In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on August 2, 1965. He’s still stuck in limbo without orders, unsure where to send his letters, New Jersey or Florida, and frustrated by the instability of his temporary base. Writing with a pencil instead of his usual pen, he reflects on how hard it’s been to write while on the move. With less than two months left, he’s counting down the days and thinking constantly of home.

This episode captures the growing restlessness among soldiers like Popi as the war expands around them. In August 1965, the United States launched its first all-American offensive, Operation Starlite, while CBS broadcast footage of Marines bulldozing a village—offering Americans a new, unfiltered view of the war. Chinese leaders issued threats, SAM missiles took out U.S. aircraft, and the Selective Service removed exemptions for married men. The war was changing fast, and the pressure was mounting from all sides. Amid it all, Popi just wanted to get back to Vinh Long, write from his own desk again, and begin the journey home.

What’s Covered:

• Bill’s frustration over delayed orders and trouble writing from the field
• The broadcast that shocked America: CBS films the destruction of Cam Ne
• Operation Starlite and the growing complexity of combat
• Shifting draft policies and the expanding reach of the war

📷 Featured Photo: ARVN troops relax at a training range, red bandanas tied around their necks, helmets resting nearby, with sandbags stacked behind them. A quiet moment of calm before war resumed its pace.

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