[Envelope: postmarked Oceanside, Calif. — Sep 14, 1967. Addressed to Mrs Eilene Pickens, Rt. 2 Box 18, Center Point, Tex., in a young man's pencil-block-print. Recovered October 1971 from a Prince Albert tobacco tin on the top shelf of Eilene's kitchen closet, set behind a half-pound of paraffin and three jars of pear preserves. Envelope folded once along the long edge from being kept that way. The letter inside is one sheet of YMCA stationery from USO Camp Pendleton, in soft pencil. One short phrase in ballpoint at the foot, undated, in a later hand.]
Sis —
We ship out Tuesday. Don't tell Mama till after the 22nd — she'll worry on Sunday and it's no good having her worry alone.
The boys here are alright. There's one from Lubbock and one from a place I never heard of in Louisiana. The sergeant says we are going to find out what the country is for. The sergeant is alright too.
I'm taking the case knife you gave me. Don't tell me not to take it — I know what you said at Christmas, that it was for the kitchen and not for over there. The kitchen will get it back, and so will I. I'll put my name on it somewhere when I get a chance, so you'll know it stayed mine wherever it goes.
Tell the children I'll write them from the boat. Tell Daddy I am sorry about the truck; I left the keys under the visor like he said.
Your brother,
Robert
— in ballpoint at the foot, undated, in a later hand:
He did not bring it back.