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Mail Call

By Shane Collins

 

Patrol Base “Swordfish”

February 13, 1968

  DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

101 st INFANTRY DIVISION

AO Victor-36

Patrol Base “Swordfish”

Hue, Vietnam

March 13, 1969

MEMORANDUM FOR: 1 st LT Randall Sheppard

SUBJECT: The First Thirty Days

Well done Lieutenant on making it through the first month of your deployment. The past 14 days have been the bloodiest of the war but your unit has not faltered. You and your men have done a fine job conducting ambushes, raids and securing your Area of Operations.

I found out this morning about CPL Samson Briggs. There’s nothing worse than losing a man under your command and I know you have endured a few. When you are able, submit a full report of the incident. If nothing else, I will see to it that his wife or girlfriend can have a bronze star to remember him by.

I will radio you at 0700 on March 15 with Operations Order regarding the details of your extraction. Assure your unit however that they will be having showers and hot chow within the week. I will contact Headquarters and see what can be done about getting a replacement for Briggs.

DWIGHT HOWARD

LIEUTENANT COLONEL

Company Commander 1 st COM 6 th BTN

 

  DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

101 st INFANTRY DIVISION

6 th BTN Headquarters

Hue, Vietnam

March 14, 1969

MEMORANDUM FOR: LTC Dwight Howard

SUBJECT: CPL Samson Briggs Incident Report

On March 11 th at approximately 1400, 2nd squad 1st platoon conducted a raid on suspected Viet Cong Listening Post “Hyena”. Two hostiles were killed during the assault but not before transmitting a distress signal. SGT Forbes quickly policed the area and ordered the squad to fall back to Rally Point Alpha using 2-man buddy rushes. CPL Briggs ignored the order however and instead, manned a captured enemy machine gun found on-site.

CPL Briggs fired approximately 250 rounds, killing at least three hostiles and causing their whole unit to retreat before being killed by an enemy grenade. I did not personally see the event, but SGT Forbes was adamant about CPL Briggs’ heroism and courage. I will submit the paperwork for his recommendation when I return to HQ.

RANDALL SHEPPARD

1 ST LIEUTENANT

1 st Platoon Leader

  

Dear Martha,

If you’re reading this, then I’m not coming home from Vietnam. I’ve been staring down at this white letter for two hours now and I’m not quite sure what to say. Sergeant Forbes said I shouldn’t even write it – that it’s bad luck – but he’s too superstitious I think. You remember Robert Forbes from my Dining-In Ball before I deployed, don’t you?

I guess tell Timmy that I’m sorry I can’t be around to teach him to throw a ball and all of that. My father left when I was little though and I turned out all right. Tell my mom not to get mad at Uncle Sam either. I’m proud to be over here and besides the humidity and the bugs, it’s not so bad. The humidity is really bad though. The guys that have been in country for a while say that “if you survive the first week, you’ll be okay”. It’s already been two weeks so it won’t be long before I can tear up this letter and kiss you again.

Oh, and here’s me being a good Catholic:

*      I’ve taken the lord’s name in vain regularly for the past 11 years

*      After basic training, I got into a drunken fight with some hippy – I think I broke his nose

*    I lied; I did steal your panties before I deployed

Love Sam

 

February 4th

Dear Randy,

I’m due in three days. I feel like a great big water balloon, like the ones we used to throw at each other when we were kids. And my feet are swollen like grapefruits. I know I must sound selfish, but I can’t help it. Relishing my own discomforts stops me from thinking about what you must be going through.

My sister and your mother will be arriving tomorrow and staying at the house until after the baby is born. They probably won’t stay for long however. I don’t know what I’ll do when it’s just me and Patty. I’ve taken to calling him Patty, what do you think? The house is lonely and I get afraid at night sometimes. I saw the news this evening about all the fighting that’s happening and that scared me too.

Stay safe Randy and know that I love you can’t wait for you to return to me. I’m going to get a Polaroid of Patty and me when he’s born and send it in my next letter.

Love Always,

Your Jane

 

February 6 th

Dear Sam,

I haven’t heard from you in a couple weeks. I hope you are doing all right over there. I’m sure you must be fighting off all of the raven-haired Vietnamese girls and Red-Cross nurses. If not for Timmy, I think I’d join the Red Cross just so that I could come and see you.

Timmy said his first word today, do you know what it was? Papa. You’d better hurry back dear before you miss any more. With the money you sent me and what I’ve saved up from the office, I reserved this very beautiful banquet hall to host our reception. It wasn’t cheap so if your orders get extended, the Army better reimburse me. I’ve also been looking at cathedrals. Remember the one on Fearing Street where you and I used to make love in the back of Jimmy’s truck? Your mother wants us to get married there! Can you believe that? I don’t know if I even want a Catholic wedding on account of little Timmy but your mother is very insistent. Hurry up, come home and make an honest woman of me already. I’m tired of the cold spot in my bed.

Love Martha

 

February 6

Dear Robert,

I have not had any letters come in from Sam recently. Have you told him about us? I know what I said in my last letter but I sure hope you haven’t. When Sam is upset, he gets reckless and war is no place to be reckless.

I keep thinking about the water tower and the crickets and the ducks that waddle by the lake and the barn but we can’t do those things any more. I feel like I’m half a person, writing to the two of you over there. Timmy said his first word this week and it made me realize some things.

Please do not write to me anymore. I wish you the best and know that I will never forget you.

Goodbye,

Martha

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Shane Collins graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with a BA in English and a concentration in Creative Writing. He has been featured in Jabberwocky, Sex and Murder (Issue 3 and forthcoming), and The Blackstick Review. He was nominated to be featured in the Dzanc 2010 Best of the Web anthology.