two weeks.

I=m now under the 1^st Med Battalion which is Naval Medical Support for 1^st Marine Division. I=m T.A.D. (Temporary Assigned Duty) to the C.A.G. program. That just means that I have a new C.O. who is 1^st Mar. Div. Force Surgeon, my job is still same-same at the same spot. This does indicate that C.A.G. will be redeployed, probably deactivated, within a few months. Now that I= m actually part of the 1^st Mar. Div. I= ll either be deactivated with the C.A.G., transferred to California with the 1^st Mar.Div. or Okinawa bound with others with less than nine months in-country. Hopefully the deactivitation & discharge route! I= ve only got nine months left of a 4 year tour, which is short so they should let me out. I= ll raise a little hell if they don= t.

Sure that all is going a little smoother with you all. Business is at a difficult point in expansion and will probably require close administration. With a solid base and a great responsible reputation, along with the capabilities for flex, all should turn out for the best. I= m pulling with you, whichever way you go.

Nothing else for now. Hope to see you soon!

Aloha

Scott

March 23, 1970

It= s a rainy day, just like yesterday, and it reminds me of those long days during the rainy season two months ago. Waiting for the sun!

Was reading Rod McKuen poems to pass the time. He is a favorite poet, talks like beach people. Several of his works were recorded with a music background. You might like to listen to A The Sea,@ from a series: the Sea, the Sky, the Earth. It= s really good. On tape too.

I= ve been thinking too much about coming back to The World yet can= t help doing it. Without knowing when I= ll get back yet expecting it to be anytime spurs thoughts like that. Time is on my side as whenever is still earlier than the full tour.

I= ll make one more paycheck, maybe two, both will be spent on stereo equipment. The PX in Phu Bai carries order forms for Japanese Exchange items so I can purchase equipment at rock bottom and have them mailed to a home location. We are rationed as to how many items we can get and limited to money paid payday but I= ll still be able to get the sound system I want. Shipping takes two months so I should arrive about the same time the equipment does.

I was recommended for advancement but would have to extend to pick it up. Doing that would jeopardize my chance to separate when leaving Nam. I once said I= d never extend, for any reason. Still feel that way and certain vibes tend to reinforce my feeling. Couldn= t sign a contract that wasn= t satisfactory and no extension is satisfactory. One I will sign, and that= s the separation contract with no strings or loops attached.

With the postal strike to jam delivery this letter should take about a year to get to you. But wait! The National Guard is awake. Maybe they will lend a hand.

Aloha

Scott

March 26th

I= m alive and well in the RVN! It= s still wet but should break up soon.

Things are beginning to change. April 1^st they are to start pulling out A short timer@ Marines and consolidating C.A.P.= s. Marines with nine months will be able to go home. Navy Corpsman will have to stay as we aren= t getting cuts from the Bureau. Still the C.A.G.= s will be so low on men by April 15^th that they may pull the whole unit. Then who knows as far as I= m concerned. Eventually they will have excess corpsman and some will get cuts (I hope) others transfers. I= m going to find out by the 15^th or soon thereabouts.

I= m short what-ever and won= t see June over here. Hope to make it all the way to Treasure Island and OUT.

Hang on and think positive! Did my $160 come through? Income tax? Next week I= m ordering a tape deck. Takes about two months. Will be delivered in the U.S.A.

Peace, Aloha

Scott

April 2nd

Thunder showers! Complete with lightning. A first spring rain, represents the change to summer. Hot sunny days mostly but now a shower or two.

No doubt about leaving but no certainty on when. We all seem to go from day to day sort of expecting it to be one of the last. Waiting is rough. Nixon should announce another withdrawal and it should finish off the Marine element. As medical staff I= ll probably be the last to go but still just going will make me happy.

I= m going to order a tape deck this weekend. Next payday an AM/FM tuner and speakers. All I > ll need is a turntable which I= ll get either here or somewhere on the way back.

6 months and over the hump, all down hill now.

Aloha

Scott

Army Force Logistic Command Logo stationery

April 3rd

I= m in Phu Bai for a weekend of R&R and thought I= d drop you a note. Ordered the tape deck and should receive it at home in about 3 months. I= ll get more equipment next payday, May 1^st.

The Chief here insures me that I= ll probably be one of the last to leave since the Navy still allows no early Viet cuts for corpsman. The average tour for Marines now is 9 months. One more cut, probably April 15^th will leave C.A.G. so short of men that I doubt if the Big Shots can keep it going. It looks like the A lifers@ are hanging on to what little they have left over here as tightly as they can. With no replacements on the way there will be a limit beyond which they can= t go and the unit will be inoperable at that point. The next few weeks will tell.

Thank you for the tea! Really appreciate it, it keeps me going. Will be letting you know of any developments. Can= t let myself get too excited as previous experience tells me that the service can drag things out for long periods of time.

