Excerpt: All the guys here really are glad to be going home. It's evidently no picnic at Da Nang.

Wednesday
June 30, 1965

Dearest You All,

Well here I am in Formosa. I will leave tomorrow for Da Nang Air Base.

The trip over was uneventful. As I said in my card, I spent one extra night & day at Honolulu because of a dead battery. Flew from there to Guam (8 hours), and stayed one night and flew on to here. Major Arriaga and I flew the entire way.

Formosa (Tiawan) is so crowded. It's almost as backwards as Mexico. Everything smells. We live downtown, about 10 miles from the airbase. Of course we will be here only every 30 days. We will stay 30 days at Da Nang and 10 days here. Zeb and I took a helicopter and went to Taipei (capital of Tiawan) today & received a briefing on the arrangements and agreements for the operations here at Kung Kuan Air Base. The Nationalist Chinese also have F-104's here.

We leave with 6 aircraft tomorrow for Vietnam (Da Nang). Guess you heard we lost one yesterday. The pilot (Captain Cole) was rescued OK!!

Sure enjoyed my swim in Honolulu!! The base is real nice. Beautiful vegetation everywhere.

How do you like my pen!! It's a Chinese writing pen. Will bring the kids one home.

All the guys here really are glad to be going home. It's evidently no picnic at Da Nang.

I now wish I had brought another drip dry shirt. May have later on to go back to that National shirt shop & send me a couple more shirts. I will let you know.

My hotel here is pretty nice, but small. The noise goes on until after 1-2 AM.

Went to the Px. They were cleaned out of radios!! Maybe Da Nang will have some.

Well honey that's about it. Write often. Miss you & will write again when I have the latest on Da Nang.

Love,

Roy

July 4, 1965

Dear Johnnye,

Well I finally made it to Da Nang AB, had to stay an extra night at Clark AB in the Philipines.

Boy but it's hot here!! The humidity is high & you really sweat. I spared a flight today & the sweat ran all the way down through the crack of my a_ _!!

I fly two bombing missions tomorrow, both in North Vietnam!! We dropped napalm today for the first time.

Say I need a couple of items - really only one. Send my movie camera & case over by Jack Gale if he hasn't already left. I will take some flicks here!! Another item I have written two checks. One for $25 to the club at Clark AB and one for $20.75 to the Px at Clark for a radio. It's AM/FM and I really like it.

I can get a Brother automatic zig zag sewing machine for $123.00 Model #ZN2-B537. This includes the case. It looks exactly like the one at White Front. The automatic Singer costs $240.00. I can get them in the Px at Clark.

We work 30 days and off 10 back to Formosa. It will be a long 30 days. I will get a chance to go to Hong Kong so will have me a suit made. I may have to write a check now & then, but will keep you advised. If you want to you can deposit a couple of bonds.

What happened to the stock market!!! Called Dean Witter while I was in Honolulu.

By the way, also tell Jack that recommend he bring walking shorts and have the squadron get some light weight yellow base ball caps. Zeb babes said OK.

Write often.

Kids too!!

Love,

Roy

(over)

say: send me my old fan.

It's in the cabinet above the ice box. Take it to the squadron. They should be leaving the day after you receive this (8th). Tell Jack Gale if he has one to (a fan) bring it.

Roy

Excerpt: I flew 9,300 miles and 12 inflight refuelings getting here. Landed 3 times in route. My tail was really sore. Ha - think I will ride a transport back & sleep all the way... The people are a poor tired looking lot. Wish there was some way we could get out of this & get some [save] face... Well it's 9:30 PM & I see the shells going off in the distance, also can hear them. The Army & Marines go at it every night.

July 5, 1965

Dear Mom & Dad,

Well here I am in Vietnam. The name of the base is Da Nang. It's located 30 miles south of the North Vietnam border. It is really hot here. I am wringing wet when I come back from a mission. Speaking of missions I flew my first combat mission today. Actually I flew two. The morning mission was in North Vietnam & the afternoon mission in South Vietnam. I saw the good "Golf Balls" go by on my mission in North Vietnam. It became quite apparent to me that they were shooting back. I dropped a couple 75# bombs & strafed some barracks.

