Love Always Us54607898: Letters from an American Soldier in Vietnam to His Wife Back in the "World"

By John Derral Hargroder

Love Always, US54607898 is not a novel; it is the telling of a true story through a soldier''s letters home to his wife. This book is the compilation of the letters John Derral Hargroder (US54607898) wrote to his wife during his tour of duty in Vietnam beginning in April ''68. The setting of this true story is war, but the focus is life and relates how a relationship endures through such difficult times.
Unlike more recent wars, the war in Vietnam took place in a time when letters were the only means of communicating with love ones back home.People relied on these letters, waited for these letters, lived for these letters;and that is what Love Always is, the collection of those cherished letters.Step into the role of the wife receiving those treasured letters and you will experience the life of a soldier as he deals not only with life in the jungle but also with the boredom and frustration of base camp. Moreover, not only will you undergo his experiences, but also the indescribable constant worry of the lonesome wife back at home who has to continue on with life.
Love Always is not juist a war story, it''s not just a love story; it is a story about life and how it goes on even through war.It has it all: religion, fear, financial matters, politics,drugs, love and boredom all in the arena of war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 11, 2005
• ISBN: 9781420815214

John Derral Hargroder

John Derral Hargroder was reared on a small Louisiana cotton farm where his family, religion, and hard work were the primary influences in his life.  During his final year of college he married his high school sweetheart and one year later was drafted into the US Army.  He began a tour of duty as an infantryman in Vietnam in April of 1968.  During that significant year in his life he wrote 157 letters to his young wife sharing candid views of his emotions and experiences.  Thirty-five years later he decided to publish the collection of letters as a portrayal of life during those very tumultuous times.

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Contents

FOREWORD

Part I

FNG

Part II

Base Camp Warrior

Part III

Short

AFTER WORD

GLOSSARY

OF TERMS AND NAMES

About the Author

FOREWORD

In the spring of 1968 PFC John Derral Hargroder (US54607898) at the age of 21 began a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Trained as an infantryman, he was assigned to the 4th Division headquartered in the Central Highlands near Pleiku. Nineteen months earlier, while a senior at McNeese State University, he married his high school sweetheart, Theresa. After graduating from college in 1967, he was drafted into the Army. He was assigned to basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana where he also received his advanced individual training (AIT) as an 11B Infantryman. Following AIT, he spent two weeks in training at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he learned to drive Armored Personnel Carriers. After a short leave, he departed for Vietnam through the out-processing center at Fort Lewis, Washington.

What follows is the collection of letters to his young wife Theresa back in the world. These letters have been left entirely in their original form in order to preserve the characters in time without molding them to our modern standards. Therefore, the reader should be prepared for expressions and terms that might be offensive to the modern reader but reflect the disposition of the character in that time and in that setting. Raised picking cotton on his catholic family’s small farm in southwest Louisiana, this naïve southern farm boy was the product of the time and of his culture whose world was expanded by war. These letters reveal how this young sheltered man adapted to a different world, a world of war but also a world very different from life at home in many ways.

Part I

FNG

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Friday Night

5 April 68

Dear Wife,

It’s kind of soon to be writing but I decided if I want to keep you up with the news I’ll have to write now.

First and foremost, I miss you very much in fact a hell of a lot. Boy Theresa was I sad when I left you at the airport. I came about | | that far from crying. Anyway, (to get off the subject before I get too lonesome & go home) I caught my plane in Houston at 5:45. It cost me $66 to go standby. I drank one beer in Houston & the rest of the time I just sat there and thought about you. It was fun flying in the big jet (my buddy Kanka was with me also). We had free drinks also. We got in Seattle at 10:00 PM this time & we decided to stay in a motel outside the fort overnight (cost $5.00). We got up late this morning & came here. We met all our buddies from Fort Knox & we are all in the same barracks tonight. Out processing didn’t take long and I didn’t have to take a shot. We will leave tomorrow night (Saturday night) at 12:00 midnight. But when we get in Viet Nam it will be Friday or Saturday again (we gain a day). I am glad we are leaving soon because the sooner we get out there the sooner we get back. Or the sooner I see you in Hawaii.

