A missing peace: Vietnam: finally healing the pain

US-RPB-ams1U.S6 Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War1965-2011 Finding aid prepared by Barbara Ambos. Brown University Library

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Tel: 401-863-3723 email:hay@brown.edu

2015 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-12-02 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War AMS.1U.S6 John Hay LibraryUniversity Archives and Manuscripts

Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

English 0.25 Linear feet 1965-2011 The Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War include an oral history interview of Robert Seiple conducted by Professor Beth Taylor in 2011 about his days at Brown University and his military experiences during the Vietnam War, publications by Robert Seiple that include his Vietnam experiences, his viewpoints and material about his faith in action. A large part of the collection is a unique assemblage of letters written by Robert Seiple to his parents in New Jersey chronicling his feelings about life and military experiences in Quantico, Virginia; Pensacola, Florida; and Vietnam from 1966-1968. He also sent 5 audio letters on reel-to-reel 1/4 inch magnetic tapes to his family. He was a highly decorated Captain, flying three hundred flights as bombardier/navigator for the United States Marine Corps, which earned him a total of twenty-eight Air Medals, a Vietnam Campaign Medal with five battle stars, the Navy Commendation award and the Distinguished Flying Cross. When his Marine Corps duty was completed, he returned to Brown University in various administrative roles. He was able to put his faith into action through his work as President of Eastern College and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and then of World Vision, one of the largest private humanitarian relief and development agencies in the world. He became the first “Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom” for the United States State Department. In 2015 he serves as the President of the Board of the International Religion Liberty Association and continues being an ambassador for international religious freedoms. Seiple, Robert A., 1942- Taylor, Elizabeth S. (Beth) Seiple (Robert A.) (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War Biographical/Historical note

Robert A. "Bob" Seiple grew up in the small town of Harmony, New Jersey in the 1950s (born 1942). He and his older brother were the first in his family to attend college. He was encouraged by a Brown football coach to apply to Brown University and arrived in Providence in the fall of 1961. As a small town boy with a close-knit and deeply religious community, he experienced some culture shock on campus. “My faith was and is important and I never had to argue it into existence until I came to Brown University,” Seiple recalled. “The articulation and the formation of faith to someone else, a real skeptic, was not something I ever wrestled with in Harmony.” He played lacrosse and was a member of the football team, playing as a starter from his sophomore year onwards. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in American Literature.

In the summer of 1965 Seiple went to Europe and on the boat coming home he met his future wife, Margaret Ann Goebel. Over the next three months he corresponded with Margaret Ann while he worked in the Brown University admissions office. When he received a letter from his draft board, he decided to join the Marine Corps as an officer to avoid being drafted. Robert started Officer Candidate School (OCS) at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia in January 1966 and was commissioned in July 1966. Letters from Seiple’s parents, family, pastors and school children arrived almost daily and smoothed his difficult transition to military life. The letters from him to his parents are in the collections and describe his routines, feelings and accomplishments. He finished 3rd out of a class that started out at 248 men. Subsequently being offered infantry or aviation training, Robert felt he should take advantage of the flight training, even though he felt his athleticism would have served him well as an infantry officer. He was informed he would be a naval aviator in the A-6. He was sent to a five-week pre-flight school and a 16 week navigation course at the Naval Air School in Pensacola, Florida. Between Quantico and his assignment in Florida, he married Margaret Ann on May 14, 1965 in a military wedding. “So we were married. The war was on. I was in training and there was no question in anybody’s mind, my wife or mine, that as soon as the training was done I would get into a squadron and be sent overseas.”

From a tarmac in Moline, Illinois in the pouring rain in October 1967, having been married a year and a half, Robert said goodbye to Margaret Ann, who was six months pregnant. He was taken to the west coast, then to the Philippines and on to Japan. At Okinawa he had a few days of orientation and was then sent to Da Nang, Vietnam. There he had a one day reunion with his older brother William C. Seiple (Bill), who had just completed his deployment in the infantry. Robert noticed a war-weariness and worldliness he had never noticed in Bill before. He could only imagine the intensity of what Bill had faced and what he was going to experience in the coming months and first questioned whether he’d live to go home.

