In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes on July 2, 1965, sharing a short note from Da Nang. He’s still flying missions from dawn until dark, suffering through the relentless heat, and counting the days until he returns to Vinh Long. He mentions a surprise Viet Cong bombing on the airfield and notes that their unit still hasn’t received new orders.

This letter frames a different kind of story: not one of war in Vietnam, but of how that war followed Popi home. In a narrative portrait of a Fourth of July gathering decades later in rural Georgia, we witness the quiet legacy of trauma and service. Surrounded by family, Popi faces a different battlefield, the memories that refuse to stay buried. While his grandchildren prepare fireworks to celebrate his patriotism, he struggles to endure the onslaught of explosions that sound too much like war. What follows is a powerful meditation on memory, aging, duty, and the quiet endurance of a veteran’s love.

What’s Covered:

• A letter from Da Nang just before Bill’s return to Vinh Long
• A fictionalized account of one Independence Day many years later
• Reflections on how war memories surface in unexpected ways
• A veteran’s silent sacrifice for his family
• Intergenerational connections and misunderstandings

📷 Featured Photo: Popi sitting in his helicopter, loading or handling ammo—a quiet moment that still conveys intensity and purpose.

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