I stopped doing the road recon by air, because - well, I don't know because. I guess LBJ and McNamarra finally realized that the VC did not tunnel under our roads! And, things are fairly inactive around here.

Guess I shouldn't knock it. Hear tell that there is still some fighting north of us, all the way up to the DMZ. But, down here below the Delta, it is calm.

Major Mong and I flew down to Bac Lieu today, and we were escorted into General Ngi's office. BG Minh, who had done so well at command of the 21st Infantry Division, and kicked some VC ass, has been promoted, and is assigned to Saigon.

My boss, the new division senior advisor is there, Colonel Wallace. Everyone is all smiles, and I am awarded the Army of Vietnam Technical Service Medal, First Class. Hell, I don't know why, they don't need my advice. I guess it's the best medal to be awarded if not in the infantry. Anyway, it is grey with a red stripe in it, and I am thanked for my efforts.

I take the opportunity to ask if anything is on the horizon for the division, and he says our AO is quiet, and we are in a kinda wait and see mode. "Meanwhile," he sez, "Things are tight up North." Hell, I know that.

Tonight, back at the MACV House in Soc Trang, Captain Bob Cottman, one of the Dustoff pilots, came by, and we went to dinner at the Chinese restaurant in Greater Down Town Soc Trang. Nice guy, from Maryland. He likes to get away from the Airfield, and comes to our bar quite often, and we have struck up a budding friendship.

Bob invited me to go along on a "milk run" to Saigon in a couple of days, and I said I had something to do on Saturday, and couldn't get away because I had a week earlier this month in Hong Kong, and was going to Sidney on R&R in a few weeks. I didn't tell him, that even though I have been put in for the air medal, I hate flying!

Liliane has sent me a picture of Baby John. At two months, he has a full head of long blonde hair. I can't wait to get home to meet him for the first time.

Short timers attitude has struck - 50 and a wake up!