Episode 083: 1965-04-30 | Cry On Their Shoulder

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes home after what he calls a "better outcome" in the field. A large Viet Cong weapons cache has been captured, and while the victory lifts spirits briefly, there’s no triumph in his tone — just exhaustion. One day before, he witnessed the death of a friend during a failed recovery mission. Now, he’s trying to hold it together, sharing a short-timer’s calendar with Suzie and quietly admitting he’s still unraveling. Alongside the war updates, he shares a story about Charlie the monkey, who injured himself trying to eat razor blades and panicked at the medic’s touch. It’s a strangely fitting metaphor for the moment — everyone a little more fragile than usual, just trying to survive. What’s Covered: The aftermath of Popi’s most painful mission so far A successful Vietnamese operation and what it meant to witness it from above Reflections on guilt, grief, and why Popi never talked about this part of the war How silence shaped Popi’s legacy — and the weight of what wasn’t shared The short-timer’s calendar and the long road home 📷 Featured Photo: Charlie the monkey, leashed and wearing a small green shirt, sits calmly on a gravel surface — a rare still moment for the chaotic little companion. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at [email protected] — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #HelicopterPilot #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #FamilyHistory #OralHistory #MemoryAndMyth