Scott

April 7th

Enemy activities picked up this week as you probably know. Little or no damage done. U.S. casualties up, primally needless ones due to inexperience. Enemy casualties very heavy showing that they are only exposing themselves to heavy loss with no gains. Supposed to be widespread propaganda moves, to what end I don= t know as it hurts them more than us.

Finally a step in the right direction for medical people. A possible cut for people due to leave here in June - July - August. They will leave probably prior to mid May. The next cut will include me and be affective in June. Rumors, rumors, but hope! I just keep hanging on.

Things in the ville remain quiet. Rice is just about ready to harvest. Will be interesting to watch as all will be done by hand and it will take just about everyone in the ville to get the job done. Will watch and later describe the activities to you. Check you later.

Aloha

Scott

April 10th

Good to hear that things have begun to smooth out as far as the business is concerned. You will probably come out of it all well ahead of the game.

Would appreciate you unpacking the suits and hanging them for me. As you reported, everything is there except shoes, one pair, maybe coming later.

Boy, I= ll tell you this waiting is driving us all mad! Two months of on-again, off-again is too much Bull Shit. Now it seems we wait for Nixon= s announcement sometime near the 15^th. Increased activity by the NVA/VC spurs rumors of slowing the withdrawal. We are at the point now where the South Viets have to take over the bulk of the fighting. If we halt the withdrawal and keep carrying the load they will never assume it themselves. We are also at a critical point with the withdrawal as far as those left over here are concerned. Further decreases sort of leave those here naked. If real pressure by the enemy was exerted there wouldn= t be enough support. In other words, from now on it should be all ground troops at once to prevent those left from being cut short of support should trouble develop. Sure wish they would get their ass in gear.

I=ve decided if I= m still here in June I=ll put in for special leave. Same as R&R but the time is subtracted from leave balance. Maybe Thailand, Japan, even Australia, don= t know yet. Expo 70 is in Japan and might be worth seeing. Actually, any place out of here would be enough.

Will keep you posted on what= s happening. Other than the waiting all is well here so keep up the positive vibes.

Aloha

Scott

April 18th

Some good news to send your way. Corpsman who will rotate out of Nam prior to January of 71, which is me, with less than 365 days left of active duty, which is me, will be separated from the USMC and USN upon returning to the U.S.A. When I get out of here I= ll get out period! Things are on the upswing. Now if Nixon will announce another withdrawal I= ll probably get to return to The World by this summer.

Followed the moon shot here with live coverage. Real achievement getting them back.

Aloha

Scott

April 26th

All day yesterday a rainbow ring around the sun. Hot and dry and rice, rice, rice. Cut by hand stalk by stalk. All kinds of vegetables now, a four month harvest.

Enemy activity back down now. A flare up showed how weak they are. Unable to sustain any kind of offensive. Nixon did OK and it looks like 12000 a month, each month for a while. Where I fit in I don= t know. Looks like they are trying to keep the C.A.P. program as long as possible. I= ll just keep hanging on. The further withdrawal will put a lot of pressure on the Marines to get out soon. They plan to leave a regiment here for some time but I= m too short to be part of it. A few corpsman who got in country after January 1^st will be transferred to that unit when they form it up.

I= m listening to the Tabernacle organ and service from Salt Lake. Try to catch it on each Sunday morning. Lifts the spirit.

Aloha

Scott

May 5th

Nixon seems to be trying to combine a withdrawal with a victory. From here there is full support. All indications point to a critical weak state of NVA/VC manpower and supply. Operation Total Victory may will bring the NVA to the conference tables talking peace. So far the sweep is fully successful and we think it may even allow for a faster and safer withdrawal than is now in affect.

Third C.A.G., my unit, is phasing out by dropping C.A.P= s a few at a time. The end is near but not yet in sight. Looks now like I= ll be here to the end of a regular tour. All Army and Marines are leaving a month and a half early, Navy about 3 months early; corpsman still pulling full tours. Consistent with my career up to now. My only break is getting out when I leave here. That is good news. And of good news......Happy Mother= s Day!

Aloha

Scott

No date

The package arrived at a perfect time. What I needed for rolled oats, raisins! Been eating oatmeal (caned rolled oats) for about two weeks. I think I have intestinal parasites. Gotten used to them now and if I feed them the right foods they don= t wrestle too much. On my way home I= ll stop at some medical shop and get de-wormed. They say 80% of us get worms here so I don= t feel alone.

Dropping bombs in Laos again today. Can hear them rumble. Wouldn= t be surprised if they release to the press information on raids by ARVN= s/101st Airborne into Laos. Been working the boarder now for a week with success. Talked to some GI= s just back from the mountains who were along.

Requesting another R&R for early July. Maybe to Bangkok. Then home in October, unless I get lucky and get out before that. Looks doubtful now. Still in full support of Nixon even so!

Aloha

Scott

May 12th

A chicken was standing on my knee looking at me as I woke up. Wonder what was on its mind? Breakfast I suppose. The sun is coming up lavender, blue, pink and orange. Looks like another sunny day. I= ll be going to the river several times for swimming and thinking.

