In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on April 15, 1965, reflecting on another quiet day in Vietnam, a general escort mission, and his mounting boredom with downtime. He assumed that transferring to the Cobras would mean more time in the air, but instead, he's stuck in the long stretch of waiting — between missions, between letters, between homecomings.

But in the middle of this letter, almost as an aside, Popi mentions something unexpected. He’s been told to report to Bac Lieu to receive the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. “Don’t ask me why I’m getting it,” he writes. “I have no idea.” What he leaves unspoken is that this award, officially called the Anh Dũng Bội Tinh, was one of South Vietnam’s highest honors — the equivalent of the Bronze Star — given to individuals who displayed exceptional bravery in combat.

Whether Popi knew the specific reason or not, the letter gives us a glimpse into how casually many servicemen received these commendations. Sometimes medals were handed out in batches, sometimes quietly suggested by a superior officer. But even if the record-keeping was informal, the courage was real.

What’s Covered:

• Popi’s April 15 letter about quiet days and upcoming missions
• His mention of the Cross of Gallantry and what it meant
• Background on the Vietnamese military decoration system
• Why many soldiers never fully knew why they were being honored

📷 Featured Photo: A South Vietnamese soldier being carried on a makeshift stretcher toward Popi’s grounded helicopter. It may have been one of many moments that led to the award he mentions in this letter.

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