Encoded for the Veterans History Project, February 1, 2023.
All letters in the Larry O'Neal collection were digitized; selected letters and postcards have been transcribed.
Documents are transcribed with minimal changes to the original text in an effort to preserve original appearance, content, and idiosyncrasies of composition. Period language and terminology are also retained. Transcription is literal with regard to the writer's capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and visible corrections (i.e. crossed out words). Spelling errors are indicated with [sic]; however, recurring errors in spelling or grammar within a single document have been marked the first time and and not subsequently. Crossed out words are presented {in braces}. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*. When the writer spells out the word "and" it appears spelled out; when a symbol is used for "and" the editor used the ampersand. Alterations to the original text are consistent throughout and all editorial comments appear in [square brackets]: a single space is placed between sentences, nontextual symbols (circled page numbers, scribbles, etc.) have been changed to plain typographical characters when possible or omitted with a note, obvious slips of the pen have been silently corrected, and malformed letters are presented as the intended letter, based on spelling and context. All superscripts and underscored superscripts have been lowered to the regular line of text and are not underscored. Single word interlineations are indicated with a single caret (^) before the word; multiple word interlineations are presented ^surrounded by carets^.
[2/8/68?]
Dear Pat,
How you all doing, fine I hope. Me I'm O.K. I have a little free time so I thought I'ld [sic.] write you a few lines. Sorry I couldn't make it down this week end [sic.].
In your letter you asked me if I was angry at you for a sermon on L.A's health problem. I thought that was funny, of course I'm not mad. Next weekend might be my last here in California, cause we graduate Friday after next and they might just go ahead and send me to Camp Le June the 17th, so I'll try and make it up there Saturday to say "Adios" just in case.
I had a check up Friday and the medical officer said that I didn't have any kind of disease so I'm still fit as a fiddle and still raring to go! ^HA!^
Last night (MON.) Tom and I went into Oceanside and went to see one of those nudie movies, it was really something eles [sic.]. Some parts kind of shook me up a little! ^HA!^
Did you know Tom's in staging already? He'll be going to Nam pretty soon. He'll get the 17 & 18th off and if I'm here I'm going to try and throw a party for him. It will be like killing two birds with one
stone, cause I'll be leaving the 19th if I don't go the 17th. We'll rent a room somewhere and Tom and Ann can be together and I'll be getting stoned. Then I'll go out and find me a date, come back and join Tom and Ann, as if you couldn't guess what they'll be doing! ^HA!^
Sunday, Feb. 4, was our wedding anniversary we have been married 1 whole year. Damn I'm getting to be old before my time. You know how I celebrated??!! I went to the rodeo. ^HA!^
Well I guess I'll sign off for now so take care of yourself. ADIOS!!
Love
Larry
P.S. I hang youre [sic.] pictures up in my wall locker and each night before I hit the sack, I take a good look and then I have real good dreams. ^AAAAHHHH! HA!^