Seiple’s life in Vietnam is chronicled through his letters home to his parents and family in Harmony, New Jersey and in his book, “A Missing Peace: Vietnam: finally healing the pain (InterVarsity Press, 1992). Other details are filled in through his oral history interview with Professor Beth Taylor in 2011. His letters show an early and increasing skepticism of the military strategy for the war which turns to cynicism. During his tour of duty he flew three hundred flights as bombardier/navigator, which earned him a total of twenty-eight Air Medals, a Vietnam Campaign Medal with five battle stars, the Navy Commendation award and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He writes “it wasn’t any quest for honors that motivated me. Neither did I have a strong drive to fight. Flying was simply the best way I knew how to cope with the unavoidable pressures of combat. The more missions I flew, the more time I spent flying and preparing to fly, the faster the days and weeks seemed to pass.” The aviators would talk among themselves about the military strategy asking “Is there any target in North Vietnam worth dying for? And the answer was no.”

During his tour, Seiple took a special training session in “highly classified nuclear this and that” in Japan with some unofficial R&R (February 1968); additional instruction and unofficial R&R in the Philippines (April 1968), an official R&R in Hawaii, getting reacquainted with his wife and meeting his first son, Chris, for the first time (May 1968); and jungle survival training in the Philippines (August 1968).

Seiple considers his time in Vietnam as the single richest year of experience in his life, maturing him, and teaching him much about himself and his faith. He survived his tour and returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina in November 1968. He served the remaining year of his Marine Corps duty as an instructor (with the rank of Captain) for other bombardier/navigators. He felt this time allowed him to “decompress” from the stresses of Vietnam as he was sequestered in this major military installation. In 1969, changes in popular culture shocked him during a trip to Harvard Square for a job interview.

In his personal life back in the states, he “had to relearn what it was like to be a husband, and learn how to be a father” to his son, Chris, who later served in the Marine Corps. It took a while for them to get to know each other. He and Margaret Ann had a second child, a daughter, Amy, while he was at Cherry Point, and he enjoyed parenting. They had a third child, son, Jesse in the mid-1970s.

After the Marines, Seiple took a job selling building supplies, holding a sales territory in Michigan. He learned he had a natural sales ability, but he didn’t want to sell inanimate objects. He took a position again in Brown University’s admissions office for a year and a half. When he arrived back at Brown in 1971, he felt the changes among the students, campus and academic cultures and his own maturity and could relate more to the class that graduated in 1950 than to the group that graduated in 1970. He also recognized that Vietnam was a subject no one wanted to acknowledge. Soon he realized his long-held dream of becoming an athletic director for a Division I school taking a role as assistant athletic director and then director. Unexpectedly to Seiple, it brought him little personal fulfillment and he felt a call to do more. He ended up as Brown University’s vice president for development in charge of a five-year $158-million capital campaign. The campaign raised $182 million, exceeding its goal, and this position propelled him into other positions.

Wanting to put his faith into practice, Seiple accepted a call to become President of Eastern College and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1983 (now merged as Palmer Theological Seminary). The schools’ single purpose was summed up in the motto: “The whole Gospel for the whole world.”

Over the next four years he gained new insights into the meaning of that motto and learned much about Christian concern and compassion and to see not with his eyes, “but with my heart.” Through Brown alum, Chuck Coulson, Seiple was persuaded to become a candidate for the position of president of World Vision, the largest private relief and development agency in the world. After accepting that role, he returned to Vietnam with a very different agenda than before: to help achieve something positive there. He worked there for eleven years and then went to the State Department becoming the first Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, for two years (1999-2001). This position, established by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, was created to promote religious freedom worldwide, promote reconciliation in places where conflict had been implemented along religious lines and ensure that the religious freedom issue was woven into the fabric of U.S. foreign policy. He purposefully left this position before the end of the Clinton term. With his wife Margaret Ann, they then founded the Institute for Global Engagement, which works in the area of religious freedom, and is described as an applied think tank: doing a lot of reflection, writing – presenting points of view - but also tying their ideas to humanitarian fieldwork operations. When he had left World Vision, he felt it had spent its efforts on grassroots, in the “trenches” and in the churches. When he was in the State Department, the attention was spent with ambassadors and presidents. The Institute for Global Engagement tried to work top down and bottom up concurrently and it turned out to be a successful methodology. They wanted to make sure their faith would work in difficult places so they went to work in places like Laos, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan developing relationships of trust, striving for the biblical concept of reconciliation. In addition to multiple publications, he also made numerous appearances in defense of religious freedoms.