I got my jungle fatigues & boots today. They feel good they are made of a kind of nylon. I look like a warrior in them. There are 11 pockets on the fatigues. Boy Tee I can put my hands in my pocket.

Theresa the country out here is sure pretty. There are pretty hills & fir trees (the kind used for Christmas trees). Also when it’s clear you can see blue mountains in the background. Its kind of cool out here I guess in the 40’s. This afternoon it sleeted awhile but it wasn’t cold. So far we have been treated pretty good out here. (On the radio our song is playing – Honey.) We have all day tomorrow to wait so I guess we might catch a few details.

I am going to keep the $30 I have extra because they say we don’t get paid for a while. Don’t worry I will have plenty. I hope you will have enough.

I hope I get a chance to call you before I leave but if I don’t it’s because I didn’t have a chance to so forgive me. Anyway, tomorrow at 2:00 your time start counting the year off ok. Believe me I will. I am very anxious to get to Nam. And I’m still not scared. I guess God is still with me, lets pray that he stay there.

Hey I guess you heard how Martin Luther King was shot to death. I was walking & talking with a nigger when we saw the news. I sure was surprised. Even though I didn’t agree with the man’s views its terrible he must die that way.

Hey Theresa we are only 200 miles from Canada. I feel like slipping over & calling for you. By the way I will be anxious to hear how the rains are coming, be sure and let me know when you write. By the way they told us it takes 3-7 days for mail to go one way from Viet Nam to home.

Well Theresa I will have to close now because I have to get up at 5 :00 o’clock AM & I’m not quite use to it you know. So bye I hope to call you & I will try to write while on the plane so be good & stay perfect.

Love Derral

PS. I’m still virgin after 1 day just about 370 left. Baby I can’t say how much I miss you but I’ll always keep you in my mind so how can I go wrong. You should see how these guys make jokes about getting legs blown off & dying. You know when you read this I’ll be in Nam good & warm. Love you a lot & miss you more.

Bye beautiful

Monday Night

8 April 68

Dear Theresa

Well kid here is my first letter from Nam. We arrived here at noon today here in Cam Rahn Bay (the safest place in Viet Nam).

I was wrong about losing a day because instead of losing one we gained one. Sunday only lasted 5 hours and then we crossed the International Date Line which made it Monday. So I already have 2 days going on my year here. By the way my tour finishes 5 April 69.

Boy Theresa that was a long flight, 17 hours. You talk about get tired. We stopped in Hawaii for 1 hour but it was dark so we didn’t see much of it. From what I could see it looked beautiful. Also you should see the scenes from that airplane when we passed over islands. It is really beautiful. I sure do hope you get a chance to see it. Viet Nam (at least out here) is very pretty. We are at Cam Rahn Bay which is one side the China Sea & the other side is all big beautiful mountains. Its real safe out here because I believe there is not much action way down here. Hardly nobody carries a rifle. Boy I wish I could get stationed here. I should find out tomorrow night or Wednesday night where I go & what I do. Right away I find out I will let you know. Lets hope for the best.

Its kind of warm out here 115 degrees F. But its really about as hot as in the cotton fields back home. These jungle fatigues are nice because they are cool.

We are now in barracks. We take showers when there is water but sometimes it runs out. It doesn’t pay to take a shower because you start sweating right away. Boy Theresa everybody has a real pretty tan. Even just staying a couple of hours gave me a little tan. By the time I get to see you I will be real dark.

Out-processing ought to just take 1 or two days so that’s good. I don’t like places like this even though its nice. They have PX’s, snack bars, movies (outside) and the food is good. One good thing was real cold Kool-Aid & strawberry ice cream.

There is all kind of Vietnamese who works in the mess hall. It seems funny to see them around, just like a movie or something.

I don’t know my address & I won’t know until I get assigned to my unit so you’ll have a lot of news to send me when I get an address. Especially about junior.

Baby I miss you a lot and I can’t hardly wait to go to Hawaii with you. They didn’t talk to us about R&R yet I guess they will do it when I get to my unit.

Anyway I guess I will close now so until I get my assignment I will write again. Be good & I am being good so bye & I love you.