The A beekeeper@ reminded me of days gone by and stings gone by. Enjoyed those bees and learned a lot from them.

Things develop slowly here. The Marine units are to be discontinued but will be kept longer now as we are the only security in the Upper I Corps. Should the NVA try to come over the DMZ or cross over from Laos we would have to contain them. I doubt if they will, should have tried by now but haven= t. Nixon= s move has set them back and they are now as weak around the Mekong as they have been up here. They really don= t have enough men or supplies to do much.

Some say we should be out of this area in about 60 days. As you know, that must be rumor, but possible. They are pulling back to Da Nang a few units at a time and sending people home, a few each month. Holding true to form, my unit is rumored to be the last to be pulled back to HQ in Da Nang. If the Cambodian operation is successful, as it appears to be, things may be speeded up. Hope so! Would like to get back by the end of summer.

My time is taken up quickly and weeks pass by as though they were days. I don= t count days and it makes time fly by. Have been thinking that the GI Bill is too good to pass up. Especially with unemployment up and the economy so shaky. Still last week on the campus must have been bad. Foolish, killing to protest killing, bombing innocent people to protest the killing of civilians in Nam. Sure can= t go for that! Not now after seeing such here. Thought college life was supposed to accomplish just the opposite. Achievement of peace through peaceful means.

Aloha

Scott

6:00 AM

May 29th

Made friends with a local dog, who dropped by to wake me by gently lowering his teeth around my ankle. He will play that way with me but won= t come near anyone else.

Sunsets are very beautiful with lots of greens and oranges. Sunrises also very pretty. Dark around 8:30, light by 5:30. Stars are brilliant and the moon so bright you can see colors at night.

Time is flying by in divisions of weeks and suddenly its summer. Only four months to go, or less, but no more.

Took a long day activity out to the foothills yesterday. Rice growing out there in fields that could be 300 years old or older irrigated by mountain streams. Snake season and I saw 4 or 5 over 6 feet long. Lizards with red heads. Beetles that are as big as the ones around Payson.

Sorry my letters come sounding the same each time. Yet that= s about the way things go over here. Each day is so like the one before that it= s hard to tell what I did yesterday or last Monday. Not that it= s a drag just that time seems unimportant as a day to day thing. The Vietnamese have been going on like this for hundreds of years and I sort of caught the fever.

Coming out of my 4 year cycle soon. The last few years have gone in cycles like that; 4 years high school; 5 years college; 4 years Navy. Now may there be continuous smooth sailing for a while. I think I= ve earned that at least. Should have nothing but good positive activities in the future.

Hope the business is straightening out and that both Dad & Con come out of the scramble holding at least a few of the marbles. I really missed out on that shake up. If I= d not been in the service I= d probably been in on that instead. The year for me here and you there and Con & Joy has been difficult.

Happened to us all at the same time. Weird that it would happen like that. We may come out of the shadows at the same time. If we do we should get together for a big party. How about it!

The truck is here with the c-rats & other caned goodies so I= ll close this letter and go over to fight for my meager share.

See you all soon!

Aloha

Scott

No date

Sitting on the R/R tracks watching the sunset. Beautiful & even peaceful. Saw in print what I had already guessed; withdrawals delayed for two months. Allowance for the Cambodian push. After June 30^th some changes sure to take affect. Even so I= ve got about 118 days left so the word is......SHORT!

So Con= s to be the new loan man. Good that some progress is being made in that direction. Know he doesn= t like sitting on his duff doing nothing. Now he can get with it. Bet he will do great. Sure pulling for him.

Hello to all from me, alive & well and intending to stay that way!

Pray for peace and Aloha

Scott

June 4th

A dusty grey wren on the rain gutter is giving me the good morning. Sun came up pink & orange over this courtyard where I= m sitting. The house is very large and quite nice. A well to do family lives here, typical of the homes here on the river as it heads for the bay. If you still have that map take a look and now cross the highway into the ville that lies in bordered by Truoi River, the highway, and the bay. We moved yesterday. Unexpected but appreciated as the change really lifted my spirits. This ville is of well to do families and well taken care of. Clean children, clean homes, gardens and courtyards, walls and gates.

Going over to the bay today and take a look. I= ll try to fill you in on this new area so you have an idea how it differs from the other ville we were working in. Its just across the highway, close but very different.

Aloha

Scott

June 5th

Sun setting soon, on a beautiful day. We get a breeze off the bay that cools off this part of the ville. The bay itself ends in about 2 inches of water, then a rice paddy dike. Fresh water from the river is used to irrigate the paddies along the water= s edge. About 4 paddies wide all along the bay then a tree line running parallel the bay= s edge. The ville boarders the highway and the river with the center of this whole triangle rice paddies.

