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U.S. Marine Corps

Philip D. Crowder

Corporal (Cpl)
Hqtrs Co, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Div, Motor Transport Section
Vietnam (no base named in his letters)
September 8, 1968
November 17, 1968

His Story

Philip D. Crowder of Pittsfield, Illinois, who signed his letters with his nickname, "Bert," served in the U.S. Marine Corps with the Motor Transport Section of Headquarters Company, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He wrote to Barbara Madro of Cicero, Illinois, from Vietnam in the fall of 1968. He found her address in the Sea Tiger newspaper and picked her name because he was from Illinois too, though he admitted he was not sure where Cicero was. In his first letter, dated September 8, 1968, he described himself the easy way: age 19, five feet eight and a half, 170 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes. He was in his fourteenth month in Vietnam. He had extended his tour for six months, gone home on leave, and come back, and he expected to go home again in April. "No, I'm not crazy," he wrote. "I've got a new car to pay for." The car was a Plymouth Road Runner, and a later letter reports that he had changed its color from blue metallic to silver. Bert was the dispatcher in the motor pool, in charge of the book work, the drivers, and the vehicles, after thirteen months as a driver himself. His letters tell Barbara about the weather (114 degrees in the shade in September, the monsoon by October), about a unit move that meant tearing everything down and starting over, about an operation up by what used to be Khe Sanh, and about the Marine Corps birthday on November 10, for which the commanding officer ordered haircuts, shined boots, and clean utilities. He wrote often about home: his mother mailing him a camera, a tremor that rocked the family's house trailer in Pittsfield, a younger brother who walked away from a car wreck with a few bruises, and an older brother who worked as a radio disc jockey and news director. That brother's boss had told Bert he had the voice for radio, and he thought he just might take him up on it. He was due to turn twenty on November 27, 1968, and he promised that one way or the other he would be home for the next Christmas.

Letters

September 8, 1968
Vietnam (place not stated)

8 Sept. 1968
Sunday

Dear Barbara,

Hi! I’m not very good at writing first letters but I’ll try anything once, especially if it means getting more mail!

I guess the best way to start is to tell ya a little about myself.

I’m 5’8″ tall. Wait a minute, I’ll do this the easy way, OK? Age – 19, Height – 5’8 1/2″, Weight – 170 Hair – Brown, Eyes – Blue. Come this February I’ll have 2 years in the Marine Corps and 2 left to do. I’m on my 14 month in Viet-Nam. I extended for 6 months, went home on leave and come back and I go home again in April. No, I’m not crazy, I’ve got a new car to pay for and the money over here is fabulous. I bought it while I was home on my 30 day leave. Its a 68 Plymouth Roadrunner.

I got your address out of the Sea Tiger newspaper we get over here. I picked your name because I’m from Illinois too. You’re probably never heard of the town but I tell ya anyway. Its Pittsfield. Its located between the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers. I’m not sure I know where Ciscero is though.

(over)

Is it up around Chicago? That would be my guess, am I right? If so, or even if it isn’t, it shouldn’t be to far from my hometown and maybe when I get back home I could drive up or down and meet you in person because I love to drive and see different places.

Well, this is short but I promise to do better next time, OK? I do hope you will want to correspond with me because I love to get mail. Everybody loves to get mail though.

Bye for now until I hear from you – – –

Bert
(Thats my nickname)

Heres my address, that always helps. Ha! Ha!
Cpl. Philip D. Crowder 2357047 U.S.M.C.
Hqtrs. Co. 4th Marines 3rd Mar. Div.
Motor Transport Section
F.P.O. San. Francisco, Calif. -96602-

Two pages on lined paper, numbered 1 and 2. Spelling and punctuation follow the original (for example, "ya," "Its," "You're probably never heard," "to far," and "Ciscero" for Cicero). The letter is headed "8 Sept. 1968" with "Sunday" set off in brackets beneath it; September 8, 1968 was a Sunday. An arrow points from his signature to the words "Thats my nickname." He describes his car here as a "68 Plymouth Roadrunner"; in his letter of October 20 he calls it a "69." Both are transcribed as written. NEEDS VERIFICATION - service number: in the address he wrote out on page 2, the final digit could be read as either a 7 or a 1. It is transcribed as 2357047 to agree with the museum profile card. NEEDS VERIFICATION - location: no place is written on the letter. NEEDS VERIFICATION - envelope pairing: the red-and-blue air mail envelope carries the archive number "1" and has no postmark. It is addressed to "Ciscero," the spelling he uses in this letter, and is matched to it on the archive number.
September 21, 1968
Vietnam (place not stated)

21 Sept 1968
Friday

Dear Barb,

Hope you don’t mind if I call you Barb. Got your letter today. I must say it didn’t take you long to write back!

