23 May-17 June 1971

23 May 1971

We have about 6 home teachers.  I'm in the process of reorganizing the home teaching.  We're going to zone it all off, and maybe we can get everyone visited that way.

24 May 1971

Yesterday, we went out and shot a M-79 and blew up a few tress and bushes and a few old graves, it was a lot of fun. I really got a charge out of blowing up the trees.

26 May 1971

They have us working 12 hour shifts now.  Cam Rhan Bay got sabers, and they're hoping we'll get hit too. I was talking to a guy today, and he asked me how long I've been here.  I said 6 months.  I thought his eyes were going to fall out,.  He had only been here 2 weeks.  We are having some excitement this week.  I'm working mid shift.  They are doing a lot of shooting, and it helps the time to pass more quickly.

30 May 1971

If you say anything about the war it shakes everyone up and gets them to worry.  I believe it is a safe as being in Longview as it is here at Phu Cat.

1 June 1971

We have been in a 24 hour alert all week, but it is all over for now.  I bought a watch today.  I really got upset with my folks.  My brother, Benjie, was deciding if he were going to go to school or on a mission.  I really wanted him to go on a mission.

7 June 1971

I went to church today.  Our membership is about half of what it used to be.  Our group leader just got back from a two weeks leave at home.  He leaves the same time I do.  We are going to revise the home teaching by zoning the base off.  Maybe we can get a 100% from now on. 

8 June 1971

Danny Gore will be my junior companion for home teaching.

9 June 1971

I've got to do some home teaching tonight.

10 June 1971

Today is just a regular day.  I plan to go swimming today after work.  From now on, I plan to do something special everyday.  Paul Beemer's wife had their first baby, a girl, today.  More and more each day I think about marriage, and how easy it would be to stay single.  The way it looks to me, I may be 27 years old before I decide to settle down. I don't see any use in hurrying into something like that unless I find out what I want.

11 June 1971

This place looks better everyday.  It's really starting to feel like home.  I feel pretty good now that I've only got 5 months to go, and I'll have my orders.

12 June 1971

I built my own M-16 today.  Put new everythings in it.  We're going to test fire it tomorrow.  I can take a M-16 all the way down now, even to every last spring and screw.  I'm not a very good shot, but I just put it on automatic and one bullet will hit it.  Iv'e really learned a lot about guns since I've been in the armory.  I'm giving classes on weapon care, so I feel pretty good about that.  I get to give the class to all ranks. Of course everyone that works in the armory can do it, but I always get the job.  Nearly 50% of the cops here went through my classes.  I had to get a small pox vaccination today.  We usually get up to 12 shots while we're over here.  Remember me in your prayers.

17 June 1971

I'm not going to worry about getting married until I'm out of the service.  I'm still too young, and I've got a lot of things to do before I ever settle down.  Besides that's a lot of responsibility I can do without whole I'm in the service.  I've got a contact over here.  His name is Dave Hartung.  I got him to reading the Book of Mormon.  I'm going to take my time, and I sure would like to baptize him before I left.  I feel like I can see him joining the church.  I got a few others but some of them don't want to listen, so I usually don't say anything, except I throw in a few lines of religion every once in awhile. I think if I work with Dave, he may just join anyway.  He's reading the book, and that's a start.  I did some home teaching tonight, and plan to go tomorrow.