To Wish You Many Joys at Christmas and Every Happiness in the New Year
December 18, 1968
Hi Larry,
I bet you thought I would never write. I think I got my letter writing done when I was in the service. Their isn’t a day that goes by that my thoughts aren’t with you. We are always praying for you.
Jackie and Kathy are really growing up. you won’t recognize them when you get home. The get into everything, just like you used to. I always mention your name and show your picture to them so they still remember their cousin.
Hope you aren’t having it too rough Larry. I hope you had a good time when you went on R&R. You’d better watch them women!
I was telling Charlene the other day, when you get home we are going to take you over to the Shrimp House in Indianapolis for a lobster dinner. We took a vacation last summer to Maine. That is where they raise them. We had our fill. You could get them a lot cheaper.
Cheryl said to say, “Hello” an d that she is thinking about you!
Charlene said the same. She wishes the best of luck to you. Larry, I am a pretty lucky guy. She is a pretty good gal.
I hope this letter finds you in good health and Larry, whatever you do, always keep your chin up. I am going to close and I know that I am bad at writing. But I always think of you.
God bless you and be careful.
Your Uncle, Jack
Hoping that Christmas…
Christmas without you isn’t so merry!
December 15, 1968
Larry,
Hi man, what’s happenin’? What did you do on your birthday? You should’ve seen all the stuff we had to eat on your birthday. We had turkey, dressing, dumplings and white cake. It was really groovy. Has anyone written you about M.H. [Madison Heights] getting zulched by Crispus Attucks? They beat us by about 20 points.
What are you doing on Christmas? Do you think you’ll get drunk? Did you get drunk on your birthday? How did you spend that day? Like usual, huh? Well, have a very merry Christmas.
Love ya,
Carol
Across the Miles with Warmest Wishes – December 1968
Dear Larry:
Even thought you are not home for Christmas, our thoughts are of you and wish you could be here with us. So here is hoping that you are a Merry Christmas and that the new year will bring peace.
Love,
Mom, Dad and Family
Military Payment Certificates – 9th Division NCO-EM Mess System
While in Vietnam, servicemen could not use U.S. currency. They were paid in Military Payment Certificates or MPC. Here is a link to some Vietnam-era MPC’s.
“After the official end of U.S. participation in the Vietnam War in early 1973, the only place where MPC remained in use was South Korea. In autumn of 1973, a surprise conversion day was held there, retiring MPC and substituting greenbacks. MPC was never again issued, and the concept lay dormant until the late 1990s, when it was revived somewhat in the form of a Stored Value Card system, presently used by U.S. armed forces in Iraq.” -Wikipedia
According to Legacy of Valor, “…we were paid in MPC and there were no coins so if you needed to pay say .35 cents for something you would tear off the tickets from the book.”
Homeward Bound – Vietnam Short Timer’s Calendar
A “short-timer’s calendar” was used by soldiers in Vietnam to count their remaining days left in the country. These usually consisted of a sectioned line drawing with “color in” blocks, numbered with a count-down of remaining days (similar to “Paint by number”) and began at usually 30 to 90 days. When a soldier had very few days left in-country, he was considered to be “short”. [information taken from http://www.landscaper.net/short.htm]
To Wish You a Merry Christmas – 1968
Dec. 11, 1968
Hi Larry,
Gosh, long time no see, but trust you’re being good and very cautious. Hoping you get a chance to see Bob Hope, guess he puts on a wonderful show. Lana said she wrote you. She’s got a cute apt. and loves her job. All’s well at your home and in the Sac. [Sacilowski] family. Ray bowled tonight, he really likes golf better. I’m slow getting with Xmas but I will get the lead out soon. Well, Larry, everyone holds good thoughts for you and until we see you, remember to pray and have a wonderful year. One of these days you’ll be home with it all in back of you.
Love ya,
Genevieve