Well tomorrow is Sunday again. Another week gone toward going home again. I can’t believe how fast time is going by. I just hope it stays that way.

We got some more good news today. We’re moving again! (Ugh) We moved up here in July while I was home on leave, and now after 2 months of building and getting settled they tell us in 2 weeks we’re moving 3 miles down the road. So now we’ve got to tear everything down and start over again. Maybe time will go faster while we’re moving!

Theres really nothing much to tell ya about my home town. Its 6 hrs. driving time southeast of Chicago, 72 miles from the capital Springfield. 33 miles from Jacksonville. Theres only two fare

(over)

size businesses you might have heard of. They’re Brown Shoe Company & Bergman Meat Pkg. Co. Probably the only way you’ll find it is to look on the map.

That sounds like a very interesting job you’ve got. You’ll have to tell me more about it, OK!

As long as I’ve been over here I still can’t believe this weather over here. The months of Sept.-Oct.-Nov. are suppose to be the rainy season. But the last three days its been up to 114 degrees in the shade. One minute its raining and 114 degrees the next. Theres no kind of shade whatsoever except man-made. When I got here in Aug of 67 it started raining and didn’t stop for “25” days. A weather man wouldn’t last long over here. He’d go crazy trying to predict the weather.

Well, short again but I’m like you, I just can’t think of anything to say so

Bye for now

Bert

Two pages on printed "3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF, Vietnam" stationery, numbered 1 and 2. Spelling and punctuation follow the original (for example, "Theres," "fare size," and "suppose to be"). He wrote the temperature with a degree sign; it is spelled out here as "degrees." "Ugh" is written small above the line, and there is a small crossed-out mark after "Bergman Meat." NEEDS VERIFICATION - date: the letter is headed "21 Sept 1968" with "Friday" beneath it, but September 21, 1968 was a Saturday, and he writes that "tomorrow is Sunday again." "Friday" appears to be a slip. The letter is filed under the date as written. "Southeast of Chicago" is transcribed as he wrote it. NEEDS VERIFICATION - location: no place is written on the letter beyond the printed letterhead. He says his unit moved "up here" in July and is about to move three miles down the road. NEEDS VERIFICATION - envelope pairing: the red-and-blue air mail envelope carries the archive number "2" and has no postmark. It is matched to this letter on the archive number.
October 10, 1968
Vietnam (place not stated)

10 Oct. 1968
Thursday

Dear Barb,

Hi again! Sorry I took so long to write back. I got to looking through my records the other day and I’d forgot to turn 2 reports this month. They were do the 25th of Sept. I guess I’m a little late, huh? Oh well better late than never. Trouble is, there is no such word as never in the Marine Corps! Ha! Ha! In case your wondering why I have to do the reports, its because I’m the Dispatcher in the Motor Pool. I’m in charge of all the book work, drivers & vehicles. All I do day in and day out is answer the phone & push a pencil. The first 13 months I was over here I was a driver too! Well, so much for Motor Transport.

They’ve got a big operation going on now up by what used to be Khe-Sanh now. They started from here and pushed their way back to Khe-Sanh, and yesterday they had a flag raising ceremony there to celebrate the re-capture of Khe-Sanh. Talk about propaganda! Now they’re going they’re going over into Laos to find an N.V.A. artillery base and do away with it.

Glad you had fun on your trip to Iowa. I’ve been through there quite often when I drove for my uncle, but I’ve never really had a chance to stop and see the sights. Got your postcard too. That old Mississippi sure is beautiful!

Well, mom finally got my camera in the mail, but its hard tellin when it will get here though. Soon as it gets here I’ll get some pictures taken if you want one. Sure would like to have one of you if ya got a spare laying around somewhere, OK?

Yes it is almost X-mas again. This will be my 2nd in Viet-Nam and last. I’ll also have two birthdays over here when Nov. rolls around. Next year, one way or the other I will be home for Christmas.

