16 JAN

11. PM.

My Darling Girls,

Bad day today took my first AUST casualty. As you've doubtless heard young [deleted] hit a mine lost a fair bit of his right foot, multiple wounds to the groin (the private parts will be OK though) and buttocks and wounds to the left leg. This armour plate in the bottom of the boot is all that saved any of his foot. They've been working on him all day and they've saved his heel and instep. He's had a COLONOSTOMY as his bottom was chopped to ribbons.

We were out in PHONG DIEN on an op. I was a couple of thousand yards away with my reaction force on the same op. He just stepped on a mine - simple as that. One of the viets rushing to help him stepped on another - he didn't have armour in his boot so lost foot and ankle. We got him med evaced by chopper in about 15 min and his condition is excellent now. A pity he's a good lad but he's alive and he's got most of his foot left and no damage that isn't repairable. Found a nice letter waiting when I got back (2 JAN) I'm glad the mail is sorting out at last my darling. Its still a bit slow here (14 days for this last one) but I think it is mainly in DANANG that the delay occurs. I'm pleased that you are happy with the watch little sweetie and that the girls are being so good about playing by themselves over the holidays.

I'm sure you make a lovely dragon in the pool. No cake yet, but I loved my birthday card and the jumper has proved most useful.

Poor darling with all the work in the garden. I'm pleased that Kim is proving a little more liberal in her tastes.

I'll try and get a transistor and some pens for Weenie. The PX is out at the moment but should get some more in shortly. The pens are only $1.00 which isn't too bad.

I've sent the latest parcel off a few days ago but I'll send down some spare new uniforms soon so I'll enclose them with that.

Don't worry about me my little darling Petie is still the most highly qualified professional coward of them all and I still hold the record for "fastest man behind the paddy bund"

I decided not to do anything about those stinkers from 'LOOK' as the as the sooner its forgotten the better I guess. I've learnt now - I wouldn't tell a newspaper man the time of the day or trust them as far as I could kick them.

Tell Susanne I am very very proud of her for getting her swimming certificate She's a very good girl.

I'm going down to see Cope in the morning and we've go ANOTHER US general coming tomorrow P.M.

Yetch!!

So it should be a quiet day - unless Charles starts something. He's been getting busy again - his bridges went last night on Highway 1 and he hit PHONG DIEN district HQ - which is why we were out. Sizeland my new WO2 is very worried as he's got very swollen joints in the feet from the rain and is getting ARTHRITIS. He's just arrived and doesn't want to be sent home. Must close now my wonderful darling. Please don't worry and just remember that an old Petie loves you more than he could ever tell you and will be coming home THIS YEAR

I love you pretty Neis

Petie