Nam Phong,Thailand
October 13, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

Sorry I haven't written sooner this week, but the last few nights I've been going to bed early and haven't gotten around to writing.

I'm fine and don't really have anything to complain about. All we can read about in the papers is Kissinger and the peace talks that are taking place in Paris. I'm afraid we're getting our hopes up even though we're trying not to.

I've thought about it quite a bit, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd still volunteer to come over here. If the war is ever going to be over, it will be because we are bombing North Vietnam. McGovern and his big mouth make me sick.

I was pretty sure I'd registered to vote, but I need you to send me an absentee ballot.

The papers indicate that the Aggies aren't doing too well in the football department. From what I've been reading, the prospects for beating Texas this year are slim.

Well, it's time to shower and turn out the light. Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Bangkok, Thailand
October 19, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

Hi. I'm back in Bangkok for two more days. Right now, I'm sitting by the pool at the President Hotel enjoying the sun. It's an entirely different world here than at Nam Phong. It's really nice to have hot water to shave with.

Time is really flying. It doesn't seem like a month since I was here before. I read in the papers that Kissinger went back to Paris last night. Although we've been trying not to, everyone really has their hopes up that the war will be over before the election. It's a commonly shared feeling around here that if it's not over before the election, it will still be going strong when it comes time for me to come home next summer.

I've had two letters from Larry and Kay since I answered them. I need to take care of that, but I just haven't been in a letter writing mood lately.

I haven't flown nearly as much this month as last. I get quite a bit of satisfaction out of the completion of a good hop, but I'm just been taking my turn this month, instead of asking for someone else's hop. With the prospect of peace so close, I don't feel like taking unnecessary changes.

I guess I better close. Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
October 21, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

I just got back from Thailand.

You can quit worrying about me when you read about a plane getting shot down. You'd know about it before it came out in the paper. I didn't plan to tell you about it, but since you read it in the paper, I'll tell you what I know about it, which isn't much.

The crew was two of my roommates, Rob Peacock and Marshal Price. They were both in the same squadron with me at Cherry Point. They were both great guys and good friends of mine.

The launched out on a single plane night mission in North Vietnam and never came back. They had radio contact with an airborne FAC in the area around Dong Hoi. Eight minutes later the FAC saw a large explosion and couldn't re-establish radio contact with them. We'll probably never know what actually happened to them. My guess is that neither one of them got out of the airplane.

Pray for peace, and give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
October 23, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

Hi. How are you both doing ? I have good reason to believe that by the time you get this letter, the war will be over. I know that would make life a little more pleasant for you and me both.

I got a letter from Don the other day. He said that mother was nearly a nervous wreck from worrying about me. Even if the war is not over by the time you get this, quit worrying about me. I'm well trained, I know what I'm doing, and I'll be alright. At least, have a little faith. God is not going to let anything happen to me that He doesn't want to happen.

It sounds as if Karoni is really getting alert. I bet she's close to being spoiled rotten. I sure do miss her.

I owe Granny a letter. I'd better get to that. Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
October 25, 1972

Dear Mom and Dad,

I guess the info we received about the war drawing to an end was in error. From my point of view, it looks like the fighting will go on for six months or longer.

I can't complain. I'm doing what I came over here to do so I should be happy, but we sure had our hopes up. We thought the war was going to be over.

I flew my 26th mission today. The ones over South Vietnam aren't that bad anymore. I haven't been shot at in over two weeks. I'd like to think that the NVA are running out of ammunition.

Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
October 28, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

Well, it looks like the cease fire is on again. I wish they would hurry up and get this thing settled. It's hard to make yourself want to fly when it looks like the war might be over tomorrow. One thing is for sure, the N.V. gunners on the ground are still shooting real bullets, and it's not worth two cents to you, knowing they might quit tomorrow when they're shooting at you today.

I need only two more points to get my second air medal, which means only one more mission in N.V. or two in S.V. I'd just as soon not get the second one. I'd like for the war to end tonight.

Thanks but there is no sense in getting me anything for Christmas this year. There's no way to know what size clothes I'll wear when this is over. I'm down to 163 lbs. now. The dust, heat, and humidity would probably ruin anything else you might send.

If you see that Karoni has a Merry Christmas, that will be more than enough of a present to me. Guess I'd better close and get some sleep.

Give her a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
October 31, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

Today is the day the war was supposed to be over, but I'm on the schedule again tomorrow to fly my 29th mission so I've got the idea that the war may still be going.

I got enough points for my second air medal in North Vietnam last night. I started the month off pretty slow, but I've flown about ten missions in the last two weeks.

I really enjoyed hearing about the way Karoni is talking. She sounds like she is really getting smart. I sure do miss her. I'll probably stay in the Marine Corps for a year after I get back, but I'm not sure I can handle being away from my family one year out of every three or four.

Take care. I miss you. Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
November 3, 1972

Dear Mom & Dad,

I flew my thirtieth mission today.

The time I've spent over here has made me a better person and a better Christian. I've learned to appreciate the little things I once took for granted. You really don't appreciate life until you're afraid of losing it. All of a sudden, the material things you consider important don't seem worth two cents.

Being here has made me a better Christian. Everytime I strap into the airplane, I rely on God to give me the strength and courage to encounter the problems I'll be faced with.

Don't worry about me. I'm in God's hands. Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron

Nam Phong, Thailand
November 5, 1972

Dear Mother & Dad,

I heard on the radio that the Aggies beat Arkansas. I guess that surprised quite a few people.

If the war ends, the squadron would probably go back to Japan and pick up the nuclear commitment they had before deploying down here. That being the case, I'll be over a complete year.

I've had a long day so I guess I'd better close. Give Karoni a kiss for me.

Love,
Ron