There is a sampan ville along an inlet where fresh water meets salt. These people are fisher folk with nets for fish & crabs. The crabs have blue shells and are about 4 inches across the shell. Fish are both fresh & salt water varieties. Sampan people live right on their boats. I bet some live an entire existence only stepping on land about once or twice a week.

More to check out later, like where Truoi River meets the bay.

Aloha

Scott

Package arrived today!

Cum Cau Tea?

June 9th

HOT! HUMID! I= ve been sweating like I= ve been in a sauna bath. I drink a couple of gallons of water & juice a day and pee only a cup during that same period. Sweat the rest of that out. Good for the skin though. I figured since I= m sort of a sun freak anyway that I= d just stay right out in it as much as possible, which is almost all the time. The river gets visited by me two or three times a day. The water is getting warm though. Still refreshing in any case.

George & Mary have a boat, why not let them use that ski in the garage? Bet Con & family could join them on a few outings.

This ville has a huge market complete with spoiled meat & millions of flies and a witch who cures the sick by stabbing the area of hurt with pieces of broken glass while chanting weird chants.

Aloha

Scott

June 10th

Staying in a Pagoda right on the river bank. Lots of bats here, up in the rafters. Shady because of the large trees. Bats squeaking right now even though it= s about noon.

The duty on the stereo shouldn= t be over 8%. I= ll reimburse you as soon as I can. The other components should arrive in a month or so.

Are Con & Joy now living in Phoenix? Do they still live in Reno with Con working in both locations? Maybe I= ll have a chance to help them move again. Drive the 32' pickup up to Reno & back. Really had a good time doing that from Fort Collins.

Wishing you all well and....

Aloha

Scott

June 12th

June is really flying by, WOW, half gone. Early cuts for Marines are starting up again. They seemed to have resumed the withdrawal plans for the C.A.P. program. The Captain of my Company rumors us out by August. If I get my second R&R I= ll get back and have a few days then start home. Should get the 5^th of July to either Bangkok or Taipei. Will really have a good time for sure.

Sun came up over the bay showing through a window of clouds. Orange, grey and gold. Some farmers up all night peddling their irrigators.

Had sort of a going away party for one who had been with us all along. Rice, spinach, duck, duck noodle soup with whole duck heads and duck feet floating in it, Vietnamese beer and rum.

Aloha

Scott

No date

The fishing fleet goes out onto the bay about 1:00 AM. The sampans have motors and I can hear the put-put of the 10 to 20 odd boats each morning. They carry lamps and seeing them going out is quite a sight. The bay experiences squalls every few days. They come out of nowhere, chase around the bay then just vaporize.

News again that we are to get no more replacements and that we are to be withdrawn but no date has been released. We lose so many men each month on rotation that we will be pulling out soon for lack of manpower. July, August, or September. It all means little to me as I= ll be leaving soon anyway but I= d still appreciate coming home a little early. No news on my R&R for July. If it is canceled that will indicate a withdrawal. Should find out next week.

Scott

14^th June

Converting the porch sounds like a good idea especially with the patio there. Could extend the patio someday too. Tell me about the plans, windows where the screen is or paneling, what else?

Will Con & Joy be buying a house in the Phoenix area? Won= t be long now & old uncle Scott will be slouching in front of their TV in shorts & undershirt complete with beer cans. A Mom, get uncle Scott out before my boyfriend gets here, Please!@

Remember the metal mirrors that came in the Boy Scout tooth brush/wash kits. Could you look around for one or two of those. Mirrors are stolen but mostly broken & a metal one would be great. If not no sweat.

Boy can= t wait to get the hell out of here. 108 days at most! I CAN MAKE IT!

Aloha

Scott

June 18th

Sun= s coming up rose pink this morning. Birds getting up now and singing up a storm. This is my favorite time of day here, very peaceful, dawning of another day.

They say Vietnam= s national bird, the fly, is the most abundant. I= d agree on it as the national bird but argue for ants as most numerous. I bet you could randomly dig a square inch up anywhere in this country and find ants. They come in all sizes, colors and degrees of meanness. Some bite & sting at the same time. One variety just walks up and says A Hey you, better move or I= ll....@ they= re so damn big.

Hope this letter makes it by Father= s Day. In any case, I= ll send a Father= s Day greeting! Hope you have a relaxing day, week, month, year. Be seeing you.

Aloha

Scott

June 22nd

I= ll be leaving for Bankbook Thailand on the 9^th of July. Glad to get this second R&R, should really enjoy it. After I get back I= ll only have about 60 days left, then home!

The home I= m writing from is old and all wood with a tile roof. Very old. The inside is all carved, the furniture is carved to match. Doors & windows have wooden hinges & wooden fasteners. Mother of pearl inlay all around. The Buda alter is very old and the pictures look more Indian than Chinese.

The house sits just 100 yards from the bay & from the back courtyard I can see the bay. Very quiet out here, almost peaceful.

