| Christmas 1967 Dear Chris, Dick, Kim, Kurt and Claudia,
Merry Christmas! It seems very funny saying that because I'm sitting in the sunny
courtyard, in my swimming, suit—writing this letter. It is a perfect day, about 80
degrees and a nice breeze is blowing. I'm told that this is the monsoon season but it is
most unusual this year as we've only had about 30% rain. The rest of the time it has
really been quite beautiful. I guess the 120 degree weather will come around March.
I left Michigan on Sunday morning, 24 Sept., and was quite relieved when the weight of
my luggage came within the 134 pound allowance. I flew to Los Angeles where Princie Smith
(wife of one of the Dr's who had been stationed at Ft. Gordon) met me. She gave me a most
interesting four day tour of Los Angeles . . . .
I got a very depressed and lonely feeling on Thursday afternoon as I flew into Oakland
and realized that for the first time, there would be nobody there to meet me at the
airport. It was just about sunset as I got off the plane and the wind was about to blow me
over. I got a map of the town and soon discovered that I had one friend within reasonable
distance. Ron Kwick, from Lansing, Michigan, is a Commercial Artist in San Francisco and
showed me the town. Went through China Town, to the top of the highest hill, down the
crookedest street, and through the Haight Ashbury district—a view of the Hippies crowd
that I won't soon forget. There are several songs which are sung frequently here in
Vietnam such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "Five Hundred Miles," and
"I Wanna Go Home." But an addition one holds meaning for me now—"I Left
My Heart in San Francisco." Of course that's symbolic for all of CONUS (the US).
I had a 21 hr. 45 min. flight over from Travis AFB with intermediate stops in Hawaii,
Okinawa, and Manila. We were stopped in Hawaii a whole 20 minutes. Landed in Tan Son Nhut
(near Saigon) at 2:05 a.m. on Monday morning—2 October. I, with four other nurses, was
interviewed in the Chief Nurses office and received my assignment to Qui Nhon. I flew up
country in a C-130, a plane designed for transporting supplies. This time it was
transporting troops. As a female I get special privileges—so rode the whole trip in the
cockpit with the flight crew. The monsoons beat us to Qui Nhon and when we landed it was
pouring boo-koo ([beaucoup] Vietnamese slang for "much" or "a lot".)
When I opened my suitcase its content were damp and it was same-same for my trunk and box.
I strung all ingredients around the room for the first day to dry.
The living quarters far exceeded my expectation. The way it was pouring, I looked for a
drippy tent in the middle of a puddle with a hammock and mosquito netting over the top for
a bed. Rather, we were shown to a one story wood frame building built on a square with a
big patio and courtyard in the center. Our room is for two, about dormitory size and has a
complete bath which we share with the two girls next door. The floor is cement and the
walls are plywood but there is no "dormitory rule" which says "No nails in
walls or alterations to be made." So by the magic Army word of "scrounge"
we have been able to paint the bathroom a luscious blue, varnish the walls, and hang
ceiling to floor curtains along one entire wall in a deep red material—that used for
flags on firing ranges. We have nice beds (not cots) with good firm mattresses, dressers,
mirrors, etc., but especially nice is our hot water. In the patio there are picnic tables,
beach umbrellas, a basketball net, volleyball court, and lawn chairs. Almost sounds like a
resort, Huh? "It's a hardship tour."
I've found my vegetarian diet very hard to maintain so by being carnivorous about 50%
of the time, I can say the food is really good. I can eat at either the hospital mess hall
or the officer's club. They frequently have fresh fruit and always have boo-koo fresh
vegetables. Their baked goods are Number 1 (really good) but the milk is Number 10 (really
bad). It is canned, reconstituted, and tastes like it.
Our cleaning, boot shining, and wash is done by a Vietnamese lady, known as "Mamma
Sun." She is maid for just two rooms. And how would you like to have a maid for $7.50
per month? That's for a 48 hour week. $30.00 a month is a real good salary for them,
compared to what they'd get working anywhere else in town.
We have a little PX right here on the hospital grounds but a larger, better stocked PX
is just a couple miles away. The secret is to buy what you want when you see it. Chances
are they won't have it the next time you come.
My uniform is fatigues and combat boots and is most comfortable. I like all but the
accompanying baseball cap. It's death on bouffant hairdos. My assignment is in Receiving
and Emergency. We also cover pre-operative ward. It is a tremendous application for the
Disaster Nursing training I had at CUC. A couple weeks ago, when the fighting was so heavy
at Dak To, we got in boo-koo casualties. It was tremendous to see and be a part of the
teamwork in treating those guys. There are the very sad parts too. I think I find the
traumatic amputations and bilateral eye injuries hardest to take. The morale of the guys
is remarkably good. It's so much fun to see their reaction when they come in and see an
American girl for the first time in weeks. When I was downtown once, a GI, after watching
from a distance, finally came up to me and said, "are you really American?" We
are presently working twelve hour days, six day weeks. We rotate day and night shifts. One
advantage of the night shift is that Torres, the baker at the club, always comes to R
& E and brings us whatever he is making such as doughnuts, coffee cake, cookies, or
hot apple pie with ice cream. An eight hours shift will really seem tee-tee (little or
minor) by the time I get back on it.
Qui Nhon borders on the South China Sea. The hospital is on the edge of town but in an
area dense with military units. It is rare to see a car. The roads are crowded with
pedestrians, bicycles, Lambreeta's (little carts), dogs, trucks, jeeps, etc. Coming back
from the PX one day we had to stop to let a big fat pig finish waddling across the road.
The town is an interesting place to go shopping. The stores are funny. We are advised not
to pay the price asked but to always wiggle them down at least 1/3 or 1/2 the price asked.
I'm learning to do it too. I bought material and am having a Vietnamese dress made with
the long flaps in front and back and the white matching pants. Will buy one of those straw
hats to go with it. The dogs and flies and kids are thick. The untrained kids wear shirts
and no more. Sometimes, they have earrings. No diapers to worry about though.
One day I had to ride to the top of the big hill behind the hospital. From the top one
can see way over the town and the water where the huge boats are docked. It is a beautiful
view. The signal corps has location on the hill and it is from there that the Qui Nhon
Armed Forces programs are televised.
There are numerous parties to attend but I find more satisfaction out of the playing
volleyball, going to the beach, or playing for our weekly song fest. Every Monday night
about 15-25 people (mostly doctors and nurses) get together and we spend the first hour
singing hymns. Wish you could hear it. Usually sing some secular too.
I've also enjoying going on Madcap (Medical Civilian Aid Program). There are teams
every week that go out to Orphanages, the Leprosarium, Refugee Camp, etc. I've been going
to the Refugee Camp where we set up clinic. We see numerous eye infections, URI's,
diarrhea, worms, etc. and the treatment is as much for the good will as the actual medical
benefit derived. . . .
God has really blessed. It's great to look back and see how He has led me too. May He
richly bless you in this Christmas season and throughout the coming new year.
As Always,
Claudia |
