Wednesday, February 21, 1968
36. WED. 21 FEB., 1968. AT SEA, SAR STATION. CONDITION III SET. CLOUDY, RAINY, COOL. 2030 — REFUEL FROM USS. NECHES (AO-47).
Original Logbook Page
From Mike's letter, 18 Feb 1968 — FIRST LETTER FROM THE COMBAT ZONE: "While we were anchored there I had an M-1 rifle and a clip of cartridges by my side during the day while I was topside working. When they say there are about 500 air strikes a day you better believe it. With all the air traffic a person might think he was at O'Hare or some other large airport. We could hear some shooting in the hills but we were in a safe place (I think)." [Letter]
From Mike's letter, 18 Feb 1968: "I have been keeping a day to day log of the days on the cruise. By the time we get back to the states I'll have a good summary of what and where we went." — This is the logbook that forms the backbone of this timeline. [Letter]
From Mike's letter, 18 Feb 1968: "Everyone looks at this from a serious view and thats the way it should be. I often wonder about Bill, knowing he is close around here somewhere. I know he is going to have some hard times in the year he is over here and I also pray that he can make it okay. As for myself I can think of no better way and safer way to get in the combat duty and extra $65 a month than to be right here where I'm at." [Letter]
From the Feb 18 Familygram: "Since that morning when we cast off all lines and slowly moved away from Pier Two in San Diego, we have cruised almost 8,000 miles." [Familygram]
Letters
Mike Ducy to HomeMike to Home
21 Feb. 1968
At sea, Tonkin Gulf
Dear Mother & Dad,
Here's a few lines to let you know I got the envelopes and your letter of Feb 12 yesterday. I also got a letter from Bill. Of course he was very descriptive in his observations of the situation there.
No, as you probably have figured out by now Bill and I were unable to see each other in Da Nang. For obvious reasons that is not a liberty port and the only way I could see him would be for him to come out to the ship when he knew we were there.
I'm glad you gave me some indication of the mileage breakdown. I figure that Bill and I are about 10,000 miles from home now that we are here. It doesn't seem possible. Look on the map and find the Tonkin Gulf. We are in the southern part off of N. Viet Nam.
You mentioned baking bread. Thats a coincidence because they bake all the bread when we are at sea. Just like home!
I'm glad you have mailed the magazine to me. If it is Popular Electronics, they were suppose to have changed the address so it is mailed to me. Oh well just as long as I get it, I'll at least have something to read.
Tomorrow is payday. I will get $167. Thats tax-free base pay for two weeks and combat pay for 22 days. These are only a few of the benefits of being over here. Big deal, the pay is the main thing.
We should be getting mail brought out to us just about every day now. There is not much to look forward to out here but the mail makes up for some of the monotony.
Yes, I too was a little curious about the situation at the Greve's. I guess Larry is in for four years. Bill and I will have our time in and the rest of the guys we know will still have a long way to go. Have you heard anything about Mike Siebert. I read the article about the Bates kid in one of the papers I got in Subic. I kind of had him figured for that type. I guess he is afraid to let go of the apron strings.
Since I just wrote a couple of days ago there isn't much more news. I'll be awaiting to answer your letters. Bye for now.
Your son,
Mike
Original Scans
Photos
- Da Nang Harbor — harbor view; LST in Da Nang Harbor; Monkey Mountain from Da Nang Harbor; USS Repose (hospital ship) in Da Nang Harbor. (4 photos)