Written to his family on September 21st, 1972
Thanh Hóa, September 21, 1972
Beloved Grandma and Parents, Aunts and Uncles, and My Dear Younger Siblings,
After attending sessions on the policies and criteria for deployment to the South, I felt an overwhelming longing for home and deep love for you all. I’m writing to let you know that I am preparing to go into battle.
First of all, I wish you all good health, a productive life, and all the best. That would make me very happy to know.
We arrived in Thanh Hóa more than two weeks ago. At the moment, we are resting, eating two communal meals a day, and undergoing urgent tactical training. By the end of this month, we will be leaving the North.Mom, Dad - when going into battle, we are not granted leave to go home, and that makes me very sad. I feel deeply sorry for Grandma and both of you. Since the night of September 19th, when we received the order to prepare for deployment, my heart has been full of thoughts of all you’ve done to raise me. Now I must part from you.
Grandma, Mom, Dad - there’s just over half a month left before I must leave the North and say goodbye to all of you. I will have to part with my five beloved and innocent younger siblings. I must leave behind a life full of love and warmth, and instead live a life surrounded by hardship, with little affection or comfort. A life where death and life try to overpower each other by the minute. But I still hold onto hope - that one day I will return to live in the love and warmth of our family and homeland. Please don’t worry too much about me, and especially take care of your health. I’m going into battle far away, yes - but I truly believe I will return. Don’t cry too much. That’s my heartfelt request. It's late now, so I’ll end this letter here. I send my wishes for peace and good fortune to our entire family and all our loved ones.
