October 26, 1966

Dear Lorraine,

Hi Babe!! How are you? It rained off and on last night, that made Guard duty a pain. The mosquitoes were everywhere. We have some repellant but it doesn’t seem to help. The bunkers on the perimeter smell and you have to run the rats out before you go in. Its very dark at night and you can’t see very far it makes me wonder how the guys in the field can see anything when there out in the jungle.

I don’t have to be at the hanger until 1:00 today and should try to get some sleep but the hooch maid is cleaning and I’d rather write some letters. Haven’t written to my brother yet so I’ll get to him next then mom and dad. Guard duty gives you a lot of time to think about this place and what were doing over here. Also spent a lot of time thinking about you. This is going to be the longest year of my life I just know it. You know how sometimes you just get a feeling that things are not right, well I have that feeling. It’s not that I’m worried that something is going to happen to me it’s just a bad feeling that things are going to change and not for the better.

The flight platoons are logging a lot of hours and that means something is going on in the field. We don’t get much news about what is happening and the chopper crews don’t have much to say to us.

I hope school is going well for you and your roommates. Tell everyone I said HI. I’m going to write a few more letters and then try to get some sleep.

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

Tom Gator 851