The repair of the bridge (CAP 2-2-4) on Highway 4 became a major construction project, and a special team of Combat Engineers arrived on Hill 65. They came with heavy equipment and a mobile crane to lift the trusses into position. The bridge would be stronger and able to withstand the weighty traffic of our tracked vehicles.
The afternoon mail call went on as usual, and Top Culverhouse handed out more absentee ballots. I received a thick package from my father-in-law and a letter from Jenny. The young Marines were interested in the ballots because most could not vote. I looked over my ballot and thought . . . “none of the above.” We didn’t have enough information about the candidates. The STARS AND STRIPES was completely lacking in that regard.
Jenny’s letter related her experience at my Aunt’s wedding in the San Fernando Valley. I loved those family reunions as a kid, and I looked up to my grandfather who was a pilot during WWII. He flew over “The Hump” (Himalayan Mountains) in India to resupply the Chinese war effort. I played with his Army Air Corps ribbons in his small workshop, next to the chicken coops.
The package from Jenny’s Dad was all TIME magazines which had several articles about the ongoing political campaigns. George Wallace, Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were the candidates for President. There were also features on their running mates, General Curtis LeMay, Spiro Agnew and Edmund Muskie. It was a plethora of information, and I was both fascinated and excited to be able to cast a presidential vote from my hooch in Vietnam.
I am a retired restaurant manager. My wife Jenny and I have been married for 50 years, have three grown children and two teen grand kids.
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My Vietnam Experience 