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April 30, 1971 — First Day, Last Flight

In this letter from April 30, 1971, my father has just arrived at Bien Hoa after a long journey to Vietnam. It’s his first full day on base, and already he’s soaking in the surreal details: air-conditioned hooches, stereo systems, steak dinners, and a stuffed chickadee perched five inches from his pillow.

The comforts may seem striking—especially compared to what many endured during the war—but they don’t diminish the weight of his role. As a rescue pilot, he was part of the team responsible for pulling others out of danger. The days ahead would be long, the missions critical, and the risk constant.

What he doesn’t know—and neither does my mother—is that she’s already pregnant with me. That unspoken future adds a quiet urgency to his words. He writes with playful affection, calling her his “wittle chick-a-dee,” but beneath it is the unmistakable ache of separation. A fellow pilot makes his final flight that day, taxiing past the alert pad while “Earth Angel” plays. My father watches and quietly hopes his own last day will come soon.

This letter captures a deeply human moment—equal parts homesick, hopeful, and surreal. Written four years to the day before the fall of Saigon, it reminds us that war is rarely just battlefield trauma. Sometimes, it’s found in the space between steak dinners, stereo music, and a man aching to be home.

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Thank you for listening to Allgoods: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Love.

These letters capture a love story separated by war, but never by heart.

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Love endures. Memories matter

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On May 1st, 1971, just three nights into his deployment, my father writes from Vietnam with a heart full of longing and a mind already spinning with plans to get back home. He’s not yet in the thick of missions, but the distance is heavy—he’s already tried calling home for two hours, unsuccessfully.

This letter captures the quiet, intimate spaces between duty and emotion. He’s preparing to leave for Jungle Survival School in the Philippines, but what matters most to him is making sure my mother feels loved, comforted, and connected.

He tells her about his new P.O. Box, shares dreams of meeting in Hawaii for R&R, and even reminds her to go out, dance, and enjoy herself—through tears of love and selflessness.

There’s humor in the teasing he gets from fellow airmen, tenderness in the mention of his stuffed “wittle chick-a-dee,” and an aching hope that someday soon, they’ll be together again.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Allgoods: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Love.

These letters capture a love story separated by war, but never by heart.

https://www.patreon.com/TheAllgoodsLove

New episodes coming soon.

Follow the journey, and help keep their story alive by subscribing, sharing, or supporting us.

Love endures. Memories matter

https://www.patreon.com/TheAllgoodsLove

After a long, exhausting journey through Alaska, Japan, and the Philippines, Richard Allgood finally reaches Vietnam. In his first letter home, he shares the surprising comforts of his new base — but beneath every detail, his heart aches for Sarah. Every word carries the weight of distance, longing, and the fierce love that will sustain them through the months ahead.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Allgoods: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Love.

These letters capture a love story separated by war, but never by heart.

New episodes coming soon.

Follow the journey, and help keep their story alive by subscribing, sharing, or supporting us.

Love endures. Memories matter

https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAllgoodsLove?redirect=true

On April 28, 1971, my father, Richard Allgood, began his journey from Texas to Vietnam. He said goodbye to my mother, Sarah, not yet knowing that she was pregnant with me — news that would arrive a month later in a letter that would change everything.

Today, we pause to honor the courage it took to leave home and step into the unknown. Tomorrow, the first letter will be written— and the story truly begins.

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In this first episode, I introduce you to the story behind this podcast— a true love story between two young Air Force veterans during the Vietnam war. Through their preserved letters, we’ll walk together through history, hope, and the enduring power of love.

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