Love Always

Derral

P.S. 2 days down 363 left. You know you are beautiful. Bye Love

The Fun & Sun Capital

Of the World Thursday Morning

Vietnam 11 April 68

Hello Wife

Well I though by this time I could tell you what unit I was assigned but we still haven’t got our orders. I figure we ought to get them tonight. I will write again tonight if I get them.

This reception center sure is getting old. Yesterday afternoon I had K.P. just for 6 hours but it was enough. They have a movie out here & I went to it to see Murderers Row. Dean Martin & Ann Margaret and would you believe I kept going to sleep so I left and came to bed. I must have been pretty tired because going to sleep during an Ann Margaret movie is pretty hard to do.

Boy this is a hard war, we haven’t seen anybody fire a weapon yet and not even a Viet Cong around. Too bad I can’t stay around here. By the way this is the place guys ship out for R&R and to go home. I sure am anxious for my turn. Hey I am still anxious to find out how junior is coming. I was thinking if by some accident you are pregnant maybe by the time you could come to Hawaii it would be Christmas – nice. Anyway I sure would like to see you in 6 months.

You know one good thing about out here, the beer is 15 cents. Also Theresa I use to nag you about drinking cokes well if I get the chance I drink about 6 or 7 plus a lot of Kool-Aid each day. You will have to watch me when I get home.

You know something us Americans sure are lucky to have women like you. You really appreciate American women when you see these. Baby there is no comparison. I rather Boom Boom (guess what that means in Vietnamese) you any old time. One old Papa Son told us the women who wore bracelets are the ones who boom-boom so I will have to keep away from those – ug.

Well I’ll go now and I hope I have news to write to you tonight. I miss you a whole lot & baby stay perfect. Bye

Love Always

Derral

P.S. Already 6 days going. As the Vietnamese would say goodbye #1 (means best) wife. I love you Tee.

11 April 68

Thursday Night

Hi Theresa

I haven’t much to write since I wrote this morning. Like I though we did get our orders tonight and I will be with the 4th Division in Pleiku in the central highlands. Its located about ¾ up the country near the Cambodian border. It will be cooler up there than it is out here.

Well today we pulled some more rotten details. While we were hauling trash we passed by the beach. Theresa you ought to see it is beautiful. The sand is real white and the water is real clear. The water is also greenish-blue. You look out into the ocean and you can see islands in the distance. Its really beautiful and boy I felt like jumping in. Maybe it will be like that in Hawaii.

There are 5 of my buddies who got the same orders as me. Maybe we will be together in Pleiku.

Well Theresa I didn’t have much to say but I will write & tell you about my new home when I get the first chance. So until then stay beautiful & Happy Easter.

Love

Derral

P.S. I will write & give you my address when I can. This one below you can try but I don’t know if the letter will get to me.

PFC John Hargroder

US 54607898

APO San Francisco 96262

I love you "fat

.

Saturday Night

13 April ‘68

Hi Theresa

Hey I am beginning to write pretty often. Well you better enjoy it while it lasts because from what I hear we stay in the field pretty much and I won’t be able to write much.

I guess I will wish you a Happy Easter but when you get this it will be past

We arrived here in Pleiku yesterday April 12 (Good Friday). Its real dusty (red dust) and its cool. Its just like the pictures you see of Vietnam. The villages, rice patties, and the people. Its kind of hard to believe its true. We still haven’t seen any VC or haven’t been shelled because its safe on the base camp (9000 men here). It doesn’t look like there’s a war going on except for the millions of sand bags.

We will have one week here of training and then join our units out in the field next Friday (April 19).

While we here we pull details (ug) so naturally I am anxious to leave this place. I guess we will regret it once we get out in the field.

We are 24 miles from the Cambodian border and four miles away from the famous Ho Chi Min trail. The monsoon season will start in about one month so that’s something to look forward to (24 hours of rain a day for 3 months). Its red clay out here so that will be a nice mess. It’s a lot cooler out here in the highlands & real chilly at night.

