(Patrick Nelson)
Trautman,
I’ve finally understood what is happening for real. Everything's clear, now.
The movements in the South of the DMZ are going on just to keep the Khe Sanh farce going on, a farce costing the Vietcong hundreds of deaths each month, but a farce it still is.
Khe Sanh is a bluff.
No life is too precious for Ho Chi Minh.
If thousands have to die just to make a bluff more believable, then thousands will die for nothing.
That's the way our enemies fight.
They are going to make a larger offensive against the South Vietnamese largest cities.... Against Hué too, and maybe even Saigon. They are going to risk everything because they know that time is not on their side, and in my opinion they are going to do it during the lunar new year.
I know they have just signed a cease-fire for the religious festivity, but it's almost a joke, isn't it? I mean... Some communists signing a cease-fire during a religious recurrence. Can you picture it?
They are going to violate the accords they have just signed just like they have always done during this damn war.
They are going to use the fireworks to cover their gunfire, and how!
And it doesn’t take a genius to understand that it's going to work because it's a very good idea, too good to be untrue even. There are too many people out there that haven't understood a thing about the Vietcong, my friend. There are still too many people around the world thinking that the Vietcong are stupid.
I have already warned the top brass about the oncoming offensive, and they obviously did not believe me. As you always said, because they are too scared to seriously think about what is bound to happen.
They say that a major attack of that kind would be a massacre for both the fighting sides. They may be right – I add – but only if we hold on at the impact. Because if we don't and Saigon falls, or even worse, if the civilians turn against us and they start fighting besides them... The war is over.
Anyway the rumours - those rumours the top brass don't want to believe in – reached here, at the Tri-border Zone, and before everywhere else, and I couldn't stop it in time. My South Vietnamese men are terrified and I am afraid I am going to face an epidemic of desertions.
Maybe we are going to be far away from the eye of the hurricane, but amongst my men in Saigon things will be different.
I have officers that have sent their families away from the capital already, and some very good friends that have already given out instructions for when they die.
Regarding our plan to overcome the bribery and traitors, that plan no war hawk must know about... We made huge strides during the last months.
You were right... About everything: conspiring together with you was fucking awesome... And I can't wait for the time you will be here again, perhaps with your new men too.
Together, we are going to conquer the world... I can feel it.
Then of course, my South Vietnamese can't fight properly yet, but now something has finally changed for sure, and for the good.
I do still have many drug-addicts, pimps and corrupted turncoats... Yet and despite of all of this, when I now turn to look at them I see some real warriors. Of course they are not ready yet, but they are really changing a lot, and I start understanding how the Vietcong can be so strong, because I see it in my men...
The Vietnamese have it in their blood.
They are really inclined for war, just like you once said.
You see Samuel that I don't have any problem in saying it: I do love my Vietnamese. That's the reason I am doing all of this: for them, not because of the fucking Cold War, the Domino-Theory and all of this top brass bullshit..
The Vietminh is a bloody and shitty dictatorship, and the Vietnamese don't deserve it.
I see in front of me the best this country has to offer, and I am ready to die for them just like I am ready to die for my own country.
It's just that fuck...
I do need you,, Trautman.
I need you here, and now.
Send them all to go and fuck themselves, and pull rank to get here sooner.
Patrick
P.S.: I am looking forward to the moment when general Loyd will finally hear about what we are really doing here, without his permission.
I can't wait...
Because that's exactly what the general fears the most: a handful of insubordinates acting outside his orders and yet getting such unbelievable results that they demonstrate beyond any doubt that that presumptuous dick-head was completely wrong.
This is bound to happen, my friend... And I am looking forward to it.