In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes home with news of his first injury in Vietnam—but the story isn’t quite what you might expect. What starts as a dramatic tale of being shot down by the Viet Cong quickly turns into a humorous account of how he actually sprained his ankle—trying to rescue his pet monkey, Charlie, from tangled power lines. The letter highlights Popi’s signature storytelling style, using humor to downplay his injury and ease the worries of his family back home.

Accompanied by a photo of Charlie and Doll enjoying table scraps on the grass, today's episode reminds us that even in the middle of a warzone, it’s often the small, absurd moments that stand out the most.

What’s Covered:

• Bill’s first injury in Vietnam


• The importance of humor in Popi’s letters


• Life at the base through small, personal moments


• How soldiers downplayed hardships to protect their loved ones

📷 Featured Photo: Charlie and Doll sitting on the grass, eating tomatoes and lettuce, with a soldier’s boot visible behind them.

🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather.

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VietnamWar #MilitaryHistory #HueyHelicopter #InheritTheStories #MonkeyMascot #CharlieTheMonkey #WarLetters #HumorInWar