Mail Call in Vietnam – Dear John…

When military personnel are away from their family for extended periods of time, the most treasured gift they can receive is mail – a letter from home. Regardless of race, sex or rank, correspondence from “The World” is an escape, allowing individuals an opportunity to temporarily remove themselves from their current environments and enter into a dimension that is humane, friendly and warm – personal and alone – one with the sender.

Home is where the heart is and keeping up with the “goings on” of family, town and events back home is paramount. The process, however, is a two-way street, each letter having updates, questions and responses. Protocol requires one to send in order to receive. The more a soldier sends – the more received…at least in theory.

One thing I remember about my days as a grunt in Vietnam is that the required time to write a letter…