Thursday, May 2, 1968

May 2, 1968

Tonkin Gulf

Dear Mother,

I got your letter of April 25 this morning after receiving your tape and the pictures yesterday. So I'll go ahead and answer your letter now while I have the time.

Yes, grandma devoted some of her last letter to me telling me how she noticed Connie was so lonely now that her wedding was called off. Big deal! The type of person that I know her as I'd say she brought her own "heartbreak" to herself. No doubt she'll find other interests soon enough and you most likely won't be seeing much of her then. Of course grandma never says anything to me about the past and if she ever does I'm telling you she is barking up the wrong tree. Its as simple as this; you were doing what you thought was right. Bill has managed to live through it and he should be growing wiser, the past is over and the best thing to do is forget it and chalk it up as experience.

This afternoon the chaplian came aboard and heard confessions and said Mass. I took time to attend both.

Our gun system is in pretty bad shape. The fire-control radar is down and we are waiting on parts. Two of the three gun mounts are down and also awaiting repair parts. It kind of makes a guy wonder just what we would do if we had to have some defense sometime. But we aren't out here alone and we know long ahead if we are in danger.

Just a short while ago two Migs were shot down by aircraft from the Ranger, one of the carriers out here. We sent our helo out to search for the VC pilots but I don't think they will have any luck. The action took place about 60 miles north of us.

As far as the correspondence course goes, I applied for the test at least six weeks ago and as of yet the test hasn't got here. I'll have to go to the office again and remind them of it. I want to get this course done and out of the way so I can start on another and this delay isn't helping a bit.

I'll be looking forward to getting the package and the books. Its rather hard to say how long it will take to get here but I'd say about two weeks at least, depending on how you send it.

Today the pay scale for the raise which goes into effect July 1 was posted. According to it I'll be getting $251 a month. Breaking that down that means I'll clear $50 a week. Really great! But thats more than I made in any job I had back home. I just hope I can save up as much as I am expecting to in the next 14½ months.

Well I'll close for now and get this in the mail. Bye for now.

Your son, Mike