In 2007 he was serving as president and CEO of Council of America's First Freedom and on the Executive Committee of Denver Seminary. He has served as Vice President and is President of the Board of the International Religious Liberty Association (as of 2015).

Awards include: 1994 "Churchman of the Year" Award from Religious Heritage America 1995 Doctorate of Public Service by Gordon College (one of eight honorary degrees he has received) 1995 "Independent Award" from Brown University 1995 U. S. Secretary of State's Distinguished Public Service Award

Publications include:

One life at a time: making a world of difference (Word Publishing, 1990) A Missing Peace: Vietnam: finally healing the pain (InterVarsity Press, 1992, ISBN 9780830812943) Ambassadors of Hope: how Christians can respond to the world's toughest problems (InterVarsity Press, ©2004) The separation of church and hate (In: Fides et libertas, ISSN 1940-6924, Nº 2007, 2007 (pages 112-119)) Christianity, Human Rights and a Theology that touches the Ground (Cambridge University Press, ©2010

Collection information

The Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War include an oral history interview of Robert Seiple conducted by Professor Beth Taylor in 2011 about his days at Brown University and his military experiences during the Vietnam War, publications by Robert Seiple that include his Vietnam experiences, his viewpoints and material about his faith in action. A large part of the collection is a unique assemblage of letters written by Robert Seiple to his parents in New Jersey chronicling his feelings about life and military experiences in Quantico, Virginia, Pensacola, Florida and Vietnam from 1966-1968. There are also Vietnam era-related tapes that complemented his written letters sent from Seiple to his family. He was a highly decorated Captain, flying three hundred flights as bombardier/navigator for the United States Marine Corps, which earned him a total of twenty-eight Air Medals, a Vietnam Campaign Medal with five battle stars, the Navy Commendation award and the Distinguished Flying Cross. When his Marine Corps duty was completed, he returned to Brown University in various administrative roles. He was able to put his faith into action through his work as President of Eastern College and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and then of World Vision, one of the largest private humanitarian relief and development agencies in the world. He became the first “Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom” for the United States State Department. In 2015 he serves as the President of the Board of the International Religion Liberty Association and continues being an ambassador for international religious freedoms.

The collection is organized into the following 6 series:

Series 1. Oral history: This series includes audio recordings (in MP3 format) of an interview of Robert A. Seiple, Class of 1965 conducted by Professor Elizabeth Taylor on May 9, 2011 as part of the Brown University Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project. There are summarizing notes of the interview and a transcription of the interview with the edits by Bob, Seiple. In his interview, Bob recounts memories of his student days at Brown University in the early 1960s and his football and academic experiences. He returned to Brown after his graduation to work in admissions, and then again after his military obligations were fulfilled to work in the administration. He describes how he advanced his career. He describes his military experiences, mostly of his time in Vietnam, and alludes to the attitudes he had and how they are reflected in his letters home. He mentions some of the Brown alumni he met through his military service. The MP3 formats are available online and are also in the collection on a CD-R disk.

Series 2. Biographical information: The biographical information comprise a few biographical descriptions that appear in press releases or on web sites. There is a photocopy of his senior photograph from the 1965 Brown University Yearbook. More biographical material is present within his other publications (see Series 3. Supporting Materials).

Series 3. Supporting Materials: This series contains publications by Robert A. Seiple. The first is A missing peace: Vietnam: finally healing the pain (InterVarsity Press, 1992, ISBN 9780830812943) which he wrote while President of World Vision, US. It is about the “war without closure," from his perspective as a Marine aviator during the Viernam War and as head of a relief agency. It includes stories and people Seiple encountered while with the Marines and with World Vision. One of its main themes is a call for reconciliation for those touched by the Vietnam War or any other war. The next is A roadmap for Vietnam : Ambassador Robert Seiple's February 12, 2004 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where he shares his concerns with the deteriorating approach to human rights by the Vietnamese government, limiting his comments to the harassment of Christians and other expressions of religious beliefs. The last is The separation of church and hate, a presentation given to the World Congress in 2006 when Seiple was President of the Council for America's First Freedom and former U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.

