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

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Long Thanh North
December 11, 1971
Saturday
10 am

Dear Folks,

I was enjoying the sunshine so much I almost forgot to write. I saw Big Al writing a letter and that reminded me.

I was waiting at breakfast to catch Sgt. Thompson. I want to ask him when he is going to get somebody to replace me at the mess hall. I'd like to stop working around the 15th. 8 days prior to the 24th I'm supposed to go take that urinalysis. 8 from 24 is 16. Actually if you use the arithmetic method it comes out better. I'll try using that on Thompson. He's not too bright.

I should get my clearing papers around the 18th or 19th, probably the 18th since the 19th is a Sunday. All clearing papers are is a list of places you have to go to process. Like finance and personnel and the post office, the education office and supply. At each place they make sure you don't owe any money or anything and then sign your papers or give you your records.

After you clear everything it's just a matter of waiting for the day to leave. Then you sign out the company and go to personnel in Long Binh and from there to 90th Replacement. Once there you take another urinalysis and wait. You make formation 3 times a day and listen for your name to be called on a shipping manifest.

I won't have any idea of flights out of Oakland until I get there. I guess you'll just have to wait for a call.

I've been thinking about buying a record player from Big Al. He needs money and wants to sell it.

Rick

(read the next letter home)