Well, I’d better close for now so I can get this in the mail before it goes out

Bye for now and write soon, OK

Bert

Two pages on lined notebook paper, numbered 1 and 2. Spelling and punctuation follow the original (for example, "forgot to turn 2 reports," "do" for "due," "your wondering," and "tellin"). The letter is headed "10 Oct. 1968" with "Thursday" beneath it; October 10, 1968 was a Thursday. He underlined "never," "write," and "soon." "Now they're going they're going" is repeated in the original. His account of the operation near Khe Sanh and the plan to go into Laos is transcribed as he wrote it and has not been checked against other sources. NEEDS VERIFICATION - location: no place is written on the letter. He says the operation "started from here." NEEDS VERIFICATION - envelope pairing: the plain envelope marked "Air Mail" in his hand carries the archive number "3" and has no postmark. It is matched to this letter on the archive number.
October 20, 1968
Vietnam (place not stated)

20 Oct. 1968
Sunday

Dear Barb,

Hi again. Wow! I must say that was quite a beginning in your last letter! It reminded me of my older (10 mo. 12 days) brother job. He in radio business. Hes a D.J. and news director at Station W.H.R.T.S. in Bethaldo, Ill. Thats about 3 or 4 miles from Alton, Ill. He done that kind of work since he was 18 yrs. old. First he worked at W.B.B.A. in my home-town, then some station in Burlington, Iowa, then W.R.M.S. in Beardstown, Ill. Then his boss transferred him to Bethaldo which was another one of his radio stations. But before he moved down there they sent him, all expenses paid, to Dallas, Texas for 6 wks of 1st class training in radio. So for a man of 20 yrs. hes pretty well set up wouldn’t you say? Hes also married and has one little boy. I met his boss while I was home on leave this time and he told me I had the voice for radio with a little practice & learning. Before I left he said to come see him when I get out of the Marine Corps and maybe we could work something out. I just might take him up on it too!

I finally got my camera in the mail yesterday and its loaded & ready to go. So as soon as I get this roll developed I’ll send you one, OK? Probably be a while so sit tight, OK?

My birthday is November 27, 1948. I think thats Turkey day, right? Whens yours? I’ll be 20 the 27th

I’ve changed the color of my car again! Wait a minute, I don’t think I’ve told you about that, have I? I ordered a 69 Plymouth Road-Runner while I was home this time. I just changed the color from Blue Metallic to Silver Metallic after I seen a picture of one that color. My dad is going to shoot me if I change it again I think. I just this big jump to be a perfect one if ya know what I mean? I figure if I’m going to pay for it I might as well get exactly what I want so I won’t be sorry later.

Its raining again here! But thats nothing new I guess. The Monsoon season has really set in now. We haven’t seen the sun for almost 2 wks now. This makes my third monsoon season, and when I go home it will be 2 birthdays and two X-mas’s here.

As I garantee the last of each. I’m going to be home next X-mas If I have to go U.A. which I’ve never done before. I wouldn’t extend over here again for 10 minutes for a 5 min. coffee break!

Well, I’ve got to write my grandmother yet tonight so I’d better sign off for now. And hope to hear from you soon! OK?

Bye for now

As Always,
Bert

Three pages on lined notebook paper, numbered 1, 2, and 3. Spelling and punctuation follow the original (for example, "brother job," "He in radio business," "Hes," "I seen," and "garantee"). The letter is headed "20 Oct. 1968" with "Sunday" beneath it; October 20, 1968 was a Sunday. "U.A." is the Marine Corps term for unauthorized absence. NEEDS VERIFICATION - wording: the call letters of his brother's station are read as "W.H.R.T.S."; the reading is uncertain. The town is transcribed as he spelled it, "Bethaldo" (presumably Bethalto, Illinois). NEEDS VERIFICATION - wording: "I just this big jump to be a perfect one" is transcribed as it reads; a word appears to be missing. The first word of page 3 is read as "As" and may be "And." He calls his car a "69 Plymouth Road-Runner" here and a "68" in his letter of September 8. Both are transcribed as written. NEEDS VERIFICATION - location: no place is written on the letter. NEEDS VERIFICATION - envelope pairing: the plain envelope carries the archive number "4" and has no postmark. It was scanned with page 3 of this letter and is matched to it on the archive number. In the original scan the envelope lies over the blank lower part of page 3, so that page image ends below the signature.
November 7, 1968
Vietnam (place not stated)

7 Nov. 1968
Thursday

Dear Barb,

Sorry about the stationary but its all I’ve got at the present. I should get some more pretty soon. Hope you opened it right and didn’t have to piece it together to read it. I wrote my mother on this a while back and she ended up piecing it back together to read it! Ha! Ha! Took me an hour to figure out how to fold it so the writing wouldn’t show. And the first one I wrote where I wasn’t suppose to and ended up writing it over.