Series 4. Correspondence: A large part of the collection is a unique assemblage of letters written by Robert Seiple to his parents and family in New Jersey. The letters chronicle his feelings about life and military experiences in Quantico, Virginia during Officer Candidate School (January - March 1966); Pensacola, Florida during aviator training at the Naval Air School (March 1966-May 1966); and heading to and during his tour in Vietnam, mostly in DaNang (October 1967 - October 1968). The letters describe his routines, feelings and accomplishments, and communicate a little of his wife's lifestyle and family life stateside while he is away. There are descriptions of his physical and psychological environment, his role as a bombardier scheduler, and some of the plans and results from his bombing runs. His letters show an early and increasing skepticism of the military strategy for the war which turns to cynicism. He wrote to his parents at least once a week, sometimes more frequently, and often comments on the items they have sent and his appreciation of receiving their letters and packages.

Series 5. Reel-to-Reel tapes: As part of his communications strategy with his family, Seiple recorded 4 audio letters on reel-to-reel 1/4-inch magnetic tapes. There are indications that these kinds of tapes were also sent to him from his family, but there seems to have been some issues with distortion upon playback, so it is believed that this processed stopped. The 5th tape is a recording the Seiple family sent to Bob's brother, William C. "Bill" Seiple, for Christmas in 1966 while Bill was serving in Vietnam.

Series 6. Museum Objects: This series contains a Marine Attack Squadron 224 color medallion emblem on paper, in very good condition.

Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, AMS.1U.S6, Brown University Library.

This collection is arranged in 6 series.

Series 1. Oral history Series 2. Biographical Information Series 3. Supporting Materials Series 4. Correspondence Series 5. Reel-to-Reel tapes Series 6. Museum Objects

Administrative information

Interview of Robert A. Seiple conducted on May 9, 2011 with Professor Elizabeth Taylor. Correspondence and other supporting material donated in 2012 by Robert A. Seiple, Brown University, Class of 1965.

Additional information

Part of the Vietnam Veterans Archive (Brown University).

Robert Seiple is also mentioned in "Ever true : the history of Brown football" / written by John Hanlon and David Philips ; edited by Artemis Joukowsky and Jon Land (2003). A copy is located in the Brown University Archives.

Names Brown University. Class of 1965. Colson, Charles W., 1931-2012 Hope, Bob, 1903-2003 United Service Organizations (U.S.). United States. Marine Corps. Vietnam Veterans Archive (Brown University) Zimmer, Jerry A. (Jerry Allen), 1944-1969 Subjects Basic training (Military education) Bombing, Aerial--Vietnam Da Nang (Vietnam) Flight navigators Flight training Intruder (Jet attack plane) Khé Sanh (Vietnam) Marine Corps Base Quantico (Va.) Marines--Medals, badges, decorations, etc. Morale Operation Rolling Thunder, 1965-1968 Soldiers -- United States -- Correspondence Vietnam Demilitarized Zone (Vietnam) Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects Occupations Officers, Military and naval RIAMCO Browsing Term Military Oral History Series 1 2011 Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) - edited transcription 1 1 25.0 pages 2011 May 9 and 2011 September Scope and Contents note

Conducted by Prof. Elizabeth Taylor in the John Hay Library on May 9, 2011

Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) - edited transcription, 2011 May 9 and 2011 September

Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965)- edited transcription, 2011 May 9 and 2011 September

Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) - summary notes by Elizabeth Taylor 1 2 17.0 pages 2011 May 9 Scope and Contents note

Hand written and transcribed notes regarding interview with Seiple. Includes paper with Seiple's information: full name, current address, zip code, place of birth, how many children, present age, marital status, present profession, hobbies, professional, military, civic organizations affiliated with, home phone number.

Interview with Robert A. Seiple (1965) - summary notes by Elizabeth Taylor, 2011 May 9

Interview with Robert A. Seiple (Class of 1965) Audio Recording on CD-Rom 1 3 1.0 compact disc 2011 May 9 Scope and Contents note

Recording of interview on CD along with typed contents of interview.

