To The Young People of Twin City Baptist Church:

I do not pretend to be a short story writer or a newspaper editor. I am writing this so others will understand just how a young Marine feels being so far from his family and loved ones. I would also like to stress a point of how fortunate you yourselves are to be so close to family and friends and also have a church to attend and to appreciate all that you have.

No one could even begin to understand just how one feels being so far away from everyone and everything except those who are.

At the present I am on Hill 881 which blocks the Vietnamese rout to the Marine base of Khe Sanh. Hill 881 is vitally important to the military. From here we are able to spot rocket, mortar, and artillery positions which are a constant threat to Khe Sanh.

From here we are to call in fire missions of our own and knock these positions out. As you can see 881 is very important and must be held at all costs. The costs are plenty. I’ve seen hunger, thirst, death and a high quality of loneliness. During the day we are mortared and run for our trenches to escape being torn apart by them. As the helicopters bring in supplies they are continually mortared making it hard to get supplied. We do most of our work during the night while its fogging digging trenches, working on bunkers, laying wire and carrying supplies dropped off by the helicopters. Worst of all is dealing with all of the death. I have been very fortunate where others I have known were not.

I want to live for the Lord and do his will. Being in Viet Nam makes it very difficult. There are so many stumbling blocks. It is an awful feeling when I drop a mortar down in the tube knowing it will take many lives. I wish I could be close to my family and friends and attend church. Young people today don't stop to realize how well they have it in the good old United States.

Just stop and think a moment. You have plenty of food, water, you’re close to your family and church. You don't have to go filthy and live in a big hole in the ground. You don't have to see your good friends carried off on stretchers. The loneliness really hurts. We lay awake at night thinking of our families, wanted to be with them and the girl we love.

I wish everyone who reads this or hears what I have to say will stop to think about it. Do something for me - Live for the Lord and do what’s right. I pray to God none of you ever come over here. This war will end sooner or later. I realize all of you also have stumbling blocks, but remember these few things. God is an understanding God. God is the physician who heals all your wounds. He is the eternal justice of your wrong doings. He is life when you fear death. He is the guiding light when yours is darkness. Without God you are really nothing. Remember the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus the Christ our Lord.

Thank you for reading this. I hope I have put my point across to you.
 
Sincerely yours, LCPL Steve D. McGee
3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines
M Company