October 24, 1966

Dear Lorraine,

Hi Honey! How are things with you? I’m doing OK things here are still quiet and I’m still assigned to a maintenance teem and working in the Hanger except for today. They were short on gunners again and asked if I wanted to go. I told them they did not have to ask me just clear it with the Maintenance Officer. I flew with the second flight platoon the crew chief is a guy named Skip Stevens. He pretty laid back and getting short (that’s a term meaning his time is almost up). We did some re-supply runs for units in the field and flew one CA (Combat Assault). Dropped a bunch of Grunts out in the middle of nowhere again. Sure am glad I’m not one of them. Living conditions at Holloway are OK but the guys in the field really have it tough. Some of the flying today was low level, right at the treetops. It beats any roller coaster you’ve ever been on. Its still spooky flying over the jungle and still hard to believe there is a war going on. We flew some ammo into one of the Fire Bases and while we were there they had a fire support mission. A 105 Howitzer cannon is on loud ass gun. It sure got my attention.

I have put some of the money we use over here in with this letter. We get paid in Military Payment Certificates (MPC’s) and the other is Vietnamese money. The coins are called Dong and the Paper money is Peastras. not sure I spelled that right but who cares. We are not allowed to have American currency because it’s worth too much on the Black Market and then gets used by the VC to buy war materials.

Great, the mail was late today and I just got more letters from you. The guy that brought it in was smelling your envelope and asked if he could have it when I’m done. Not a chance on that one.

Now to answer a few of your questions, my address is just like you see it on my letters you don’t need to put 119th AHC. As for the location of Pleiku, if you look in the lower left corner of the stationary I’m using I have put a dot where Pleiku is in Vietnam. The mountains are beautiful, the days are hot when its not raining and the nights are cool. You also asked about our hooch maid, we call her Baby Son she is about 16 and kind of cute. Don’t let that bother you cuz you don’t mess with a good hooch maid. They are hard to come by, especially ones that look good. She does not speak much English but I think she understands a lot more than we think.

I have to close now. I have guard duty tonight and need to eat first. This is a new experience and I’m not quite sure about it.

I Love You Very Much
Tom
S.W.A.K.

Tom Gator 851.