Interview with Robert A. Seiple (1965) Audio Recording on CD-Rom, 2011 May 9

Brown Vietnam Vets Oral History : Years at Brown questions 1 4 1.0 page 2011 Scope and Contents note

These are the questions Professor Beth Taylor asked during the oral history interview. There are no responses recorded on this document.

Brown University Oral History Project Release Form 1 5 2.0 pages 2011 May 9 Scope and Contents note

Brown University Oral History Project Release Form signed May 9, 2011

Biographical information Series 2 1965-2011 Biography of Robert A. Seiple 1 6 1.0 page 2011

Biographies of Robert A. Seiple, 2011

Biography of Robert A. Seiple from GraceMatters.org from July 2007 interview 1 6 1.0 page 2007

Biography of Robert A. Seiple from GraceMatters.org from July 2007 interview, 2007

Biographies of Robert A. Seiple from Brown Football Release 2002 - Seiple to be honored 1 6 1.0 page 2002

Biographies of Robert A. Seiple from Brown Football Release 2002 -Seiple to be honored, 2002

Biography written by Beth Taylor as part of the Vietnam Vets Oral History 1 6 4.0 pages 2011

Biography written by Beth Taylor as part of the Vietnam Vets Oral History, 2011

Portrait of Robert Seiple in the Brown University Yearbook "Liber Brunensis" (photocopy) 1 6 1.0 page 1965 Supporting Materials Series 3 1966-2004 Robert Seiple, "A Missing Peace : Vietnam: finally healing the pain." with Gregg Lewis. 194 pages. ISBN:0830812946 1 8 2.0 copies 1992 A Roadmap for Vietnam by Robert Seiple. Ambassador Seiple's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 1 7 2.0 pages 2004 February location

http://rfiaonline.org/extras/articles/287-a-roadmap-for-vietnam

General note

accessed via internet 1/23/2011; published 2/14/2004; testimony given 2/12/2004

A Roadmap for Vietnam by Robert Seiple. Ambassador Seiple's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 2004 February

The Separation of Church and Hate by Robert Seiple, 1 7 8.0 pages 2007

The Separation of Church and Hate by Robert Seiple, , 2007

Correspondence Series 4 1965-1968 Scope and Contents note

Hand written and typed letters sent home by Seiple to his parents. The letters were written from when he was at Officer Candidate School at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia to his last days in Viet Nam.

United States Marine Corps to Robert Allen Seiple 1 10 1.0 page 1965 November 9 Scope and Contents note

Acceptance to the 39th Officer Candidate Course. Signed by R.R. Kurth, Jur. Lt. Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Assistant Director for Personnel Procurement

United States Marine Corps to Robert Allen Seiple, 1965 November 9

Seiple, Robert to All, "Busy, busy, busy" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 January 14 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico

Seiple, Robert to All, "Busy, busy, busy", 1966 January 14

Seiple, Robert to All "Just a quickie...Tuesday went to S.C." 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 January 27 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico; snow

Seiple, Robert to All "Just a quickie...Tuesday went to S.C.", 1966 January 27

Seiple, Robert to All "Things are still moving along" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 January 28 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico

Seiple, Robert to All "Things are still moving along", 1966 January 28

Seiple, Robert to All "Tired, beaten Bob here." 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 February 1 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico; snow

Seiple, Robert to All "Tired, beaten Bob here.", 1966 February 1

Seiple, Robert to All "Heard from Christine" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 February 6 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico; flunked air test; Heard from Margaret…"Maybe I'll marry her."

Seiple, Robert to All "Heard from Christine", 1966 February 6

Seiple, Robert to All "Almost the end of a big week." 1 11 4.0 pages 1966 February 11 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico; passed Navigation flight exam and Naval flight physical; "I can take any physical stuff…Psychologically the place gets me down at times."

