A.W. (Peter) Machen to Arthur Machen

May 3, 1969

Camp Lejeune, NC

Dear Pop,

I want to thank you for the twenty “fins.”  It sure came in handy and I have practical use of it as best and efficiently as I know.  I guess that's not too much though, is it?  Anyway I've started training.  We picked up our 782 gear--war gear, and we will start classes on Monday. 

Last night I got eight hours sleep!  I was so used to getting only four and five hours that I couldn't even sleep that long.

I found out when I'm coming home and I'm kind of pissed off about it because I will have basic specialist training and come home in about six weeks.  I should show up around the 24th of June.

There is so much to see down here, the war games, combat and so much more.  I was wondering if it would be too much to ask you to send me a camera.  Just anything.  A brownie or something.  In fact the smaller of the camera the better.  I could just throw it in my pack and take it with me to the boondocks, take some pictures and send them home.  I think you'd get a kick out of seeing what's really going on and instead of trying to tell you, I could show you.  Reasonable?  And maybe a roll of film.  I could probably get film at the PX.

Glad to hear Bluff is all right or at least better.  I guess Monday is Hank's birthday.  I'll bring him back to something.  He'll like it I hope.

Sunday is Mothers Day and I haven't forgotten that either.  She is really something!  In fact I feel sort of undeserving to have the mother I do. 

Well I've got to take a shower before I run out of time.

Thank you.

Love to all,

Pete