Walked along the bay to the river today. Walked on out into the bay about 500 yards to investigate one of the fishing weers. On up to the sampan ville. They trade across the bay every day, fish every night.

Suppose all is well with you. Guess Con should be residing in Phoenix by now, haven= t heard yet. Summer must be on the top of Phoenix by now with lots of 100 degree heat. Air conditioning will probably freeze me when I get back as only the breeze circulates here. The heat doesn= t bother me at all now nor the humidity. I sweat almost 24 hours a day but it= s clean sweat & I don= t mind it now, sort of adjusted to it I guess.

Very anxious to get home and now close to that date. This R&R will be a real boost for me and make my last couple of months bearable.

More later.

Aloha

Scott

The 24^th

Perfect timing for a second rice crop, about a week of rain similar to winter but not so cold. Seedlings being put out now. Tobacco drying in everyone= s rafters. Pumpkins growing on overhead trellis & supported with vines. Corn, strictly backyard type, and beans, red peppers and flowers for Buda.

Quiet here in Northern I Corps most action involves artillery missions in the mountains. I think the Cambodian Opp. was successful, a few months will show the real affect.

The ville seems pretty much like home now after living here this long. Today the quiet, peaceful even, seemed comfortable. It= s still a hole compared to what I used to have but it seems that I can adapt even here. Finding a beauty even so. That= s a good feeling to be able to handle the situation even under the most extreme condition of war.

Aloha

June 25th

A cup of tea and the sunrise. Another day of celebration. The festival of the two digits to last for as many days as the sun rises without clouds. 99 - 98 ........37 - 36 .........1! Coming down the home stretch. I remember when I had over 1000 days to serve, that was a long time ago wasn= t it?

I am hopeful for my R&R even though we are operating with minimum personal. No one has mentioned about canceling R&R= s yet so stand by.

Peace is possible!

Scott

June 26th

Here= s word on how and when. 3^rd C.A.G. will be withdrawn around 30 September. Men who rotate in July & August will leave on their regular date of rotation. Those rotating in September, October, November, December will leave in September. I= m right on the line so I= ll only get out a week or two early, maybe no cut time at all. Sometime between September 15^th and October 15^th will be my time to return to The World.

Had a U.S.O. show today at Truoi compound. A band and 4 Korean girls bumping and grinding on a makeshift stage. O.K., not good, but better than nothing. One of the guys got a little heated up (sun, beer, girls) and I had to cool him off in the river, heat exhaustion you know! Well, June is about gone.

The two-digit midget

July 1^st

July is here! Should be leaving for R&R on the 7^th. Sure will be a welcome break for me. My last time out of the field was in February. The vacation will pretty well do in the month of July leaving me very short when I return to Country. Medical are leaving about a week early right now but who knows what the program will be in September.

I=ll give you advanced notice not to be surprised if I call you between July 10^th & 15^th. If they cancel me out of course I= ll be writing to tell you. Anyway might be talking to you.

Should be getting in my orders in a month also. Last orders. WOW! Sure looking forward to getting out of the service!

Aloha

Scott

^2nd of July

There I was, in the dense jungle, danger lurked near; yellow striped tiger. Return the mighty hunters. Or is that two Peace Corps workers?

Orange sunrise, beautiful day. Got a puppy, spoiled bitch for sure, eats better and in larger amounts than myself. Had to chase after her this morning. Afraid if she runs off she will end up in a local breakfast stew. Puppy over rice, Pupgetty & french bread.

Standing by, have a good day. Tonight join with me in a prayer for peace.

Aloha

Scott

July 3rd

Well, so it goes, only two places where they will let me stay, either on my back in the hospital or in the field. Right, I= m back in the bush. Still near Truoi, now in the N.E. corner of the river highway quad. Maybe I= ll be here for two weeks or so. Hope not longer than that. Really am getting anxious to get on home. Nam is hard on both body and mind.

Got a chance to see the guys who I have worked with over the last 10 months while I was in the rear. They are going home. Only new guys here now and we corpsman. I guess I= m sort of the last of the old salts. They were happy to be going home, I= m happy for them, and hope to be following them soon.

How= s all with you?

Scott

July 6th

Leaving in the morning. Should be a great week. Lucky to get this second R&R. I don= t think there will be many more going from now on as they are breaking up 3^rd C.A.G. this month. I= ll return for a couple of weeks in the field then a move of some sort. Hopefully a job in the rear, Da Nang, for a time, then home.

I= m really going to relax this week. Expect it to be very different from Hong Kong. I should be well into my stay by the time you receive this letter.

Hello to Con, Joy & children. See you all soon...........

Scott

USO A Home Away from Home stationery

July 9th

Writing this on an uncovered pool table in the R&R center U.S.O. Will be leaving for Bangkok about 2:00 this afternoon.

Going smooth thus far and expect it to get better. Will probably talk to you before you get this letter so.......

