Letters to Connie Sleamon, August–October 1967

First letter, undated, “My mother asks me if I wasn’t just a little scared about being so far north in Vietnam. I said ‘hell no, I’m sure I’ll make it because nothing could keep me from breaking a date with Connie.” “…lost all my laundry…being washed in a village…and the vc hit it and burned the place completely to the ground.” Bitten by a poisonous spider and takes months to get better. Talks of difficulty of preserving their relationship through letters. “I will say that you are not the only girl I exchange letters with, but be assured of one thing, I look forward to your letters more than any other.” Gets tape recorders so they can send tapes to each other. August “We are about to move into our new Mars Station…mud getting deep…” October 13 “…stupid army did yesterday…notified a guy’s wife that he had been killed in action which wasn’t true.”Letters written by Fred Pernert of the U.S. Army to his girlfriend and family while stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Fred lived in Holt, Michigan. His first name might be Maurice

Letters to Connie Sleamon, November–December 1967

November “Sin…confessed you are much better looking than Mama-son his mother…One thing Mama-son has over you is that she painted her teeth black, which among older people is a very pretty thing to do.” December 6 Moving into new modern Mars Village soon. “2 guys died from drinking beer in the village that had acid in it.” The sister of the little boy in the village that he likes made Connie a piece of clothing. December 11 Typed copy of instructions on making a “Mars Call” to U.S.A. Makes first call through their Mars Station to his parents.Letters written by Fred Pernert of the U.S. Army to his girlfriend and family while stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Fred lived in Holt, Michigan. His first name might be Maurice