Post by Anonymous Vet on Nov 30, 2003 3:01:00 GMT -5
When Pfc. Dennis Doame sits himself down behind the lines Vietnam to comply with his mother's going away instructions that he keep her informed he tells it like it is. Any mother of a 19 year old amateur soldier can see from such a letter that nothing is really happening to her boy out there in the rice paddies - or, at least, hasn't yet. Following, minus only a few personal references, are his New Year's Day assurances that war is nowhere near the hell all mothers seem to think it must be. He's the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Doame Jr. of Baltimore.
January 1969
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you? I'm fine. Today I saw an article on the Colts. It was about their victory over the Browns. It said that Tom Matte was hurt, but not how badly. I hope he can play in the Super Bowl. The Las Vegas bookies favor the Colts by 17 points.
It is so hot here. I would love to go swimming. The only trouble is that I don't have any swimming trunks. Please send me some. They don't have any at the PX.
Tonight Radio AFVN is playing the top 30 country and western songs of 1968. I bet Dad would like to listen to that. If I had a tape recorder I could have some great tapes between last night's top 100 and tonight's top 30.
Last month, I got a haircut and massage at the barbershop. It is run by the Vietnamese. That was the last time I will let those gook barbers give me a massage! They beat the hell out of my head, and I left with a headache.
When I was up at Bien Phu, I really got to like our "tiger scout." His name was Vo Van Dang. He was 5ft 2in tall and weighed 971bs. He was 20 years old. He looked like he was 15 years old. He was strong and fast for his size. I learned that he used to be a NV A regular. I wonder ifhe killed any GIs before he came over to our side. He sure was loyal to us. Several times he saved our lives. He could spot a booby trap better than us because he used to make them himself. Sometimes he found out from the villagers if there were any VC in the area. When our platoon leader sent him on a suicide mission, he went. And when he was thrown to the ground, bleeding pretty badly, he told us to stay back. There were more booby traps all around him. He was really a nice guy. Everyone agreed that he was the best tiger scout in the company.
Washington Post
#nosmileys
January 1969
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you? I'm fine. Today I saw an article on the Colts. It was about their victory over the Browns. It said that Tom Matte was hurt, but not how badly. I hope he can play in the Super Bowl. The Las Vegas bookies favor the Colts by 17 points.
It is so hot here. I would love to go swimming. The only trouble is that I don't have any swimming trunks. Please send me some. They don't have any at the PX.
Tonight Radio AFVN is playing the top 30 country and western songs of 1968. I bet Dad would like to listen to that. If I had a tape recorder I could have some great tapes between last night's top 100 and tonight's top 30.
Last month, I got a haircut and massage at the barbershop. It is run by the Vietnamese. That was the last time I will let those gook barbers give me a massage! They beat the hell out of my head, and I left with a headache.
When I was up at Bien Phu, I really got to like our "tiger scout." His name was Vo Van Dang. He was 5ft 2in tall and weighed 971bs. He was 20 years old. He looked like he was 15 years old. He was strong and fast for his size. I learned that he used to be a NV A regular. I wonder ifhe killed any GIs before he came over to our side. He sure was loyal to us. Several times he saved our lives. He could spot a booby trap better than us because he used to make them himself. Sometimes he found out from the villagers if there were any VC in the area. When our platoon leader sent him on a suicide mission, he went. And when he was thrown to the ground, bleeding pretty badly, he told us to stay back. There were more booby traps all around him. He was really a nice guy. Everyone agreed that he was the best tiger scout in the company.
Washington Post
#nosmileys