Aloha

Scott

Pan Am, World= s Most Experienced Airline postcard / Hong Kong - The harbor picture on front

No date

Just flew over Saigon will circumnavigate Cambodia and then head up to Bangkok. Good food, good company, now a little bumpy.

Scott

Federal Hotel, 27 SUKHUMVIT RD. SOI 11 (SOI CHAIYOS), BANGKOK, THAILAND. Stationery

12 July 70

Bangkok is a city of happy smiling people. Very friendly. All of Southeast Asia could be as they are. Someday it will be so. Siam was the old Thailand and it shows. Saw some classic dance, cock fights, boxing, temples. Much more to see and do. Really having a good time - a great time. Fun to be able to smile and laugh.

This is not a modern city but a progressive one just coming alive. In fact the whole country seems to be awakening to the world. Thailand will be a leader in Southeast Asia, and I think a good one.

Will be home soon. Best wishes to you all!

Scott

USO A Home Away from Home stationery

15 July 1970

Got back to Da Nang this afternoon and capped a beautiful week in Bangkok. A wonderful place with beautiful people, very beautiful women, smiles and laughter.

I= m going to be sending clothes I had made to wear on my R&R home tomorrow. Again I must say I had a Tremendous time.

Will be heading up to Phu Bai tomorrow and be staying there a day before going back to the ville.

Be seeing you soon!

Aloha

Scott

July 20th

Sunrise bright red then orange. Moon full and pale blue shining brightly. Daily transfers are ususal with me being the only short timer left in the C.A.P. All the guys who were first here have gone or are getting ready to go.

Please unpack the box I have sent. The clothes need cleaning. The flag I= ll take care of when I return.

Marines will be gone by 16 October. We may go to Da Nang in August as a unit then on home by 16 October. I= m on schedule & will see a full tour here.

Hard to come back after having such a great time on R&R. Sure was worth it. Good that Con & Joy are somewhat settled. Say hello to them. Hello to you and.....

Aloha

Scott

July 21st

A coming home present huh? Wonder what it is....don= t tell me though as I like surprises.

I decided my worms were getting more than their share of chow so I= m spending four days in the rear getting de-wormed. I= ve got hookworms and round worms, tired blood and crotch rot, sore feet and a sore head. Should be back on the track soon cause once the worms get out I= ll get all the chow and even bring to an end the A drizzling shits@ which I= ve had for some odd six months.

I= ll be holding sick call for the guys in the rear with the gear and the beer the rest of this week then back to the jungle. Might even try some of that beer. Something to wash down the five different pills and two syrups I= ve got to take each day.

Irony to be sure...kept the Marines from getting all those ills then ended up getting them myself. Oh well, what the hell, there= s humor even in Vietnam. Seeing you soon.

Aloha

Scott

July 23rd

The round worms left yesterday and the hookworms today. I= m happy to feel them go to say the least. I= ve started feeling better already. Now I should be able to make more efficient use of my chow and even gain some weight. I dropped down to 148 pounds just before treatment and didn= t feel too strong at the flyweight level. The worms had blocked protein digestion and caused anemia (good old tired blood) which finally got the best of me. I repeat the treatment next week to make sure there are no hard core types who managed to escape this weeks flush. I should return to the field this weekend unless something comes up, down, or sideways.

Here in the rear I= ve kept my ears open as to rumors and facts on pull outs. I don= t think 3^rd C.A.G. will be here when August 30^th rolls around. When they pull out the Marines will be transferred or sent home depending on how much time they have spent over here. Corpsman are sent to Da Nang and either reassigned to some unit with the 1^st Division or sent home depending on how much time they have spent here in Nam.

I have finally reached the point where it doesn= t make too much difference who goes where as I have so little time left to do. I figure I= ll be a free man in no more than 86 days. That= s the maximum! I= ll leave the field the 30^th of September at the latest, must be back in the United States on October 15^th at the latest and should be separated from the Navy by 5 days later at maximum (they say now 36 hours after getting back I= ll be out). Hopefully I= ll get this all done sooner but can= t count on anything. I= ll sure keep you posted on what happens. I wouldn= t mind spending my last 4 to 6 weeks in Nam in Da Nang. Wouldn= t mind that at all!

One of the men I went through training in California with just before coming over here dropped by yesterday. He was on his way to Da Nang and was the last of the group that was 4^th C.A.G. stationed between Hue= and the DMZ. 1^st C.A.G., south of Da Nang, is also disbanded. We are next!

That= s about all for now I think happiness is a flight date home....

Aloha

Scott

The American National Red Cross stationery

July 25th

It was either my POW appearance or the abscess of my jungle rot that got me here, maybe both. At any rate, I= m going to spend about a week to ten days in the Army hospital here in Phu Bai. While I was in the rear de-worming I began to walk like Chester of the old Marshal Dillon TV series. The rot abscessed and the swelling was causing somewhat of a gimp. Right now I= m in bed draining out the old and taking on the new. I expect to bounce right back cause I= ll be getting all the sleep I want, good chow by mouth and extra vitamins & antibiotics via the bloodstream.

