November 1, 1968 An Hoa V.N. Dear Barbara, I’m really not too good at writing letters, so I’ll just give you the straight scoop. I was looking through one of our newspapers and I saw your name. So I figured I’d write to you. I live on the North Side of Chicago and I might even get to see you when I get home.

First of all, my name is Bob and I’m in the Marine Corps. Right now I’m serving as a radio operator for an artillary battery about 35 miles south west of Da Nang. So far I’ve spent 10½ months in this Rat Hole and I’ve only got 74 more days before I set foot on free soil again. Then I’m going to have a blast. I’m 5’11” tall, I have brown hair and hazel eyes.

I’ve lived in Chicago all of my life, 19 years. I’m a fanatic for cycles and fast cars. I also like to party a lot. That’s about all I can think of now. Write soon, and tell me about yourself. Only 74 days left!

Bob

Nov 22, 1968

Dear Barb, I got your letter two days ago and I finally have a free minute to write. The past few days have been pretty hectic. We’ve had a lot of enemy activity around here and we’ve been spending our days fixing the phone wires that they cut and our nights out in the trenches. We’re on 100% alert tonight but I’m on switchboard watch so I don’t have to go out tonight.

I was really surprised when you wrote that you had lived at Irving & Ashland, I used to live at Montrose & Ashland. Now I live up around Foster & Ashland. I used to work about 3 blocks north of Immaculata, on Marine Drive near Montrose. I spent most of my time before I came in the Marines, up at Chase Park, on Lawrence & Ashland. Maybe you know some people up around there.

What kind of dog do you have? I’ve got a dog too. Over here, I mean. We found him in a bombed out village. He was kind of shell shocked so we adopted him as our mascot. He really belongs to my section but everybody claims him. His name is Fred Jones. RANK: Gunnery Sgt. U.S.M.C. K-9 corps Whiskey 2/11. We even got him a set of military dog tags and got him his Rabie shots. I’ll send you a picture of him if I can find one.

I’ve only got a few small questions to ask. First of all, are you left handed? The reason I ask is the way you make your B’s and the slant of your letters. Just curious. What kind of car do you drive? I’m betting it’s a Chevy, about a 66′ model. Also how do you dress? Collegiate or Continental. Upon the north side they call the Continentals “greasers”. Last of all, What nationality are you? Your name sounds Italian but the hair is wrong. Maybe you have some German blood in you. Correct. I’m probably way off but we can’t be right all the time.

Well, I’m completely out of words. I’ll probably think of something to say or ask, after I mail this letter but Xin Loi (that’s the way it goes). There it is. Take care and Happy Thanksgiving. You’re lucky you’re not a guy. You’d probably be over here right now.

Later, Bob

December 9, 1968

Dear Barb, I don’t know if you’re all to happy about it, but I’m very glad it’s snowing. I haven’t seen snow since March of 67′ and it’s great to hear that it’s snowing already. Things should be going in full blast by the time I get home. It’s going to be groovy. Right now it’s about 75° outside and it’s 7:00 at night. It gets considerably hotter during the daytime. It just doesn’t seem like Christmas to me.

Well, I guess I’ll tell you a little bit about what’s going on over here. I imagine you have or will hear about An Hoa on the radio. It’s pronounced An Wa. We’re situated in the center of a big valley, called An Hoa Valley. Lately, it’s been pretty quiet around here. The big Oriental holiday of “Tet” is coming up. This signifies the Lunar New Year. It should occur about the middle of February. The V.C. and the N.V.A. have been re-grouping and building up in the mountains, waiting for Tet to start. When this happens, they will come swarming down and try to overrun all the cities and military bases.

We’ve also been building and re-grouping down here in An Hoa and in similar bases all over Viet Nam. They’ve moved about four more artillery batteries in here, which gives a total of about 15 batteries. Also they’re moved an army unit in and last but not least, they’re completely torn out the airstrip and put in a new one. I was out in the bush for two weeks and I didn’t know this place when I got back.