There is a shortage of water & It’s all rationed. You should see how dirty we stay. We can take showers but it doesn’t pay because you get dusty red right away. I smell so bad I can hardly sleep with myself.

Well tomorrow is Easter & I will be pulling KP all day and Monday in the General’s mess. At least I will have good food. I hope I get a chance to go to church. I will probably even miss my egg hunt (ha!)

Theresa I love you. (Just thought I would remind you).

There is a shortage of cokes here so we don’t drink any. We get ice tea though. The food is pretty good. When I get to my unit I will make you send me plenty of Kool-Aid ok.

We talked to a guy who just came out of the field today. He told us he’s been here (in the field)10 months and he’s been back here at base camp twice (once for R&R & once to go to a school). It looks like I will be in the field a little. At least I will save money. He also told us they get a change of clothes every couple of months & eat a hot meal once or twice a month. You will have a little animal to put up with on R&R.

I fixed up my financial records last night. It seems I only get $140 per month so I will get $50 & will have your allotment increased $90 so you will be getting a check for $190 each month instead of $100 in May. You better save the money for Hawaii. A guy told us that it cost you $160 roundtrip from San Francisco to Hawaii because of a special rate. Boy am I anxious – Co Co. Speaking of Co Co I wonder if your "rainy’ season started.

I will enclose an address at the bottom and you can use it. It probably won’t get to me until much later but try ok. Don’t send any packages just a sweet letter. I won’t know my other unit’s address until next Friday.

Well baby I guess I will close so be good, Happy Easter & I sure miss you very much.

Love Always

Derral

P.S. Only 352 days left (51 weeks). Don’t worry about me baby God’s on my side. Bye Beautiful.

Here is my address

PFC John Hargroder

4 Ag Co ADMIN

APO San Francisco 96262

They told us to tell you’ll that if something would happen to me you would be notified by an Army man so don’t worry about phone calls. Bye Again.

10 Days in Vietnam &

I haven’t heard a gun shot

What a war

Tuesday Night

16 April 68

Hello Theresa

I have a couple of spare minutes so I decided I would write. Excuse the dirty paper because as I write I am so dirty I dirty the paper.

They sure keep us busy here. We go to classes all day & eat then pull details until 7:00 o clock. The last two days I was on KP so that was pretty hard. It was at the General’s mess hall and boy did we eat good. Sunday night we had grilled steaks & etc. Boy will I ever remember that Easter. We worked hard all day and I didn’t even get a chance to go to church. Next year I will make it up & I will be with you.

Things are still quiet around here I guess its because we are in base camp. Anyway Friday we will leave and I will be glad. We might go out on a patrol tomorrow night for our first time it ought to be fun because there is no VC around here.

Boy Theresa I am dirty and stinky. I haven’t had a shower since we left Cam Rahn Bay 5 days and my clothes are pretty bad also. I thought I was getting a tan but it is just dirt. Its scaly my skin its so dirty — pig.

It sure is dirty around here it makes you look forward to the jungles.

How was your Easter? Did you eat any chocolate bunnies? You’ll probably even had a corny egg hunt. I sure am anxious to get a letter from you. It will be good when I get my permanent address.

Well Theresa you don’t have to worry about me going after the women. They sure don’t turn me on. I think I will just save it for R&R ok. Boy Theresa once in a while when I have time I think of you & living with you. It sure hurts but remember we will never be separated again after this. I will have to close now so I can eat chow & go on detail. I might even drink a beer later on. Don’t forget I love you.

Love Always

Derral

P.S. I just heard a rumor that they are trying to pass a bill where married people will only have 9 months here (pray). 10 days gone 355 left. I sure do miss you beautiful.

Wednesday Night

17 April 68

Dearest Wife

This is not really a letter its just a note. I have got my unit orders and permanent address so I am sending it to you on the double so you can write me a letter right away.

I will be with the Co.A 2nd BN 35th Inf at Kontum. It’s a little northeast of Pleiku. From what I heard it is one of the best units to be with in the 4th. Its pretty safe… that is, they don’t see much action. I believe they don’t have APC’s so I guess I won’t drive one. It really didn’t make me that much difference. All I know is that I’ve got one year out here.