After 3 2 years as the A doc@ now I= m the patient. The Army medics are a little nervous about me since they discovered I= m a corpsman. They want to do everything right. I told them not to sweat it as I was not critical in that aspect at all.

The Chief, my boss, dropped by this morning and informed me that all Marines who were to leave by September 30^th would leave August 6^th. Those who arrived in March or later would be transferred this week. That will leave about 120 men in 3^rd C.A.G. and that= s not many. He said A the way it looks right now you= ll be leaving in Aug.@ Hope he= s right. Can= t count on anything until it happens though.

There is no need to worry about my condition as it= s not serious at all. In a way it= s sort of a blessing as I= ll be out of the field for a while and I= ll gain back some strength before I come home. Might get up to light or even middle weight.

There goes that nurse! WOW, Army nurses are beyond description! Just let your imagination go and you can picture one.

Aloha

Scott

The American National Red Cross stationery

July 26th

Great, only needed 36 hours of vein feeding, that bottle was sort of a problem as I had to carry it over my head when I went to shower or eliminate. Chester, off across the compound bottle in hand, what a sight. Of the abscesses only two still draining now so things are on the up. When the holes close up I= ll be ready to get on out of here. This place is air conditioned and I= m shedding my heat rash too. Everyone gets that damn heat rash, even the Vietnamese.

There goes that nurse again.

The guy next to me is from Reno but he doesn= t know Con. He skis so we shared some on the good skiing around Tahoe. Also the SANFRAN paper I got yesterday with Nevada entertainment etc.

That nurse...

Scott

The American National Red Cross stationery

27^th

A ....It= s getting better, better all the time, getting so much better all the time...@ Beatles

Starting to catch up on my sleep now and overall strength. Still getting a shot for an alarm clock wake-up at 6:00 AM and a good night tuck-in at 10:00 PM. My skinny ass can= t take too many more so maybe they will switch to pills when they run out of landing zones.

The ski bum has been in Country just two months, Army Infantry, and has dysentery and now I think malaria. He= s got a long pull ahead. Hope he gets to go home. He lost 20 pounds in 60 days and I doubt if he can make it through the rains. Hell, he should be up skiing instead.

I hope everyone can be out of Vietnam by next summer. I= ll do everything I can to help get that done.

I=ve been reflecting my past year and it doesn=t present too encouraging a picture for those just getting to Nam. I pray their stay will be shorter than mine was.

The Spirit In The Sky was painting in pink, grey and green this morning and I was again to realize that even here he is with us. There= s hope where the Spirit paints so I know the newcomers will make it OK.

Not limping cause of my legs anymore now it= s my get-along bruised from the needle work of that nurse...there she is....think I= ll just sort of slide down under the sheet now and she might just go on by....

Aloha

Scott

LOGO 3^RD COMBINED ACTION GROUP stationery

July 27

This paper is happier than the Red Cross stuff. Something about Red Cross letters that are depressing, right?

The Chief brought this to me along with the news that 3^rd C.A.G. is breaking up another Company this week. That leaves just two companies left, one is mine, consisting of about 120 men, plus some 40 in the rear. Looks like I= ll be in Da Nang by the end of the month of August. Sure hope so!

Probably be here in the hospital another week or maybe two depending on how fast the lesions close. Two are still draining but almost all swelling is gone.

Eating like a horse, bet I= m up in the 150's. hope to be up to 160 before they release me. I remember weighing 161 as a freshman in high school. When was that, 1957, 1958?

Aloha

Scott

LOGO 3^RD COMBINED ACTION GROUP stationery

July 28th

That nurse has a wig, the kind you buy at Newberry= s or Payless, straw-blond, very pretty. Then there= s her real hair, WOW!

Found the scale last night, a crushing 151 pounds, not much gain but I feel better than I had felt for a good four months now so progress is being made.

I= m changing my own dressings to save time for the medics. They have me on the general medicine ward instead of surgical because the original problem was intestinal parasites and because surgical is busy with evacs from Ripcord Firebase and Ah Shau Valley. Whatever reports you got on the 101^st out there are understatements, they really got their ass kicked. The medics on this ward don= t usually have dressing changes so it= s a help for me to do it.

The ski bum has mononeuculois and won= t be doing any more humping in the bush. First time I= ve ever seen anyone celebrate the discovery he has a disease. In a way I= m happy for him as he will get to the rear for at least 6 months, maybe even sent home. One thing about the Army though, their distaste for the bush sometimes kicks back when they get into combat, they take needless casualities due to their tendency to hold back. Like in football, the best defense is a good offense, aggressiveness pays off and that one moment you coast is when you get hurt. The Marines just never let up, though its hard core and gung ho, it pays off with less casualties. I guess if you= ve got to be in the bush you= d better realize that if you want to get along.

Enough of the war talk, its about over for me now. Roll out the barrel, pop the cork, I= m short!