Seiple, Robert to All "Almost the end of a big week.", 1966 February 11

Seiple, Robert to All "Boy am I tired!" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 February 17 (circa) Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico; "Boy am I tired!"; compass march; On envelope: "P.S. 20% of my platoon is no longer here - they cut out the bad ones quickly"

Seiple, Robert to All "Boy am I tired!", 1966 February 17 (circa)

Seiple, Robert to All "This is a holiday-Washington's birthday" 1 11 4.0 pages 1966 February 22 Scope and Contents note

training at Quantico; leadership training; studying

Seiple, Robert to All "This is a holiday-Washington's birthday", 1966 February 22

Seiple, Robert to Family "Sorry I haven't written this week. It has been by far, the busiest and most tiring week we've had." 1 11 6.0 pages 1966 March 6 (circa) Scope and Contents note

"the busiest and most tiring week we've had." purchasing "really expensive uniform"; last conditioning hike 'about 1 out of 3 didn't make it."

Seiple, Robert to Family ""Sorry I haven't written this week. It has been by far, the busiest and most tiring week we've had.", 1966 March 6 (circa)

Seiple, Robert to All "I'm about 100 miles south of Dewitt" 1 11 4.0 pages 1966 March 18 (circa) Scope and Contents note

On Leave with future wife, Margaret to N.J. then to Iowa; announce engagement with wedding plans in Pensacola, Florida.

Seiple, Robert to All "I'm about 100 miles south of Dewitt", 1966 March 18 (circa)

Seiple, Robert to All "Enclosed find check for insurance." 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 March 29 Scope and Contents note

Arrives in Pensacola for pilot training from Iowa.

Seiple, Robert to All "Enclosed find check for insurance.", 1966 March 29

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I'm pretty much settled down here." 1 11 6.0 pages 1966 April 1 Scope and Contents note

U.S. Marine Corps paper, sent from Flight school at Pensacola. "No mental harassment…now it's gentalmanly courtesy." Sets wedding date to May 14th; starts sea survival May 16th. Passes eye exam so Seiple can be a Navigator.

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I'm pretty much settled down here.", 1966 April 1

Naval Air Station Pensacola (Fla.) Seiple, Robert to Family "Gee am I ever busy" 1 11 1.0 page 1966 April 7 Scope and Contents note

"This is, by far, the toughest academic situation I've ever been in - and they tell us it gets tougher."

Seiple, Robert to Family "Gee am I ever busy", 1966 April 7

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Not much free time nowadays" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 April 11

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Not much free time nowadays", 1966 April 11

Seiple, Robert to Folks "End of week #2" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 April 18 Scope and Contents note

test results

Seiple, Robert to Folks "End of week #2", 1966 April 18

Seiple, Robert to All "Sorry I haven't been writing more but this has been my busiest week. Had 3 finals, swim test, PT tests..." 1 11 4.0 pages 1966 April 28 Scope and Contents note

"I think I'm being trained to be the Radar-Intercept officer in the f4-B (the Phantom)." Pre-flight is over; "passed all my subjects with room to spare and I got my highest grad in navigation." Swimming test described.

Seiple, Robert to All "Sorry I haven't been writing more but this has been my busiest week. Had 3 finals, swim test, PT tests...", 1966 April 28

Seiple, Robert to All "Just a short note--it's late and we start survival training tomorrow." 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 May 2 Scope and Contents note

Starts survival training the next day.

Seiple, Robert to All "Just a short note--it's late and we start survival training tomorrow.", 1966 May 2

Seiple, Robert to All "Here's the stuff" 1 11 2.0 pages 1966 May 29 (circa) Scope and Contents note

"Mary is coming home with us."

Seiple, Robert to All "Here's the stuff", 1966 May 29 (circa)

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Gee Mom-you're really subtle..." 1 11 8.0 pages 1966 May 29 Scope and Contents note

Margaret is going to work. [She] will have to put off her first flying lesson.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Gee Mom-you're really subtle...", 1966 May 29

Seiple, Robert to All "We're happily in Iowa after a long enjoyable trip" 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 October 8

Seiple, Robert to All, "We're happily in Iowa after a long enjoyable trip.", 1967 October 8

Seiple, Robert to All "Everything is working out fine" [POSTCARD Aloha from Hawaii] 1 12 1.0 postcard 1967 October 16 Scope and Contents note

Postcard from Honolulu "Great connections" "Be in Okinawa in 9 hours" signed Bomb[er] Bobby

Seiple, Robert to All "Everything is working out fine" [POSTCARD Aloha from Hawaii], 1967 October 16

Seiple, Robert to All "Greetings from Okinawa." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 October 18 Scope and Contents note

"I really envy the guys on there way home. Thirteen months seems forever now."

