A.W. (Peter) Machen to Arthur and Rose Machen

September 20, 1969

Vietnam 

Dear Mom and Dad,

I've been on so many patrols I meet myself going on another one.  I am now gunner.  I have to carry that damn gun on my shoulder (23 lbs) and after a few mountains it gets a little heavy.

We were walking down a stream bed and spotted two gooks.  The point man opened fire and hit one.  The other got away.  The one that was hit took a trail off to the right leaving a heavy trail of blood.  I opened fire and unleashed a 100-round belt of hot angry lead into the hillside before we made chase.  We found him still alive, curled up in some open grass.

I set the gun on the trail head while the rest of the KT made a 360° around the wounded gook.  The gook was NVA and had a hand grenade under his head which would blow up if the body was moved.  (They are dangerous even after they are dead).  Anyway he died after about two minutes.  One brave Marine managed to remove the armed hand grenade from under his head.  We searched his body.  He was an NVA officer.  It was a great morale booster for us.  We were tired (no sleep for 3 days) and hungry and had been humping steep hills all day.  1st platoon is still No. 1!

The comment that Orrick made about the South Vietnamese.  They are hard to work with.  They think differently and have their own way of doing things and don't like to be pushed.  They are great people and you need a lot of patience with them.  As a matter of fact, after I've been overseas six months I am going to join the CAC Unit.  The Marines have this unit which works with the South Vietnamese civilians.  You actually live with the people (one family) and check the VC from coming into the villages.  I'd like to do something like that but you have to be here at least six months before you can join.

Word is we are getting out of here soon but it is not official.  1/26 and 2/26 are leaving or already out.  3/26? 

Got a letter from Terry Jo.  She says she saw Bluff in Ruxton and gave him a ride home.

Got the sage and Pop’s iced tea!  Thanks!

I've already gotten two letters from Jack and I've been keeping in touch.  I know how he feels, it's really a big change for him but Jack is a hacker (hard driver)

My mustache is slightly red.  I'll send you some film back when I can.  Thanks for the film to.  Thank again for that package.  If you would send a carton of Marlboro (crush proof) and cocoa that mixes with water, if you can't find any don't worry about it.  That's lemonade is great!  You really know how to keep a Marines morale up!

I'll write as often as possible!

Love,

Pete

P. S. Mom---at first I thought that the sage was marijuana

I'm taking the a GED college test next month too