Vietnam Veteran's 9th Infantry Division, 6-31st | home
Letter Home from Nam
Steve Williams from Bravo Co, 3rd herd 1970 was going through some of his papers and came across this letter. The letter was "going round" in Vietnam for the guys that were going home soon, Steve signed one and sent it to his parents. Obviously with the age of the letter, the ink had faded a lot over the years but was still readable. When Steven tried to scan it for us the type didn't show up so he graciously re-typed it... I hope you enjoy it!
Dear Civilians, Family, Draft Dodgers, etc.
In the very near future the undersigned will once more be in your midst, dehydrated and demoralized, to take his place again as a human being with the well-known forms of freedom and justice for all, engage in life, liberty, and the somewhat delayed pursuit of happiness. In making your joyous reparations to welcome him back into organized society, you might take certain steps to make allowances for the crude environment which has been his miserable lot for the past twelve months. In other words, he might be a little Asiatic from Vietnamitis and Overseitis and should be handled with care. Do not be alarmed if he is infected with all forms of rare tropical diseases. A little time in the "Land of the Big PX" will cure this malady.
Therefore, show no alarm if he insists on carrying a weapon to the dinner table, looks around for his steel pot when offered a chair, or wakes up in the middle of the night for guard duty. Keep cool when he pours gravy on his dessert or mixes peaches with his Seagrams VO. Pretend not to notice if he eats with his fingers instead of silverware and prefers C-rations to steak. Take it with a smile when he insists on digging up the garden to fill sandbags for the bunker he is building. Be tolerant when he takes his blanket and sheet off the bed and puts them on the floor to sleep on.
Abstain from saying anything about powered eggs, dehydrated potatoes, fried rice, fresh milk, or ice cream. Do not be alarmed if he should jump up from the dinner table and rush to the garbage can to wash his dish with a toilet brush. After all, this has been standard. Also, if it should start to rain, pay no attention if he pulls off his clothes, grabs a bar of soap, and runs outdoors for a shower.
When in his daily conversation he utters such things as "Sin loi" and "Choi oi" just be patient, and simply leave quickly and calmly. If by some chance he utters "Di di" with an irritated look on his face because it means no less than "Get the H--- out of here!" Do not let it shake you up if he picks up the 'phone and yells "Working" or says "Roger out" for goodbye.
Never ask why the Jones' son held a higher rank than he did and by no means mention the term "extend". Pretend not to notice if at a restaurant he calls the waitress "Number One Girl" and uses his hat for an ashtray. He will probable keep listening for "Homeward Bound" to sound off over AFVN. If he does, comfort him, for he is still reminiscing. Be watchful when he is in the presence of women---especially a beautiful woman.
Above all, keep in mind that beneath that tanned and rugged exterior there is a heart of gold ( the only thing of value he has left ). Treat him with kindness, tolerance, and an occasional fifth of good liquor, and you will be able to rehabilitate that which once was ( and now is a hollow shell ) the happy-go-lucky guy you once knew and loved.
Last, but by no means least, send no more mail to the APO, fill the ice box with beer, get the civvies out of the mothballs, fill the car with gas, and get the women and children off the streets because... THE KID IS COMING HOME !!!!!!
Scanned copies of the Mother's & Fathers Day card's I had sent home in 1970 to my parents. The cards were pre-printed cards made available to us so all we had to do was sign them or add additional comments. My parents held on to these all these years, and they came back to me when they passed on.
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