Thursday, February 8, 1968

MIKE DUCY TO HOME — MANILA POSTCARD

February 8, 1968, from Subic Bay, Philippines

Postcard: "An Aerial View of Manila, PHILIPPINES"

2 scans (front and back)

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FRONT

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[Color aerial photograph of Manila, Philippines, showing the Pasig River

winding through the city center, the Intramuros walled district, Jones Bridge,

and surrounding urban area. Large neoclassical government building (Manila

Central Post Office) visible at river bend.]

Caption: "An Aerial View of Manila, PHILIPPINES"

Published by Kruger (#17501)

"Exclusively Distributed by National Book Store, Manila"

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BACK (Mike's handwriting, blue ink)

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8 FEB. 1968.

I GOT THE PACKAGE YESTERDAY, WHEN WE GOT HERE IN SUBIC BAY. I'M NOT SURE

HOW LONG WE WILL BE HERE BUT YOU CAN BE SURE IT WON'T BE FOR LONG. I HAVE

HEARD FROM BILL A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT NO ADDRESS. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, HE IS

IN 'NAM BY NOW. I AM WAITING FOR MORE PICTURES AND WILL WRITE WHEN THEY COME.

MIKE

Addressed to:

MR. & MRS. DAN DUCY

1525 N. ELLEN

DECATUR, ILL. 62526

U.S.A.

Stamp: 8-cent U.S. Air Mail (red, Capitol Building design)

Postmark: FEB 10 [year partially obscured]

Handwritten: "AIR MAIL" in blue ink with underlines

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NOTES

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First Subic Bay port call of the deployment, approximately February 7-8,

1968 (per logbook). Mike received a package from home upon arrival.

The most significant detail is Mike's mention of Bill: "I HAVE HEARD FROM

BILL A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT NO ADDRESS. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, HE IS IN 'NAM

BY NOW." Bill (Pfc. William P. Ducy, USMC, 7th Communications Battalion)

arrived in Vietnam in February 1968 but had not yet sent Mike his mailing

address. Mike knows his brother is in the war zone but cannot write to him.

The brothers would eventually meet face-to-face in Da Nang Harbor on

June 13, 1968 — four months after this postcard was written.

The postcard was purchased at the National Book Store in Manila, a major

Philippine bookstore chain. Subic Bay Naval Station was located on the

western coast of Luzon, about 60 miles northwest of Manila.

This is the second postcard in the collection. The first (July 9, 1968,

from Guam) was sent on the homeward voyage.