I have an unusual war to share with you. My Viet Nam experience wasn't like what real soldiers experienced. First of all, most soldiers – real soldiers – didn't have the time to write long letters home every week and sometimes multiple times a week. I did. My parents saved them – I think they must have saved every one of them and I just unearthed them.
Second – not many soldiers were sent to “the front lines” to live in a villa with 2 maids and a guard. Granted, there was no kitchen and the furniture was pretty ramshackle, but it was far better than a tent. Our "home office" was in Saigon. I arrived in Pleiku in Feb., 1967. I had two “bosses” Tom Thomas and Joe Gannon. Both were grizzly old agents in their mid-forties with more than 30 years of service a piece. They let me in on a few secrets of our unit. After 45 years I can share them with you . . . including some of my mom's classified cookie recipes.
Previously Classified Secrets Now Revealed
Secret #1: We had no mission. We had no reason to be in either Pleiku or in Viet Nam. Ours was the only intelligence unit in the world assigned to a logistical command – the supply apparatus of the Army. Somebody in the Pentagon screwed up. Our duty was to stay out of everyone's way and not embarrass the brass. Both Thomas and Gannon shared one goal: complete this tour of duty safely and retire. Neither of them wanted anyone – most of all me – messing with that.
Secret #2: Survival in Pleiku depended on two things: the friends we made among the military in the area and keeping our home office in Saigon in Saigon. As far as the home office was concerned we were in the thick of all the danger surrounding Pleiku and they wanted no part of it. As far as the military was concerned we were civilians working for Military Intelligence.
Counterintelligence Agent
Llbear, Pleiku, Viet Nam, 1967
Friends from back home were always a danger to our cover.
April 14, 1967
Dear Mom and Dad,
Would you believe that I had company this morning? Would you believe Bill Gower? He saw me at the PX and I nearly flipped. So, I hustled him over to the villa for a drink. Actually, there were some people in the PX that know me as Mr. Pierce, and for them to find out that I am really in the Army would be most embarrassing.
What I want you to remember is this: As far as anyone is concerned, I am a civilian working in the rank of GS-9 (equivalent of a Captain) for the Army. I am over here so that I can make more money (in theory I currently earn roughly $10,000) and I have signed a two year contract. That is the standard story Bill got and I think he may believe it. By the way, I got a medical discharge after graduating from Ft. Holabird [ed. note: U.S.A.I.N.T.S. - US Army Intelligence School – we all thought we were going to become James Bond] due to the trouble I was having with my feet.
Thanks for the care package containing the boots – just in time for rainy season – and the candy. Mama San and Baby San tried their best to convince our guard, E Blut Ne, that they were something horrible. The 3 of them were kind enough to leave me 2 – count them – 2 pieces. Apparently none of them liked banana-flavored hard candy either. Oh, and Mama San made Blute bury the wrappers in the back yard. Baby San ratted her out.
Mom, how you manage to send bird nest cookies is just amazing [Note: Recipe is in the comments AFTER we have raised $500 – Yep. That makes me that totally shameless.]. Gannon says that his wife gave up on trying to send him cookies at least 20 years ago. They always arrived as crumbs. [That secret revealed too – I'm shameless but not at the expense of the troops – in the comments.]
Every month my parents sent a care package. They were sent to the home office, the label was removed and burned, and the clerk wrote in my name. Each month the cookies – least 6 dozen – were different. If this diary does well, I can be bribed to reveal more recipes. I am absolutely devoid of shame.
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. . . and there is more
Special message from me: I know how much this DailyKos community has done for members of its' own family. It's amazing. That's what famlies - real or virtual - do for each other. So, please use your e-mail lists and make a special plea to your friends outside of DailyKos to support this effort.
UPDATE EVEN BEFORE BEING PUBLISHED: Ono tells me there is a $100 match offer on the table. So, work your e-mail lists and drive up those dollar donations.