Episode 112: 1965-07-13 | The Long Way Home

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes from Quang Ngai on July 13, 1965, reflecting on the grind of daily missions and the long shadow of homecoming. He’s finally received mail and it comes as a massive relief. He’s been worried about Suzie's health and the boys and he’s already thinking ahead to a real vacation together. He still has no official orders and there are rumors about the dissolution of the 11th as well as delayed paperwork which leaves him in limbo. Still, he marks a date: September 27. If nothing else changes, that’s the day he’ll walk back through the front door. Today’s episode explores what “going home” really meant for soldiers in Vietnam. The process wasn’t simple. It revolved around a number, DEROS, or Date Eligible for Return from Overseas, which governed when a soldier could leave the war behind. Once a man got “short,” everything shifted. He wasn’t just a soldier anymore, he was a countdown. That sense of being nearly done came with both hope and danger. Unlike earlier wars, Vietnam operated on an individual rotation system, meaning Bill wouldn’t go home with his unit. He’d likely be replaced by someone just arriving, and if time allowed, he’d pass on what he could. After orders came, the journey out involved transit stops in places like Okinawa or Guam, health checks, and long flights to bases like Travis AFB in California or Fort Benning in Georgia. What waited there was paperwork, maybe discharge, and often, emotional whiplash. Because reentry wasn’t easy. Some returned to warm reunions. Others found themselves disoriented by silence, grocery stores, and a country ready to move on. What’s Covered: Popi’s letter about home, health, and the hope of a September return How DEROS and the “short-timer” mentality shaped soldier experiences The logistics of coming home: orders, layovers, base transitions, and out-processing The emotional weight of returning to a country that didn’t always welcome them back 📷 Featured Photo: Little girls buy produce from an older woman on the street—a quiet moment of everyday life that may have reminded Popi of home, and the simple connections that wove his two worlds together. 🔔 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 #ComingHome #DEROS #MilitaryHistory #VietnamLetters #Veterans #ShortTimer #InheritTheStories #DearestSuzie #OralHistory