Rick Holt's Adventures in Vietnam
Letters Home from Vietnam, 1971

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Da Nang
February 23, 1971
Tuesday
7 pm

Dear Folks,

Well, here we go again. Got orders to pack my bags. Going back to Long Thanh tomorrow. Ya win some ya lose some. Spent the day at China Beach after watching "the Boatnicks" at the Rice Paddy Inn this morning. The first words I heard when I stepped in the door coming back from the beach were, "Pack your bags, your leaving."

They're going to leave a few radio operators up here just in case we get called up. Still be able to collect TDY pay for the time in Long Thanh. As long as there are some of our people up here we'll be considered TDY to Da Nang, because we're all on the same set of orders.

I never did see the MP. If he's been looking for the 12th Signal Battalion he'll never find me. I'm at the 37th Signal Battalion. I think at one time I did write and say I was at the 12th. That was a mistake. I got that information from somebody who didn't know any more about where I was at than I did. Where does he work at? I may be able to find him next time I'm up here.

Is that jumper 'signal corp orange?' Everything around here is painted orange and white.

Eight months ago yesterday I was inducted into the army. There had better be some PFC orders waiting for me when I get back to Long Thanh.

I heard on the radio the other day something about men in Vietnam having an extra 180 days to file their income tax. Have you heard anything about that? I should get my W-2's with my pay this month.

Speaking of payday. It may not seem possible but I've spent over $150 since I got here. I won't be making any more big purchases except maybe a slide projector, so I'll be sending some home. I'll have to see how it goes, but I'll probably need at least $50 a month to get along on. No sense in suffering for the sake of saving a little money.

Got 5 letters today. Two from the 16th, 2 from the 17th and one written by Dad on the 9th.

That's it for now. Next letter should be from Long Thanh.

Rick

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