Dad Was Leaving the Next Day
Kathy Garrett shared her story:
In the summer of 1965 my parents gathered us together one evening and told us that my dad was leaving the next day. It was a big secret and we weren’t allowed to tell anyone until after the ship had sailed. We went out to Camp Pendleton the next day to see everyone off. That was supposed to be the last time we would see my dad for a year and you know the routine….no crying because that will upset dad. We lucked out the next day because another family was going down to San Diego to see the ship off so we got one more glimpse before they left. I still remember standing on the dock waving. My dad sent a letter to my mom every day. He would send reel to reel tapes about once a week. In one of his tapes he said he was upset because the Viet Cong had attacked during the Grand Ole Opry and he had to miss it that night. There was no communication except letters and tapes.