I’m sure glad I won’t be around when the enemy hits next Feb. I went through it last year and I wouldn’t like to go through it again. Well Barb, I’ve gotta go for now. I’m looking forward to seeing you in January. It won’t be long now. Only about 30 or 35 days to go. So, until then, wish me luck and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Why don’t you send me your phone number, so I can call you when I get back to Chicago.

Write Soon. Bob

Dear Barb,

Thank you for the nice Christmas card. We really appreciate things like that over here. It puts a little spirit into our Christmas. I hope you have a very nice Christmas yourself. Save me some snow and I’ll see you when I get home.

Love Bob

April 28, 1969

Hi Barb, How’re things with you? I imagine by the time you get this letter, something interesting must have happened to you. It was really nice talking to you Saturday night. It’s a shame my buddies were acting up like that. They were just in a giddy mood and decided the wanted to harrass someone.

I’m sitting across the table from Steve Jaske and he keeps complaining that I’m shaking the table. I’m not. He is. I can’t see his letter, but I think he’s writing some nasties about me. He keeps looking at me and snickering. Don’t believe anything he says about me unless it’s good. I really would have liked to come to see you last weekend but I didn’t get in until 8 o’clock Saturday morning and I was running all day. Mostly to the store for my mom. I tried to call you around 7:00 Saturday night, but no one was home, I probably could have made it down there Saturday night if I would have caught you earlier and if my car could make it down there.

I really regret not being able to meet you. I’ve been thinking of trying to get home the weekend after next. I’ve got a big inspection this Saturday so I won’t be able to make it up. I might even have to stay down here till May 19th, when I leave for Puerto Rico. I’d sure hate that. If I can’t make it home before the cruise, I’ll have to wait till the end of September or the beginning of October. This will be the 3rd summer in a row that I’ve spent away from home. I really dig the summer in Chicago. I usually spend half of the summer in Chicago and the other half in Wisconsin at my trailer.

It looks like I’ll have to wait till the summer of 70′ till I have some fun. Well Barb, I’ve got to go back to work now so I’ll let you go. Take it easy and have a nice summer. See you in September. Write Soon!

Love Bob.

P.S. See if you can dig me up a picture. Here’s one of me taken at the clube in Okinawa on my way home from Viet Nam. I’m the one in the right front with the blue shirt on.

June 10, 1969 Tuesday,Vieques Puerto Rico

Hi Barb,

Sorry I havent written in so long, but I’ve been pretty busy running up and down hills. We’ve been doing a lot of camping out and I havent been able to get hold of any writing gear. We just came in from the field about 5 days ago and I got paid about 3 days ago. Finally I made it to the P.X. and bought some writing paper.

Nothing much has been happening that could be called exiting. That’s in the past 3 days. Friday night we had a race riot at the club. No one was killed but 3 guys were shot up pretty bad. Also there were a few stabbings and there were many broken bones. I don’t know what is wrong with this paper but this pen wont write on it. I’m doing the best I can.

Anyway, back to the riot. I didn’t participate in it. I was in bed at the time it started and I was awakened by streams of people running back from the club. About 5 guys in my barracks got jumped and beat up. Two of the guys that were shot, were from my section. It’s all quiet now. I should be getting liberty this Saturday. I hope. The word is, that will be going to San Juan for 2 days. I hope it’s true.

Right now we’re on the island of Vieques. It’s part of Puerto Rico but its about 8 miles from the main island of Puerto Rico. All thats here is a bunch of cows and Gauchos. There’s one town but thats clear on the other side of the island. We’re not allowed to go into it anyway. The weather down here is beautiful. The sun shines bright, and the sky is clear, There is always a cool breeze to counter act the heat from the sun.

The temperature is about 90° all day long. Usually at night we get a small amount of rain, which is good. We get just enough to cool the air to sleeping temperature. All in all I find this tropical climate, as most people call it, very comfortable. I’m going to close for now. Its getting around lunch time and I want to get into the chow line before it gets too long.

Be Cool, Ins, Bob.

P.S. Here’s my new address L/Cpl R.E. Brieske B.L.T. 2/2 Group H+S Comm 2/2 F.P.O. New York N.Y. 09502