April 23, 1967

Dear Lorraine,

Hi! Honey, How are you? I’m doing well and still here at Dak To. I had to do an inspection on my ship today. Since we are supposed to be ready to go all the time one of the other crew chiefs helped me. This keeps our down time at a minimum incase anything happens. It’s still early in the day and we don’t have much to do. We have a team that has been out for several days and are waiting for them to request a pick up. We had an emergency extract of one of the teams the other day when they made contact. We were not able to land because of the tall bamboo so we had to use the rope ladders to get them out. Lots of shooting but no damage. These missions are both fun and scary at times. When it’s all over we sit around talk, and laugh about it but when we are out there no one is laughing.

Tomorrow we might get to go back to Holloway on the Mail and Laundry run. I’m getting low on cigarettes and need to stop at the PX. Who ever goes will have a long list of things to get for the other guys.

Yesterday I got a letter and a Birthday card from you. The card is a little late but that’s OK, you remembered, and I appreciate it. For seven months you have hung in there and continued writing to me, you have no idea how much that means to me. I just wish I could let you know in person but that will have to wait.

As usual I have run out of things to say. I Love You and can’t wait to tell you in person.

Tom
S.W.A.K.

Tom Gator 851.