Hey my Man-

Good memories and some others . . .

I believe it was Oct. 68 I was Duane's ATL and we got inserted in the wrong LZ, a very narrow strip of cover. We were too far out for commo so they sent a ship up to relay for us. Well, the chopper was circling out of the coordinates, so Devega told me to use my mirror to flash our position.

Well I went to the edge of this hedge row brought the mirror up and lost my sun, tried again and lost it again. While I was doing this I set my "CAR" down and didn't notice I was about three paces away from it. As I brought the mirror back up again I found I had an audience of four V.C. and they were bringing their shit down off their shoulders.I reached for my CAR-15 it wasn't there.

Now I've never been a diver, but I did the best back flip ever. Duane was behind a termite hill. His eyes went so big as he asked what the fuck I was doing . . . then the AK rounds began hitting the hill as though trying to follow me to the ground.

Ray Sullivan was with us and used me as a sand bag while he returned fire with his barrel just over my right ear. After his second magazine was released I asked if I could move.

At that point Ray nearly dropped his rifle on me, shocked to see that I was still alive. He evidently thought I had been killed from first burst and my question must have shook him up -- he said he was sorry. The gun ships took over, the slick was enroute. As we were on the LZ the three of us broke out with insane laughter over what happened. I owe my life to those two. It's hard to describe how close that moment brought us.

Duane was one my mentors he had very likable attitude -- Sully was a gutsy guy who would and could take on any challenge.

Yeah my thoughts are with them and about then.

Joe

Hi Dave- I hope all is well with you. I haven't gotten much sleep the past few nights.

I hope what I sent didn't upset you. It made me think after I wrote and sent it, how fortunate I am to have served with such good men. I wonder, alot of the time, why I'm here. I feel somehow like I cheated death and that someone else took my place. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway I'm sorry if anything I wrote bothered you. It was late, I just wrote, sent it, then deleted some stuff.

Be good to yourself--Always your Friend and Brother

Joe Little