In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes home on April 12, 1965, with updates about quiet missions, missed holidays, and an underwhelming U.S.O. show. His tone is light and warm, full of care for Suzie and the boys. He’s glad they bought good shoes, hopes for pictures soon, and gently jokes that the cost of Easter candy might not be worth it. It’s a holiday without candy, but not without love.
There’s no drama in this letter, no combat report or injury to explain. And maybe that’s what makes it special. It’s a window into the quieter moments of war — the ordinary rhythms of an extraordinary time. Just range practice, long days with the “hog,” and reflections on the little things he’s missing back home, like Billy’s school play.
This episode is also about memory, and what it means to honor someone long after they’re gone. I reflect on a Christmas gift I made for my dad — a shadowbox with Popi’s medals, photos, and the only piece of his uniform he kept. It wasn’t about decoration. It was about legacy. And how we choose to remember someone when they’re not around to tell the story themselves.
Accompanied by an aerial photo of Vietnam’s rice fields and winding rivers, today’s episode sits with the quieter parts of wartime — the days without glory, the absence of celebration, and the ways families carry those silences forward.
What’s Covered:
- Popi’s letter from April 12, 1965
- Reflections on Easter and missing holidays while at war
- A family story about honoring Popi through his old uniform and medals
- The quiet, uneventful days that still mattered
📷 Featured Photo: Aerial view of Vietnam’s canals and rice fields. The kind of landscape Popi would have flown over countless times.
🔔 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.
Follow Dearest Suzie on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/
X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast
📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at [email protected] — I’d love to hear from you!