So baby I want you to quit reading this letter (it’s just bullshit anyway) and write me a nice letter. Boy am I anxious to get it. I almost forgot how to read its been so long since I’ve had a letter.

Things are still the same out here – dusty - but from what I’ve heard the monsoon season will start in a couple of weeks so that’s nice. What’s wrong with 24 hours of rain a day for a couple of months.

Well Theresa I will close now so you can write. I will write again when I get to my unit to let you know what its like. Bye, stay sweet & I love you bou ‘cou.

Love

Derral

My Address: PFC John Hargroder

US 54607898

D Co. 2nd Bn 35th Infantry

APO San Francisco 96355

P.S. I’m only 9000 miles away but I love you so that’s ok.

Bye Beautiful

You turn me on" 9000 miles away.

By The Old Warrior – John D. The Funny Fourth

Thursday Night

18 April 68

Hello Again

It looks like I am writing every day now but it seems something comes up which I must let you know.

Today we got paid for last month plus some travel pay. I had $20 on me and I got $69 today so I am sending you a money order for $60. I guess you cash it at the post office or maybe other places. Just use it if you need it or put it in our RR savings. As for me I don’t need money. The reason I kept some is to buy a camera if ever I get a chance. We will get paid again in about 2 weeks so maybe I will send some more to you. It sure is good – here I am on a vacation and I don’t need money.

Speaking of money, today while we were on the rifle range some Vietnamese kids came around trying to sell pot (dope). They had it in about 1 lb. bags. It looks kind of weird, seeing a five-year old junkie. Don’t worry fat I won’t try any of that stuff.

Well I will close now so bye love & be good – I still think your number 1 wife (as the Vietnamese would say).

All My Love

Derral

P.S. I finally leave this place tomorrow and I am anxious. Will write later. I think God is with me so don’t worry about me. You know he and I are starting to talk to each other pretty often. Don’t ever forget I love you very much. 352 days left 12 gone.

I sure do miss you Friday Night

19 April 68

Hello Beautiful (that’s you Theresa)

Here is my daily letter. I bet I am spoiling you writing everyday like that. You better take advantage of it because in a week I don’t believe I will be writing too often.

Well we shipped out tonight and we came here at headquarters of the 2/35th. It was just a couple of blocks from where I was before. It seems that we will be here in base for a week. I am not sure yet but they just tell us a little tonight. I will get more information tomorrow. It seems the unit I will be with is coming back tomorrow here at base camp for a weeks rest. I am already going to have a rest. Anyway we will leave with them when they go back to the field. I will know more tomorrow so I will write again & tell you about it.

The reason I wrote is to give you my permanent address. It is like the other one I sent you but it has a little more on it. So kid no more excuses you will now have my address.

Hey the way they talk this is a good unit. We have heard all kind of stories how they were getting slaughtered. Well a guy who knows told us tonight that in the last 9 months, they have been in a lot of battles but this whole big unit has only lost 10 men. Boy that is good. I will go now so bye be good and write.

Love You

Derral

Address: PFC John Hargroder

US54607898

D Co. 2ndBn 35th Infantry

3rd Bde 4th Inf Div

APO San Francisco 96355

I love you a lot

Hurry & Write

Monday Afternoon

April 22

Hi Theresa

Well kid I am saying hello from mile-high hill somewhere in Vietnam. Really I believe it is 50 miles from Kontum. I arrived here in the field yesterday (Sunday) by helicopter. It sure is fun riding those things and you get to see the whole part of the country.

Our unit is located here on mile-high (named because we are at the very top of a mountain). Right now I am looking out and I can see miles & miles of mountains, jungles, and rice patties.

Well kid we live in a bunker by squads. There are 5 other guys with me. They are all real nice and my squad leader is nice also. They all act pretty crazy but I guess you’ve got to be like that to exist here.

My first night last night was something new kid. I guess I was a little scared. I had guard from 2:30 – 4:00 AM and it was real dark. Boy did I keep my eyes open. I thought there was all kind of VC out there but there really wasn’t. All night they keep firing big guns and all kinds of weapons. They also had B52 (big bombers) attack on the VC