Episode 099: 1965-05-31 | The Parachuting Monkey

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on May 31, 1965, during a stretch of unusually quiet days. It’s Memorial Day, and though officially off-duty, the men are restless—itching for something to do. With no missions on the schedule, they head to the range just to kill time. Popi is still waiting on the custom shirts he had made for Suzie and the boys, hoping to get them in the mail soon. It’s a small moment, but it opens the door to a much larger story: the often-overlooked logistics of the Vietnam War, and how those quiet, personal acts—like mailing shirts home—relied on an immense supply chain that kept the war, and the families behind it, connected. What truly makes this letter unforgettable is its strangest and most delightful detail: Charlie the monkey has officially become “airborne qualified.” Popi describes rigging a parachute onto his pet monkey and dropping him from the airfield tower—an event so popular, it drew a crowd of over two hundred people with cameras in hand. For years, this story floated around the family as a kind of myth, a funny memory that seemed too ridiculous to be real. And yet, tucked in among Popi’s slides was the proof: a blurry photo of Charlie mid-air, parachute deployed. It’s a deeply human moment—silly, pointless, and pure. The kind of story only a 28-year-old soldier with too much time and a monkey could bring to life. What’s Covered: Popi’s May 31 letter and reflections on down days, missed mail, and Memorial Day boredom A deep dive into the logistics of war and the supply chain behind personal mail The role of airmail, APO addresses, and care packages in sustaining relationships during deployment The myth and reality of Charlie the parachuting monkey—and the strange, sweet moments soldiers create to stay sane The slide that confirmed a long-suspected family legend, and what it tells us about Popi as a person 📷 Featured Photo: A blurry mid-air image of Charlie the monkey, parachute open, in freefall. 🔔 If you’re enjoying this series, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. New episodes post regularly, following Popi’s letters exactly 60 years after he wrote them—and the lives they continue to touch today. 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 #WarLetters #FamilyHistory #InheritTheStories #Popi #MilitaryLogistics #ParachutingMonkey #HueyHelicopter #DearestSuzie #Vietnam1965 #OralHistory #CombatSupport #MailFromHome