11 AM. THU 9. FEB

My Darling Niesi,

Well the truce started this morning so we've got a couple of days off. I slept late this morning and I'm going back to bed this afternoon - THOSE ARE GOOD PLANS - Tonight I've got a formal dinner at the Province Chiefs - rarely have I etc. Had a scrap yesterday at PHU THU - ran into 2 platoons - nothing drastic, lost one platoon comd though which was a pity. The sun came out yesterday and it was a scorcher. Had a nice letter (28 JAN) from you last night and got some slides back so I'll write the notes on them and get them off. What a foul up this wedding looks like being. Weenie wanting to "keep the end up", "not let the family down" and John not telling anyone anything - poor darling Niesi you're always in the middle aren't you. I don't blame you for being hopping mad at Weenie for not wanting to "get her sheets out for one night" after all the trouble she's put you to on so many stinking occasions. Poor Neisi it must have been lousy work to clean out the pool. The garcies sound fine and as you say our little girls use them a heck of a lot. I'm glad the little sweeties are back to school, the holidays are a long drag for you to handle by yourself even when the littlies are being so very very good. I'm sorry the Vietnam wives club looks like folding but that shouldn't be until Mar/April should it? and by then we will really be on the home run. I'm having a good rest tody. That sleep in this morning did me the world of good. Col Graesers just been up talking to me. He's missed out on War College (sort of LT. COL staff College) and is browned off and reckons he'll go to AUST. I had trouble with him the night before last with the 7 Regt deal. I was leading the forward section and every Time I looked around there would be Graeser - until I explained that Colonels were more nuisance that they were worth up with a lead platoon so would he please go back and keep Col KHOA from Collering me - which he took very well - and did. He's a good type and very rare amongst the US service officers - or officers generally - most of them are just plain gutless I'm afraid. Heavy firing here all last night but it was just the troops celebrating TET by firing off all their weapons into the air. Col Milner is due up in a fortnight with his replacement Col Tripp for a tour around. Big change one of advisers due in MAR. I'm already the oldest in country at HUE.

We are definitely on the downhill run little sweetie. It will be the middle of February by the time you get this as the days are going by. I'm looking forward so very much to our lovely holiday together in July. Just a pretty Neisi and those three lovely little sweeties.

I must close now little honey. I'm going to have a spring clean - no comments from the audience - that will fill in the day no doubt. Take very good care of yourself my darling Neisi. You and the little sweeties mean so very very much to me.

Petie