January 1, 1969: Tomorrow we have to go on a three-day sweep. What did you think of the picture of the tiger? The company that killed the tiger was Delta 1/35, they are not far from us. (The picture was from Pacific Stars & Stripes dated 12/28/68)

January 5, 1969: We just came in from our 3-day sweep and one day we had monsoon type weather, it rained all day. The rain did not make a difference because we were walking through wetlands anyway. We will go out in another sweep in a few days.

January 10, 1969: We are going out on another platoon size sweep for three days.

January 12, 1969: We got in off our sweep and we didn't find anything. Some CIDG's went along with us. One of the CIDG's picked a leaf off of a tree and he started to eat it. He gave me a leaf and I tasted it, it was rather sour but tasted good.

January 18, 1969: (I wrote this letter to my brother) Well it has been quite a time since I have written, I will try and catch up while I am on this two-day patrol. They have moved us to a new location (LZ Tango) and it is nothing but a hilltop. This patrol I am on we had to climb up one of the neighboring hills which is the highest I have ever climbed. This country is really beautiful except for the war. We are supposed to be here for another 7 days, which will mean we will leave on the 25th of January. Where we go next I don't have any idea but I hope it is a safe area.

Our platoon had one man killed in action on January 9. I wasn't with the platoon at the time I was out on a patrol. Five NVA ambushed the platoon that went in to get some LRRP's. Two LRRP's also got killed. Our man was walking second the LRRP was in front of him.

I will not have to worry about walking point anymore because I am an assistant machine gunner which is nothing more than carrying M-60 ammo.

January 23, 1969: It is going to be pretty hard for me to write to you while I'm on this sweep.

January 28, 1969: I am enjoying the river, which we are set up near (Ya Krong Bolah). They had B-52 strikes close to here and some of the other companies are making a sweep. Well we had to move on again up this big hill, we will be here for 3 days and then onto another location. I think we will be going to the Oasis, which will be nice.