Arnold's Letter Home #7

August 16th, 1966

First letter from Vietnam

Hello Ginny, Bob & Dawn,

I hate to say it but everything's pretty miserable over here. This is a crummy way to start a letter but thats just how it is. We're living in a sea of mud. I wrote and told Ma that it wasn't too bad so she won't be a nervous wreck ok?

Could you picture someone walking through some brush and step on a mine? I saw a kid of 18 do it. He lost his legs and went blind. I don't think I can take to much of this. If there is any way out of here I'll take it. I don't care what kind of discharge I get just so long as I get out. Right now things have cooled off a bit. All we've been getting hit by is a little mortar fire. We're building a base camp and that means plenty of work for about 4 months. I've only got 10 months to do over here. We're supposed to get home next July 5th. I'm up by the Cambodian border. A lot of VC up around here.

I haven't had to kill anyone yet and I hope I don't. I guess Jesus has been with me so far. In a few weeks the 105 cannons will be here and then we'll be going on missions, that means killing a lot of people and there's no way out of that. Unless I just keep praying but I don't know how that's gonna keep me from shooting a cannon. I just hope it does. I've gotta go Gin. Say hello to everyone.

Love,

 Arnold