... By now you have heard of the letter in the Navy Publication. I have not a copy of it to send to you ( Dr. MaMahon has I'm sure ) but I did see it when one of the transports was in. I am a little amazed,; I received a dispatch several weeks ago requesting permission to publish it, but I thought they were referring to a copy of that article about the ship that I had sent to you, and a copy to Dr. Casberg. Instead, they published the personal letter. I am getting a lot of ribbing, but it is a good letter. Many of the older officers have commented on the fact that it is refreshing to hear someone who isn't complaining about the navy's policies.

          My lecturing has reached quite a scale, and often consumes a lot of time. I received instructions from the admiral to talk to every ship in the task force when it came through Haiphong. Many ships call for me warning me that they will be in on the 12th, or the 14th and they request me to speak to them. Many have a podium and loud speakers rigged for it, just like a senator. Severl have taken wire recordings of the things that I have said. I give the picture in the camps and the people themselves, then go back into the history of the situation that caused this. Have done a lot of reading on it, and go back to Genhis Kahn, and take it all the way to Dien Bien Phu. Then the Geneva treaty, and the future. It last a little over an hour, and although it is now sort of stock, it is always received very warmly.

          I used little cards in the beginning, but have done it so often now that I don't need anything. So far I have given it about 14 times. The crews are always interested in just exactly what they are doing, those who make wire recordings write them up, mimeograph them and pass them around.... I've several copies myself.

          When a sailor understands what he is working for, and why the people are as they are, the refugee instead of being a dirty foul smelling, sickly person dirtying his deck, becomes a true refugee, a true escapee from the terrors of red rule. When I tell the boys of the priest who was hung by his feet from an overhead, and beaten with short bamboo rods ( and then brought by another priest to me ) they understand what is meant by the Church Militant.

          General O'Daniel and General J. Lawton Collins were in Haiphong last week and I had dinner with them. General Collins is more like a benevolant old uncle than a tough army general. He is intensely interested, and almost youthful in his enthusiasm. Hope he can do something. President Eisenhower believes that he can, but the future looks so black for south viet nam. ...