In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes home after what he calls a "better outcome" in the field. A large Viet Cong weapons cache has been captured, and while the victory lifts spirits briefly, there’s no triumph in his tone — just exhaustion. One day before, he witnessed the death of a friend during a failed recovery mission. Now, he’s trying to hold it together, sharing a short-timer’s calendar with Suzie and quietly admitting he’s still unraveling.

Alongside the war updates, he shares a story about Charlie the monkey, who injured himself trying to eat razor blades and panicked at the medic’s touch. It’s a strangely fitting metaphor for the moment — everyone a little more fragile than usual, just trying to survive.

What’s Covered:

• The aftermath of Popi’s most painful mission so far
• A successful Vietnamese operation and what it meant to witness it from above
• Reflections on guilt, grief, and why Popi never talked about this part of the war
• How silence shaped Popi’s legacy — and the weight of what wasn’t shared
• The short-timer’s calendar and the long road home

📷 Featured Photo: Charlie the monkey, leashed and wearing a small green shirt, sits calmly on a gravel surface — a rare still moment for the chaotic little companion.

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