So much for the war. I already miss Johnnye & the kids. I flew 9,300 miles and 12 inflight refuelings getting here. Landed 3 times in route. My tail was really sore. Ha - think I will ride a transport back & sleep all the way. Hope to get to Hong Kong China on my first off period. We work 30 straight days & off 7. Want to get some gifts for the kids. Will get the girls some oriental clothes. Don't know what I can get Larry. I will go to Saigon in about a month as a duty officer & will stay away from those floating restaurants - Ha.

Wrote Johnnye today to send me my movie camera so will take some pictures of the area.

The people are a poor tired looking lot. Wish there was some way we could get out of this & get some face. 4 days ago they bombed the base & demolished 2 fighting aircraft & a transport. 3-1/2 million dollars!! Well mom that's about it. Write often - miss you & Dad. Brought my bible which you gave me in 1940. Will read it as often as I can. See you in October. Tell Dad to not catch all the fish & save some for me & Tincey!!

Well it's 9:30 PM & I see the shells going off in the distance, also can hear them. The Army & Marines go at it every night.

I'm going to drag your boat down to Victorville next summer and Larry & I are going to learn to water ski. Well that's it. Write often & will do likewise.

Your son,

Roy

Excerpt: I now have flown 5 combat missions. Got within 5 miles of a Mig but lost him in the weather.

July 11, 1965

Dear Johnnye,

Well the gang arrived today and I have my camera and fan!! Was sure happy to hear that you let Larry go to Texas and he made the trip OK. Bet he really enjoyed it and felt he was a "big" boy. Karen I bet is giving you a fit to go.

Check on the sewing machine to see if the price ($123.00) is cheaper than at White Front. I believe you have the model #. It's the best that Brother makes.

Put down for another $25.00 check for tomorrow. That makes three checks I have written. We were supposed to have received our per diem checks by now but no such luck. They're lost in the mail somewhere. Ha.

There is black and white film in the camera so take some pictures of you and the kids and send them to me. I now have flown 5 combat missions. Got within 5 miles of a Mig but lost him in the weather. Tell Dan that I could sure have used some of the radar the F-4C has!!

First time I go R and R to Formosa or Hong Kong, I will send the kids some things. Karen & Sharon will like the Japanese kimonos.

I have moved to another barrack and I have an "extra" large fan right near me. Ha. The fans are the kind you see in the African movies (overhead). Makes you feel as though you are in the jungle!!

Note the new address - supposed to speed the mail.

Well Darling that's about it. Will write the kids later on. Love you and miss you much.

Love,

Roy

July 12, 1965

Dear Johnnye,

A quick note. I don't have any blank checks. Send me about 10 as soon as possible. It seems as though we will receive hardly no per diem while here but will pick it up when we get home. I will keep you advised as to the checks which I write. You may have to put all the bonds in the bank. We can re-purchase them when I get home.

Flew 4 hours today. No interesting action.

That's it for now. Send the checks pronto.

Love,

Roy

Excerpt: Flew a mission yesterday in support of an Army unit which had been attacked and we were credited with getting "quite a few" enemy types & they are putting me and 3 members of my flight in for an air medal.

July 16, 1965

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Ashton,

Well here I am in Viet Nam. I'm stationed at Da Nang AB. It's located in the northern part of South Vietnam.

I enjoyed flying over. There was only 4 of us. It got got pretty tired sitting in one place though. I inflight refueled 11 times. We landed at Honolulu, Guam and Formosa. I also landed at Clark AB in the Phillipines. Saw Corregidor island while there.

This place is real hot and humid. We moved from tents to barracks so thing are looking up.

They shelled the place day before I arrived and 40 Viet Cong go on the base and burnt up 5 aircraft. None of the F-104's were hurt. We did lose one F-104 but the pilot was plucked right out of the hands of the Viet Cong.

I fly one mission everyday. I have flown 5 missions within 17 miles of Hanoi, the capitol of North Vietnam. Haven't seen any Mig's as yet but things should start looking up!!

Flew a mission yesterday in support of an Army unit which had been attacked and we were credited with getting "quite a few" enemy types & they are putting me and 3 members of my flight in for an air medal.

