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

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Long Thanh North
June 30, 1971
Wednesday
9 pm

Dear Folks,

Went out to the shower at about 8:30. Turned on the faucet. About a pint of water gushed out. Just enough to get me wet and then it stopped. Had to wait about 15 minutes for Papa-son to come by with his water truck and fill up the tanks.

Well, that was the big event today. Everything else takes second place. Spent the day on Avionics problems and checking radio banks. Didn't really accomplish anything. Did manage to clean the shop when everybody else went over the other side of the airfield to turn in some equipment to be fixed. Didn't stay straight for long though. That shop is just too small for everything the takes place in it.

 We were expecting a practice alert today since it is the last day of the month. Hasn't happened yet but it could be a long night.

Just saw a rat climb down the wall on the other side of the room. There he goes back up again. And now back down again. Climbed right over the bed I use to sleep in. O'Briant moved into that corner of the room. He may get a rude awakening on his first night here. Hey, there he goes again. Big one too.

Rats are a big problem over here. All the hooches have trouble with them. Now that I think of it that may be the same rat that stared Paulson in the face. It climbed right along that bookshelf.

Been having trouble with ants lately too. Seems like they are everywhere.

Well, on the brighter side. I got paid today. $345. My gross pay was 382.90 minus social security, bond and insurance came to $348. Plus the $100 left over from last month gives me $445. I think I'll try to make it on about $90 and send $350 home.

Just killed a daddy-long-leg crawling on my bed. Yuk! Bugs, bugs, bugs. No mail today.

Rick

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