Seiple, Robert to All "Greetings from Okinawa.", 1967 October 18

Seiple, Robert to All "Greetings from RVN. Been here 3 days now and still haven't flown." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 October 21

Seiple, Robert to All "Greetings from RVN. Been here 3 days now and still haven't flown.", 1967 October 21

Seiple, Robert to All "Well, I'm a little discouraged." 1 12 3.0 pages 1967 October 28 Scope and Contents note

"and you'd be surprised how people fight over the really good missions"

Seiple, Robert to All "Well, I'm a little discouraged.", 1967 October 28

Seiple, Robert to folksy "Hi-livin BB here --keeping busy" 1 12 4.0 pages 1967 November 2 Scope and Contents note

BB=Bomber Bob; "using 28, 500-lb bombs - that's 7 tons and really lights up the area when they go off."

Seiple, Robert to folksy "Hi-livin BB here --keeping busy", 1967 November 2

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well I've just completed my 2nd week of flying --11 missions" 1 12 4.0 pages 1967 November 5 Scope and Contents note

"...flown once in the daytime. Everything else is from 8 o'clock at nite to 5 in the morning."

Seiple, Robert to Folks "I've just completed my 2nd week of flying --11 missions]", 1967 November 5

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Did you get the tape recorder yet?" 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 November 9 Scope and Contents note

"Heh, I got an Air Medal - Bill will hee-haw this off as nothing --and it is, but I got one anyway."

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Did you get the tape recorder yet?", 1967 November 9

Marine Brothers Meet Briefly in Da Nang, Vietnam (newspaper clipping) 1 12 1.0 page 1967 November 7 (circa) Scope and Contents note

With photo of brothers Lt. Robert and Lt. William Seiple : "Two Phillipsburg Area Marine officer-brothers met briefly in Da Nang, Vietnam, recently --one just completing a 13 month tour there and another just arriving for a 13 month tour."

Marine Brothers Meet Briefly in Da Nang, Vietnam (newspaper clipping), 1967 November 7 (circa)

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Just a short note." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 November 13 Scope and Contents note

"Tomorrow I start a new project…I'm going to Special Forces Camps to help put up radar reflectors."

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Just a short note.", 1967 November 13

Seiple, Robert to Dad "Happiness is having 59 birthdays and no grey hairs." 1 12 4.0 pages 1967 November 14 Scope and Contents note

"We're getting rain everyday now and it makes for hazardous takeoffs, landings, etc…Will fly my 20th mission tonight."

Seiple, Robert to Dad "Happiness is having 59 birthdays and no grey hairs.", 1967 November 14

Seiple, Robert to All "Boy am I ever writing letters from home." 1 12 3.0 pages 1967 November 16 Scope and Contents note

"won't go into all the details since I plan to make a tape." description of N. Vietnam fortifications.

Seiple, Robert to All "Boy am I ever writing letters from home.", 1967 November 16

Seiple, Robert to All "No - putting up radar reflectors doesn't keep me from flying." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 November 23 Scope and Contents note

"I got my 2nd airmedal last night and am flying my first "Rolling Thunder" tonight." "Rolling Thunder is any mission above 18˚00˚ N(lat)."

Seiple, Robert to All " No - putting up radar reflectors doesn't keep me from flying.", 1967 November 23

Seiple, Robert to All "Right now I'm sitting up in bed -" 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 November 28 Scope and Contents note

Now we spend all our free time throwing darts.

Seiple, Robert to All "Right now I'm sitting up in bed -", 1967 November 28

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I think the monsoons are here." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 December 2 Scope and Contents note

"I still haven't flown any "Rolling Thunders" (RT)

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I think the monsoons are here.", 1967 December 2

Seiple, Robert to Peoples "I don't think I've written in a while" 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 December 9 Scope and Contents note

"I got my 3rd air medal 3 days ago. No big deal. I still haven't done anything heroic."