On my first mission, I went into North Vietnam and dropped 750# bombs & strafed an Army camp and on my second pull out a 57MM shell passed about 50' off my right wing. It scared the pants right off of me!! I knew then I was in a "real" war!! You never see the troops firing at you but when you go into North Viet Nam they have the radar controlled guns so you see the good flack!!

Guess Johnnye will be driving out. This is, so she said in her last letter. That's it for now. Make Larry mind & will be back to the Good Ole USA in October.

Roy

Excerpt: Flew my 10th combat mission - 10 miles off the end of the runway!! Viet Cong had just finished ambushing a convoy and we were diverted from our original target. Caught about 200 Viet Cong in the open and really "ate" them up. The Marines were taking out casualties & we were striking over their heads. The Marines really appreciated the quick response to their call for "AIR." The Zip 4's were there immediately!! Chased a Mig once and got within 5 miles before he went in to the weather. Don't know when I'm going to get promoted. Supposed to be today but who knows.

July 16, 1965

Dear Dave,

Well here I am at Da Nang Air Base with 17,000 other guys. Flew my 10th combat mission - 10 miles off the end of the runway!! Viet Cong had just finished ambushing a convoy and we were diverted from our original target. Caught about 200 Viet Cong in the open and really "ate" them up. The Marines were taking out casualties & we were striking over their heads. The Marines really appreciated the quick response to their call for "AIR." The Zip 4's were there immediately!!

We are living in a barrack so it's not bad. I sweat off 5#'s on every mission. The temperature is so hot that the cooling system in the aircraft won't cool it down. During flight I drink one canteen of water on each mission.

I arrived here the day after they put the mortor shells on the south end of the field. This place is completely surrounded and infiltrated with Viet Cong. You couldn't pay me to leave the base to go to town!!

My first mission here was a dive bomb and strafe with the Vietnamese Air Force in North Viet Nam. On my second pass a 57MM went by my right wing about 50-100 feet and I became immediately aware that they are playing for keeps here.

We F-104's will have a tough time getting a Mig because our mission is to patrol the Gulf of Tonkin and the Mig's never get more than 60 miles from Hanoi. I have been within 17 miles of Hanoi and 10 miles of the Chinese border. Chased a Mig once and got within 5 miles before he went in to the weather.

Don't know when I'm going to get promoted. Supposed to be today but who knows.

Will be here for another 20 days then will go to Saigon for 5 and Formosa for 5 then back here for a month. We fly one mission everyday. Sometimes it's air to ground (750# bomb and napalm) or Cap mission in the Tonkin Bay. The air to ground is more fun but it's also where you can get your tail shot down. They have lost 25 F-105's so far. We have lost one F-104 and a clipper picked him up OK.

Will be getting into Hong Kong so if you want anything just write. I'm taking movies here so will send them to you when I return to George in middle October. I hope!!

Tell Wanda and kids hello & keep smiling.

Big Brother,

Roy

Excerpt: Daddy flew a mission yesterday and they are putting me in for a medal for it. You be a good boy and mind the MeMa & Grandad. Daddy will be home in October and will have a gift for you.

July 16, 1965

Dear Larry,

I see you talked mom into letting you go to Texas. Bet it was a real long trip. Received a letter from mom today and she told me you had made the trip OK.

Daddy is stationed at Da Nang Air Base in the northern part of South Viet Nam. It's only 40 miles from the boarder.

I have flown 10 combat sorties against the Viet Cong. I flew five missions in North Viet Nam and five missions in South Viet Nam.

Daddy flew a mission yesterday and they are putting me in for a medal for it.

You be a good boy and mind the MeMa & Grandad. Daddy will be home in October and will have a gift for you.

Love,

Dad

Excerpt: Well today is Sunday and I flew my eleventh combat mission. The 15th I flew a mission and we lucked out and caught a bunch of Viet Cong out in the open after they had ambushed an American convoy and we killed 175 and Zeb put me, Walt and Larry and Olson in for a medal!! How about that!! We have been doing air to ground for the last two weeks & wish we would switch to escort for a while. It's hell of a lot safer!! The bad thing is on air to ground missions we make 2 dive bomb runs & 3 strafe passes but the crazy Viet Cong don't try to hide or get into fox holes, they just shoot at you until they get shot. We pull out 2,000' higher than normal now!!

