Department of the Army
36th Ordnance Detachment
(Explosive Disposal)
Fort Clayton, Canal Zone
25 February 1968
Hi Ronnie,
Well little brother, now that you’re in the finest, what do you think? (No profanity please). Seriously though, what MOS are you being trained in?
The way things look now, Georgia and Laura should be joining me sometime in March. Presently, I’m fifth on the housing list and should have quarters assigned sometime next week. From there, it takes anywhere from two to three weeks to have orders cut and transportation for dependents to move. I’ll sure be happy when she gets down here, I just don’t like barracks life anymore. Spoiled to good living I guess.
The duty down here in Panama is superb, probably the finest I’ve seen. Presently, we’re in what they call the dry season, however, April brings on the rainy season. There it will prove to be interesting as we spend a good deal of our time in the field. At least it’s warm year around down here. Sometime next month, I’m suppose to (along with my CO) fly to Bolivia for a week of training. I’ve made a couple of trips out of country so far and have really enjoyed myself. This will be my first to South America
I go before the promotion board at 0930 on 27 February. However, I can’t get my promotion to Specialist Six (SP6) until April as the man I’m replacing doesn’t leave until then. This promotion will give me a Forty dollar raise for a total of six hundred and thirty a month.
Show me a civilian job that will pay me this plus the benefits, and I’ll get out in a minute. Well, in another ten and a half I’LL be retiring and I guess I can last that long.
I suppose I’d better get my gear ready for tomorrow. I know how you like to write, however, how about dropping me a line and let me know how things are going. Take care of yourself and say hello to all for me.
Terry A. Thomas (b.1941-d.2003)
U.S. Army, 1965-66, 1970-1971
In this letter Terry writes to his brother Ronald; both brothers served in the Vietnam War. Letter dated February 25, 1968.
Courtesy of Georgia Thomas, wife of Terry Thomas