Thanks for the Holloween card! I didn’t even remember it was Holloween till someone told me and I got your card. We’ve got another holliday comming up in 2 days, leastwise for the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps birthday is the 10th. We can’t really cellebrate by having a Ball like they do in the states though. The Commanding Officer (Col. Sexton) passed the word that everyone would have haircuts, shined boots and clean utilities on Nov. 10. Don’t worry though. We’ll find some way to cellebrate besides just shining our boots. Ha! Ha!

Had some bad news yesterday. My little brother was in a car wreck back home. But Thank God he only got a few bruses out of it and a good scare. Maybe he’ll be a little more careful who he decided to ride with now.

(over)

And I’m sure mom & dad will help do the picking when they can. Ha! Ha!

We got a new guy fresh from the states today. Glad I’m not in his shoes. “395” days to go! WOW! I’d go crazy if I still had 13 mo. to do over here. I’m not sure I can hold up for the “157” I’ve got left!

Well, I guess I’ll close for tonight. I promise to do better the next time if I get some different stationary, OK?

Bye for now

Bert

Written on a single folding air letter sheet printed "3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF, Vietnam," which serves as its own envelope. Page 1 is the inside of the sheet. Page 2 is the outside, where the letter continues above and below the address panel. Spelling and punctuation follow the original (for example, "stationary," "Holloween," "holliday," "comming," "cellebrate," and "bruses"). The letter is headed "7 Nov. 1968" with "Thursday" beneath it; November 7, 1968 was a Thursday. At the top of page 2 a word after "sure" is struck out, with "No. No" written small above it. Before "our boots" on page 1 another short word is struck out. He writes that the Marine Corps birthday is "in 2 days"; it is transcribed as written. NEEDS VERIFICATION - location: no place is written on the letter beyond the printed letterhead. The envelope image is the address panel of the same sheet, turned upright. It carries the archive number "5" and has no postmark. Its return address reads "Hqtrs. Co. 4th Marines (M.T.)."
November 17, 1968
Vietnam (place not stated)

17 Nov. 1968
Sunday

Dear Barb,

Hi again! Sorry I’m late as usual. I had to go to Quang-Tri Wed. and I just got back today because the truck I was driving broke an axle. All our mechanics were up here so when I came up with another one (which wasn’t easy) I had to fix it myself. It was suppose to be a one day trip.

Well only 10 more days, I’ll be all of 20 years old. Wow! I was born on Turkey day so every Thanksgiving I turn into a turkey, believe me? Didn’t think you would! Ha! Ha!

Got my pictures sent off so it shouldn’t be too long now. Just hope they turn out this time!

Here ya had a little tremor in good old Illinois. Mom wrote and said it really shook in my hometown. We live in a 60 x 12 house trailer and she said it really rocked back & forth on its foundation. Kinda glad I missed that one! Ha!

Training for a D.J.? Lets see. First of all a little on the job training. Then you go to Kansas City and take a test for

[The first page ends here. The rest of this letter was not among the scans.]

NEEDS VERIFICATION - incomplete: only the first page of this letter, numbered 1, was among the scans. It breaks off in mid-sentence at the bottom of the page. The remaining page or pages and the envelope were not provided, so the transcription is marked Partial and there is no envelope image. One page on lined notebook paper. Spelling and punctuation follow the original (for example, "suppose to be," "Here ya had" for "Hear ya had," and "Kinda"). The letter is headed "17 Nov. 1968" with "Sunday" beneath it; November 17, 1968 was a Sunday. "Wow!" is written small above the line. NEEDS VERIFICATION - location: no place is written on the letter. He says he had driven to Quang Tri on Wednesday and "just got back today."
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