July 18, 1965

Dear Johnnye,

Golly another week and I will have been gone a month. Time really slips by.

Hey, drive careful if you go that way and I would plan on taking 3 days enroute. I would also have the car greased and oil changed before you leave and prior to returning to George. Park the Taurus in the garage & lock it and it will be alright. I bet it misses me already!!

Well today is Sunday and I flew my eleventh combat mission. The 15th I flew a mission and we lucked out and caught a bunch of Viet Cong out in the open after they had ambushed an American convoy and we killed 175 and Zeb put me, Walt and Larry and Olson in for a medal!! How about that!! I wrote Larry a letter and told him I was here & etc. Also wrote John & Edna a letter.

I talked to Pat Barry this afternoon. He is still at Cannon AFB and he was escorting McNamara on his flight up to here. Flying F-100's. Saw McNamara from a distance.

I also met a 2nd cousin or something like that. He is our flight surgeon. His Dad's brother is married to Lella. You know the one at Gilmer. It was really coincidental. He said he was from Texas and I asked him where in Texas & he said Gilmer & I noticed his last name was Brawley.

Be sure & check on the Brother sewing machine & send the price to me so I can act accordingly.

Well in 20 days I will be going to Kung Kuan (Formosa) for 10 days. Burk's flight left today.

Walt Harris said call Betty sometime. Guess she is not used to this separation business.

Life here is not too miserable. It's damned hot & you are wringing wet when you come down from a mission but the club & quarters is reasonable. Of course there is always the fear of getting shot down but that's the fortune of war. We have been doing air to ground for the last two weeks & wish we would switch to escort for a while. It's hell of a lot safer!! The have lost 25 F-105's so for. They lost their 25th one last week. The bad thing is on air to ground missions we make 2 dive bomb runs & 3 strafe passes but the crazy Viet Cong don't try to hide or get into fox holes, they just shoot at you until they get shot. We pull out 2,000' higher than normal now!!

Be sure and send the picture I will be sending film in with your address on them. Say I have only written the two checks. Received my per diem today & I had (to) borrow $20 from Jack Gale so everything is OK. Take the bonds & savings book with you in case I write some "Heavy" checks and you have to pump more funds into Ft. Sam!!

Well love that's about it. Will write Karen & Sharon later on in the week.

Love you,

Roy

Excerpt: But you know hon we called David last night and he's leaving for over seas duty within three weeks or sooner. So I guess it's a good thing we had planned to go see them. You know the outfit he's assigned to is one of these combat-ready units. Roy you eat regular as possible & get as much rest as you can in order to keep your resistance up.

Sunday Night
July 18, 1965

Dear Roy,

Well how are you on this Sunday evening? You know I haven't figured out if the time is later there or earlier or how many hours difference in the time. Any how it's now 9:45 and this Louis is already in that bed! Ha We have been to all services today. Louis really likes our new pastor, especially since Brother Stringer said he likes to fish. Ha! They visited me the day I got back from Glorieta, New Mexico. They said they were driving down Las Vegas Boulevard and he saw the sign, World Wide Mobile City & said oh let's go see Mrs. Blakeley.

Roy, Reynolds out at the test site have laid off several hundred the past two weeks and two days ago. Louis got laid off, also Doyle across the street. They think it is a ... anyhow will lost only a week or so. Louis and I are going to Colorado & visit David & Wanda for one week, and come back home. In the morning he will go down & sign up for unemployment. Might as well draw that forty a week. But you know hon we called David last night and he's leaving for over seas duty within three weeks or sooner. So I guess it's a good thing we had planned to go see them. You know the outfit he's assigned to is one of these combat-ready units.

Roy you eat regular as possible & get as much rest as you can in order to keep your resistance up. I know you don't have much time to write, but we sure look forward to hearing from you.

Well I made my little talk the other night that I wrote you about at church but I sure got nervous. Ha - several told me I did remarkably well. Anyhow after we all got through with our speeches, and time for the prayer service Brother Stringer said let's remember Mrs. Blakeley's son who is in Viet Nam.

Well this is all for now, and I better get to bed in order to get up early & pack our bags.

We love you lots.

Mom & Dad