May 17, 1970

Dear Mom,

Sorry I haven't written in a while but I have been out in the field since May 1st. I am still out now. As you probably know we have gone into Cambodia.

So much had happened in the last 3 weeks I wouldn't know where to start. In 4 days 3 of my trucks got blown up by mines. Luckily no one was killed in any of the explosions. When the first one hit a mine I thought for sure the driver was killed when I looked back and saw the truck flying in all directions. Fortunately two dump trucks and a tractor trailer hit mines and they are extremely heavy. Altogether 4 people were injured in the three incidents. In the first one the road was swept and they missed all four mines, one of my trucks hit one, a Vietnamese in an ox cart hit one and was killed, one of my men found one and I found the other one. I dismantled the one I found. You aren't supposed to, we usually blow them in place, but I wanted to say that I have disarmed one, and also I am keeping part of it as a souvenir.

We have been doing quite a bit of demo work in Cambodia blowing up large catches (?). A few days ago I blew up a lot of medical supplies and turned it in on a situation report. Next day I got called in because I guess it is against the Geneva Convention to destroy medical supplies. They told me if you destroy them not to report it. So now I am probably a war criminal, ha. Actually Cambodia is not bad because they are running around like chickens with their heads cut off and most of them don't have any combat experiences. The bad part is near the border before you get across because that's where the hard core NVA are and they really know what their doing.

Two days ago a part of C-Co, 65th Eng Bn got ambushed near the border and have two killed. Most of the American causulties are coming from our own artillery being miss directed. The stock market situation looks bleak, which is good in a way since we are pretty much out of it. By the time I get out of the Army we ought to be able to make money. Fricke is really an ass having you buy Tennaro in this sort of market. Watch it close and if it doesn't fall too far hold it, when this market turns around it should go up.

I suggest you take $3000 out of the bank and put it with the $7000 and buy treasury notes. Also buy all the Halmer you can it really looks good. Try to buy (???) 10 or so, but don't be held back by fractions of a point. I think it should be a real money maker.

Whats new with NORD.

Say hi to everyone.

John

P.S. Tell Pat my recorder is broken and as soon as it is fixed I'll send her one.

Landmine removal - Photos taken by John- 1970 Vietnam

June 19, 1970

Dear Mom,
Sorry I haven't been writing you regulary, but I have been finding it rather hard to write lately.  We are still up at Katum but have pretty well pulled out of Cambodia.  Tay Nihn is being turned over to the ARVN's so we will be going to a place called Dau Tieng about 20 miles east and slightly south of Tay Ninh.  It borders on the Michelin Rubber plantation.  I think we will be there for the entire wet season.  Three days ago my platoon got ambushed (for the 5th time since we have been in Cambodia).  One of my men died yesterday from the wounds suffered in the ambush (three bullets in the stomach).  One of my men lost his leg, it was blown off when an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) hit the door where he was sitting.  We found the leg in the truck after he was dusted off.  Another one of my men got his elbow shot off and got two bullets in the back.  All together 5 of my men were wounded and dusted off.  Since we have been in Cambodia I have had two trucks destroyed by mines, two by RPGs and my bucket loader destroyed by RPG's.  I have 12 men left in my platoon.  7 of my people have been wounded by enemy fire and 3 through non combat injuries.  
I don't know what the newspapers have been saying, but we are in the lower fishhook region and we are being beaten.  Our whole brigade (1st Brigade) is losing men like flies and we are getting many of the NVA.
I will be glad when we get out of here and things get back to normal.  Watch stocks carefully during any rally so that you might be able to sell some dogs.
Also keep checking with Dick Evens about buying more Holmer.  I would like to buy some myself so if you can get a hold of some I would like to buy a few hundred shares.
Take care and say hi to everyone and try to explain to them about my not writing.
Later,

John

June 20, 1970

Dear Mom,
Sorry I haven't been writing you regularly, but I have been finding it rather hard to write lately.  We are still up in Katum but have pretty well pulled out of Cambodia.  Tay Ninh is being turned over to the ARVN's so we will be going to a place called Dau (?) Tieng about 20 miles east and slightly south of Tay Ninh.    It borders of the Michelin Rubber plantation.  I think we will be there for the entire wet season.  Three days ago my platoon got ambushed (for the 5th time since we've been in Cambodia).  One of my men died yesterday from wounds suffered in the ambush (three bullets to the stomach).  One of my men lost his leg, it was blown off when an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) hit the door where he was sitting.  We found the leg in the truck after he was dusted off.  Another one of my men got his elbow shot off and two bullets in the back.  All together 5 of my men were wounded and dusted off.  Since we have been in Cambodia I have had two trucks destroyed by mines, two by RPGs and my bucket loader destroyed by RPGs.  I have 12 men left in my platoon.  7 people have been wounded by enemy fire and 3 through non combat injuries.
I don't know what the newspapers have been saying, but we are in the lower fishhook region and we are being beaten.  Our whole brigade (1st brigade) is losing men like flies and we are getting the NVA.
I will be glad when we get out of here and things get back to normal.
Watch stocks carefully during any rally so that you might be able to sell some dogs.
Also keep checking with Dick Evens about buying more Holmer.  I would like to buy some myself so if you can get a hold of some I would like to buy a few hundred shares.
Take care and say hi to everyone and try to explain to them about my not writing.
Later
John

July 6, 1970 (last letter)

Dear Mom,
I am still in Katum.  You might have heard on the news around July 2 about a sapper attack at Katum.  13 sappers came through the wire.  They killed 3 GIs and wounded 27.  One of my men got killed.  He was blown to pieces.  9 of the 13 sappers were killed.  We got ambushed again a couple of days after I last wrote you.  This time it was a different story.
Everyday I took my jeep.  I carried a M-60 machine gun with 1500 rounds of ammo.  I had two men in back with M-79 grenade launchers, plenty of hand grenades and 4 LAW's (light anti tank weapon) (They look like a bazooka but are portable and you throw them away after you fire them).
Anyway my jeep was in the middle and when they fired the first RPG we raced up and I put about 200 rounds in the direction of the fire.  Then my gun quit and I grabbed two LAW's and fired them.  Meanwhile one of my men was running down the ditch line throwing grenades into the bushes on both sides of the road.
The fight lasted about an hour and we shot up enough ammo to stop an army.
Please renew my WSJ subscription.  Also how many Holman shares are for sale.  Make sure you buy them I will buy what you don't want from you.  I got some cookies and letters from Jill tell her thanks and I will try to write her. 

Later,
John
P.S. How's Debbie's trip?
P.S.S.  I think now is a good time to look for underpriced stocks in growing companies.  I don't think the market is going to get any lower.