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

September 23, 1969

Vietnam 

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things are going pretty well.  I got sick yesterday though.  Water -- it was bad even though it was a fast moving stream.  At least it had iced tea in it.  Apparently it was bad and gave me a bad, but only 24-hour, case of the grip.

Guess what!  Instead of the original 12 month 20 day tour, it is now 11 months and 20 days.  That means I'll be home a month earlier!

Friday we had a one day operation.  We cross Namu River and go into the hills about 5 miles north of here where there is a company of over 200 NVA.  Maybe this is my chance to get some kills of my own.  Don't worry.  I'll be careful!

We had a fire fight the other night and the gooks threw a hand grenade.  Well, I caught a small piece of shrapnel in the left leg -- only a small scratch which amounted to practically nothing.

I was lucky enough to listen to the Colt game!  For a while there, if I remember right, it was 17 to 10 our favor and I thought we had it made.  I bet Pop was there, I could almost hear him yelling and cheering on our world-famous Colts.  Oh well, we have more games to go and I only lost one buck.  LA is the last team I want to lose to.

October 13 we go afloat!  We are going to the Philippines and they are pulling out 3/26.  I'm not sure if it's for good though.  Most people seem to think we are going back to not to the DMZ for operations.  I hope not.

Mom, that 6-12 insect repellent is worth its weight in gold!  If you can, please send some more.  The mosquitoes  are so big over here they have to refuel in Da Nang Air Force Base.  The stuff they give us causes skin irritation and is pretty crappy. 

I wrote Noni, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Talbert.  I wrote Granny about a week ago. 

Here is a picture of a machine gunner -- a little overdone but I guess you have an idea of how much ammo I have to carry, not to mention a 23 lb. gun.

I heard a rumor that the draft would be called off.  That does me a lot of good!

Love to all,

Pete