26 May 1964

My Dear Brother:

         I do hope that you will forgive me again for taking so long to answer your last letter. There is so very much happening here in Vietnam now adays that I hardly have time to write to my wife. I do hope that you are well and that your studies are giving you no problems.

         I think that I told you last time that my son Gordon Thomas developed bronchial infection and had to be sent home. Emily and the children left Vietnam last December and I have been here alone since that time. I don't need to tell you that I miss them very very much.

         The greatest news is that Emily just had our second son. Yes, now I have two boys and one girl. The new boy was really a small one, just 3 pounds 5 ounzes. The last letter that I had from home he was doing fine. We named him Paul Alexander. What do you think of that name? I named him after Paul in the Bible. I hope that he can do the great work for God that his namesake did before him.

         If you recall Dwight was working in the Highlands with me but he has recently been transferred to the Delta. He is now working in the south in the special zone where Father Hoa, a Catholic Father, is working. Dwight is very happy because now he can practice speaking Chinese.

         I don't remember if I told you or not but Dwight has a new girl. I guess she is about six months old now. Old Dwight has three girls now; that is strange if you recall that in Laos Dwight delivered only boys.

         Ngoan the situation here in Vietnam is not good at all. I'M very afraid that if the Vietnamese don't change their attitude we are going to lose this war. We seem to be going down the same road that the French took. The American military and the Vietnamese military are still fighting a WW II type war and the Communists are fighting guerilla style. If we don't change our methods soon we are going to lose.

         All of our effort to develope this country depends upon the security of the country; without security we can do little for the people. If we do nothing for the people we will surely lose.

         I have found that the Vietnamese people are very complex. Most of our people don't consider the political aspect of this fight. We are not telling the people where we are going or why we are going there. The new government has not given the people a clear policy that they can accept. There is confusion in Saigon and in all of the provinces. Many of the Province Chiefs don't really want to do anything yet to fear that there will be any other change and , if there is a change, they may be put in jail.

         All of my close Vietnamese friends want to leave Vietnam now. Some of them will admit that they think we can not win; some of them demonstrate that subconsciously they are admitting defeat. I try to give them hope and encouragement but it is a difficult job.

         I pray to God to give my guidance and strength but one man can do little in the presence of such odds. But, as in Laos, I continue to work and to do my best. It seems as if our work is never done here; I always feel guilty when I go to bed because I know that there are many things that I haven't finished.

         I think that if you can stay in the States it would be better. I'm sure that with our contacts in America we can get you citizenship. A few years ago I was all for you returning to Asia but now, my Brother, it is very different. I think that you know me well enough to realize that when I call you Brother I mean it. You are as dear to me as by blood brother.

         I tell you now that with all of our dollars and with all of our material we will not win Vietnam because most of our people don't understand the Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese people have become so numb to war that they no longer care.

         Most of the functionaries and military care about getting their salaries each month but care little about the job that they do. Most Americans that I have met here, as the people in Laos, are about the same. Oh Ngoan! My heart cries for peace; I work and I try to raise the spirit of other people but it is a discouraging job. I think of the life that I could have in the States with my family but I can't help but think about the people in this country that will fall under the Communist net if we fail here.

         I have learned so much about Americans during my stay in Vietnam. I have a very good assistant who works with me. I have realized for the first time how superior we think we are. I have seen Americans through the eyes of Asians for the first time. Ngoan, I don't like what I see. Even though we Americans are here to help this country win its freedom we don't really understand the people of Asia.

         Well my brother I long to see you once more. I long to see you again and to talk to you as we used to talk. It's strange the feeling that I have for the people of this part of the world. I feel that I understand a little of the anguish that they know. I feel that I know a little of the hopelessness that they know. I hope that God will give me strength and knowledge to help them to have a life that is better than the one that they have now.

         My brother I must close now. Please study hard as I know you do. Write to me soon and let me know how you are.

Sincerely,
Your Brother
Earl

P.S. I'll be home in Nov. You must come and see me in Mattoon, Ill.