Dear Mama, I love you and miss you very much. Another cold night and hot day in the books. I finally got to take a shower yesterday. I can’t believe how dirty it is out here. I imagine it will only get worse. I've met all kinds of interesting folks from all over the States. I play checkers with an Italian guy from Connecticut and I met a black guy from Monroe, Louisiana. Sometimes we play ping-pong and cards to pass the time. The mosquitos are the worst out here, Mama.
I can’t believe how bad they are. My body is covered with bites. These aren’t normal skeeters out here, that’s for sure! I have to take my Malaria pills once a week. We also got our rifles assigned to us. I got a M16. Don’t be worried, Mama. I know how to use it. We had a little action around here last night around 3 am. I thought it was going to be an all out attack, but things died down and I was able to fall asleep until about 9am. It’s hard for me to not get depressed out here, Mama.
You don’t realize how nice it is in the States until something like this happens to you. I worry I won’t be the same person when I come home. That this horrible war will have changed me, and not in a good way. The days pass by so slowly. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever make it home alive. I hope you are doing ok and aren’t worrying too much about me. Try to send me a letter or two if you can. Have to head back to the hooch now for dinner. I’ll try to write you every day if I can. All my love, Richie
Author: Timmothy Bishop