December 1967

Muddy clearing filled with military vehicles

Lt. Rasmussen was still in Vietnam on Christmas Day 1967, when he took this photograph. Visible is the lingering wetness brought on by the monsoon season, which had actually ended weeks before and had been unusually mild. The monsoons tended to bring combat almost to a standstill.

7 December 1967:

“… I won’t be leaving here until Jan. 2…. It seems that the 4th division is not letting any one out early for Christmas probably due to the fact that there are no replacements due to the 1st brigade’s heavy casualties at Dak To….“

"[Secretary of Defense Robert] McNamara’s dismissal was wonderful news. I’m hoping that it means that things will change over here….”

7 December 1967: [to brother William Rasmussen—an alarming message about malaria]

“… Things are about the same over here, except that everyone is coming down with malaria. Nov. & Dec. are the worst months of the year for malaria in the central highlands, which is the worst part of the country for malaria. The mosquitoes are monsters & attack in giant swarms….”

11 December 1967:

“… I will be leaving here 28 December & going back to Pleiku to leave from Cam Ranh Bay…..”

17 December 1967:

“… I may possibly get out of here before Jan., but if so it will be the very end of Dec. “It’s been very cold & windy here the past week. The temp. probably wasn’t really low, but the change made it seems that way to us—plus a gale blowing in from the beach. We’ve all been wearing sweaters & sleeping under blankets. It’s been a bit more tolerable the past 2 days.”

30 December 1967:

“… I’ll be leaving tomorrow, but my port call is not until Jan. 5 – I may get out before then however. I’m beginning to wonder if I will be able to make it to Hawaii with the flights so behind schedule….”