Friday, February 9, 1968

9 Feb., 1968

Subic Bay, Phillipines

Dear Mother & Dad,

I know I just wrote to you a couple of days ago but, in the meantime I have received the package, your note with the W-2's, and a letter today, so I figure I have some writing to do.

When the tax refund comes, just put it in the bank. Take these money orders and do the same. I figure after the tax refund I'll have about $500. Am I right?

No one really knows for sure what ships we will join when we leave here. One thing is for sure, we'll be in the combat zone at last.

This is a pretty nice base here. There is a lot to do without going into the town. They try to discourage that because its not the best place to go on liberty. In case you wonder just where we are, its about 50 miles west of Manila.

This afternoon I took some of the guys from the division to pick up some machine-gun ammunition in the pick up truck. As is usual we didn't get it because of a lack of proper authorization on the part of the ship. At any rate it helped waste the afternoon. Tomorrow is Saturday and a full working day. They just don't let up, but I can say that I don't really exert myself too much.

Thanks for taking the time to have those extra pictures made. She will be glad to get them. The picture here was taken by one of the guys one afternoon while I was on watch.

The package arrived in good shape and got here on the 7th, the day we got in here. I was really glad you sent it. Thanks a lot.

Bill has wrote a couple of times but hasn't sent a new address. He wrote when he left the states and sent a card from Hawaii.

I am expecting some pictures back any day, and will send them when they come.

You and David might be counting the days till school is out, but you can be sure that I'm counting the days till we get back in the states. We are over three weeks out of the states and really a long way from home.

I have been doing pretty good on the course. I think I will put in for the test and take it before I finish the course, you can do this if you feel you know the material.

I think I'll have you cancel the newspaper subscription as soon as it runs out. I enjoy getting it but when you don't get mail every day the papers are pretty old by the time you get them. They print up papers off of the teletype when we are at sea, so you can see we aren't really shut off from civilization in that respect.

I'll probably go over to the E.M. club tonight and have a few beers then come on back to the ship.

That's about it for now. The next time you hear from me we should be off of 'Nam. Take care of everyone and write again.

Your son,

Mike