Aloha

Scott

[Peace sign in lower corner with statement A Coming home soon!@ ]

LOGO 3^RD COMBINED ACTION GROUP stationery

July 29th

Still right at 150 pounds. Had to repeat the hookworm medication which includes milk of magnesia after a 12 hour fast. That= s a guarantee for both weight loss and worm loss. That wraps up the worms though so now all chow will be mine....mine....mine!

I= ve renamed this bed the rack. The foot portion is elevated about two feet. For the first time in my life I= m using a pillow. It= s a must as I tend to slide to the head of A the rack@ while sleeping and the pillow prevents me from getting my head stuck in the bars of the headboard. I can even sleep on my stomach on this thing, sort of an inverted hammock position. Very good for the back, cracks every vertebrae.

That nurse needs to frequent a pub with a dart board, her shot technique resembles dart throwing, lots of practice too, four times daily.

The Chief should bring me some mail today. Good.....good....

Scott

July 31st

Released from the hospital at noon today and will be in the rear for another four days . We decided here to continue de-worming till we= re sure I= m clean.

We have excess corpsman now and the shortest ones will be going to Da Nang. There are only about five yet to go before me. Not long for me though as I= ll be in the rear till next week and one of the remaining two companies is to begin breaking up at that time. They have replaced me in the field so if I go back out it may be to a different C.A.P. Why not just mail letters to the return as shown on this letter.

Finally I= m getting really short! Keep praying for peace, it is possible!

Aloha

Scott

LOGO 3^RD COMBINED ACTION GROUP stationery

The last day of July

Could be my last day here, wounds almost all closed up. Feeling pretty good too. I may be staying in the rear on light duty for up to a week to make sure everything is on an even keel. The worms aren= t all gone so one more medication will be needed sometime next week. Boy I really had an infestation. Makes one feel sort of unclean to harbor parasites like that. The abscesses were staphylococcus A or B. Resistant to ordinary antibiotics and requiring special extracts to stomp them out. Sure don= t want to pick that up again! Only a couple of antibiotics available that work on it and each time it returns it= s more resistant than the time before.

The Chief brought over the package. Thank you much. Those packages you have sent always arrive at a perfect time and sure do lift both spirits and apatite (sp, you know, A the hungeries.@ ). He brought news that my unit will be out of the field by the end of August. Yea! Yea!

Be seeing you!

Aloha

Scott

August 4th

Well, what about that, looks like no more worms. Had the first normal movement in six months. Outstanding! Now if I can keep from getting re-infected, which I= m determined to do, I= ll be home clean.

The word from the Captain, the Company C.O., is that we will be pulled out on the 14^th. I should leave the field earlier than that as there are corpsman who I= m senior to in the Company breaking up just before this Company. One of them should replace me here real soon. Then I= ll be going to Da Nang for reassignment or home. I hope home!

I= m the salt of the whole Company now with the C.O. having an R.T.D. date about 2 days after mine. The last of the short timers, that= s me. These other guys will be getting to go home early or being transferred.

Well, I=ll just continue to keep my head down, my nerves calm, and talk to the Spirit In The Sky. Sunrise this morning was really great!

Aloha

Scott

August 5th

This ville is as poor as any I= ve been in. In fact it is sort of a ghost ville with very few people living here. We stay in abandoned houses during the day and nights outside in the big graveyard that extends across the back of the ville. The people living here in the ville are as dirty as any I= ve been around. Their houses the same. Actually, this must be the slum of this whole area.

The river is close so I can keep the dust off. I= m paying close attention to what I eat & where I walk as a preventative measure against those worms. They bring us one hot meal a day on a supply truck so I= ll finally be getting half-way suitable chow. Also bring out treated water. I asked for all this months ago, giving good reasons for the need, but it took 20 guys or so with bad cases of worms & dysentery to prove the point. Now, with only a couple of weeks left they are correcting the problem. I guess an enlisted type A doc@ just doesn= t have the pull to convince those in power that a few simple precautions could prevent later manpower loss. Oh well, it= s all consistent with my career of service to the USN/USMC.

Just a matter of days now and I= ll be out of the bush. Yea - Yea! Got 10 months under my belt now and getting shorter every day. Hope that check I sent will be the last. If not there will be only one after that.

Aloha to the whole Phoenix tribe!

Scott

[Peace sign in lower corner]

August 6th

A couple of days ago I= d said I was in the NE corner of the quad. I was not looking at the map. The sketch included here will show you where I am.

Looks like the stars had my health condition well predicted. I= m feeling pretty good now. Eating well and might even be gaining a little weight, at least enough to hold my own till I get the hell out of here. Once I get back to The World I can go on a health food diet & build up on vitamins, protein minerals, etc.

Football starts soon. Wow just about a year ago I was watching the San Diego Chargers vs. the New York Jets with Bob Barber in the Charger stadium. Doesn= t see