Monday, 23 Jan, ’67
[Okinawa]

We were informed today that we would embark for Viet Nam tomorrow around 1600. I went into the village outside Camp Hansen, here on Okinawa, for a little liberty tonight. I met an old friend from Com School, Jim Anderson, and we went into a bar together. We ordered drinks. The girls started getting friendly so I drank mine (my drink, that is) and left. For all I know, Jim is there, yet.

I bought a Kodak 104 for $8.00 at a pawnshop tonight. I was in the shop when a guy pawned a tape recorder for $2.00. I left and when I returned, I asked the Papason (A term for a Father figure in Oriental Countries)  what he wanted for it. "$7.00. It good recorder!" Ha!

Yesterday, at 1600, we departed from Camp Butler and at 1900, we reached Camp Futema. There, we boarded a c-125 Marine Corps Airplane. It was like a flying cattle car. We landed at Da Nang Airbase at 0130 this morning, but set our watches back to 0030, because we had crossed another barrier.

Today, after about four hours of rest, we listened for our names, all day to find out where we’d go. Of 12 communicators in our unit, three remained behind - L/Cpl. Gary Mortimer; L/Cpl. John Burr; and myself. Tomorrow, we will be provided with transportation to Phu Bi, 3^rd Marine Division, 4^th Battalion, 12^th Marines.

I saw Anderson here today, so I guess the girls let him go. Ha!

Thursday, 26 Jan, ’67

At 1035 today, Sargent Davies, L./Cpl. Mortimer, L/Cpl. Burr, PFC Burnette and I boarded a 2-prop plane for Phu Bai. We arrived there by 1055. By 1130, we reported to the CO of "E" Battery, 4^th Battalion, 12^th Marines, 3^rd Division, and here we sit, in our tent. We were told that this was the first day the sun had shone more than three hours. It was out all day. Ha!

Last night, I sat my first radio watch with PFC James F. Machacher.  Nothing much happened. He did most of the work. Tonight, I set it alone from 2000 to 2200.

Today some of us went over to the ARVN base and threw some old hand grenades. I got a good look at some of the Vietnamese people. They work constantly and laboriously. We passed a Vietnamese Army Boot Camp. The men were at the firing range and when we passed, they waived, smiled and gave us the "thumbs up" and really made me feel darn good. Some of the other guys, old salts, jeered at them. I don’t think the "Gooks" realized what they were doing though.

Today, we passed an Army base. They sleep 2 men to an air-conditioned trailer. We sleep 12 men to a tent. They sleep in beds. We sleep on cots. They even have a swimming pool. They have an outstanding club and we use our chow hall. To top it all off, they get "discomfort pay." They probably didn’t live that well at home. Ha!

Monday, 30 Jan ’67

The time does not fly but it passes quite rapidly. Today, I got a haircut. I went over to Division and one of the Vietnamese cut it with a pair of hand clippers. Surprisingly, they didn’t pinch. I guess they’ve cut so many people’s hair. But the straight razor they used would not make a good butter knife.

The other day, I found a stainless steel cup. It was full of wax so I set it in the sun to melt. This morning, I popped the wax out, scalded it at the chow hall and stuck it in my sea bag. It is pretty nice.

Note: Most boys, I guess, and I am one of them, go through life fighting with their sisters, and thinking how less attractive they are than the other girls one sees. I even thought, often, seeing some other boy’s sister, "Why can’t that be my sister?" or, "Why can’t my sister look like that?" But get away from that strange girl you grew up with for a while and it is a different story. Jane and I had some great times. I can see them now, now that they’re all gone. Ha!