Seiple, Robert to Peoples "I don't think I've written in a while", 1967 December 9

Seiple, Robert to Older generations "Schedule writing Bob here -- probably wrote his last schedule." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 December 11 Scope and Contents note

Still no tape recorder

Seiple, Robert to Older generations "Schedule writing Bob here -- probably wrote his last schedule.", 1967 December 11

Seiple, Robert to All "Well another exciting week has drawn to a close." 1 12 4.0 pages 1967 December 22 Scope and Contents note

"Two days ago we had a SAM fired at us (John Schidel + I)"

Seiple, Robert to All "Well another exciting week has drawn to a close.", 1967 December 22

Seiple, Robert to All "Well, it's Christmas and I guess it's the worst Christmas I ever had." 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 December 25 Scope and Contents note

"My afternoon hop was one of the prettiest pieces of bombing that I have ever seen. "bad week last week… RF-4 crashed into the runway and killed both crew members…2nd plane lost during the "truce"".

Seiple, Robert to All "My afternoon hop was one of the prettiest pieces of bombing that I have ever seen.", 1967 December 25

Seiple, Robert to Family "Christmas Card" 1 12 4.0 pages 1967 December Scope and Contents note

Snoopy Da Nang; 1 page folded into a 4-page card

Seiple, Robert to Family "Christmas Card", 1967 December

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, I've gotten most of my letter writing and thank you's all caught up" 1 12 2.0 pages 1967 December 29 Scope and Contents note

Basic training officer; Naval Air Training Operating Standardization NATOPS; mediocrity in unit; "Short-timer" in the Marine Corps.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, I've gotten most of my letter writing and thank you's all caught up", 1967 December 29

Seiple, Robert all ye peoples of the Harmony clan "Here's your favorite war correspondent..." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 January 2 Seiple, Robert A., 1942- Scope and Contents note

worst holiday season ever; opinions on the state of the war

Seiple, Robert all ye peoples of the Harmony clan "Here's your favorite war correspondent...", 1968 January 2

United States. Marine Corps. Bombing, Aerial--Vietnam Christmas Soldiers--United States--Correspondence Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, are you all worried about the Da Nang Rocket attack?" 1 13 3.0 pages 1968 January 3 Scope and Contents note

describes attack on his unit 242

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, are you all worried about the Da Nang Rocket attack?", 1968 January 3

Seiple, Robert to Aunt Moochie/Aunt Mary "Hello little sister" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 January 9 Scope and Contents note

1st child born; talks about wanting to sass X.O. (commanding officer); Air Medals

Seiple, Robert to Aunt Moochie/Aunt Mary "Hello little sister", 1968 January 9

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "Well Mom, it sounds like you're getting all sentimental again." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 January 13 Scope and Contents note

"I've never been so anxious to be somewhere else."

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "Well Mom, it sounds like you're getting all sentimental again.", 1968 January 13

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "Once more from that long thin line in the orient," 1 13 1.0 page 1968 January 20 Scope and Contents note

Rolling Thunder mission description.

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "Once more from that long thin line in the orient,", 1968 January 20

Seiple, Robert to Folks "I got your cheese, crackers and candy yesterday…" 1 13 4.0 pages 1968 January 24 Scope and Contents note

The war has picked up in its intensity.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "I got your cheese, crackers and candy yesterday…", 1968 January 24

Seiple, Robert Hello all you home-front folks, "I realize I haven't written in a while.." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 January 29 Scope and Contents note

to Khe Sahn

Seiple, Robert Hello all you home-front folks, "I realize I haven't written in a while..", 1968 January 29

Seiple, Robert to Well hello, "I promised to write and fill you in on Khe Sahn" 1 13 4.0 pages 1968 January 30 Scope and Contents note

description of attack on base and Da Nang; Hill 881; up to 87 flights

Seiple, Robert to Well hello, " I promised to write and fill you in on Khe Sahn", 1968 January 30

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "First, I'll write a longer letter tomorrow." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 February 3 Scope and Contents note

In Japan.

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "First, I'll write a longer letter tomorrow.", 1968 February 3

Seiple, Robert to All "We started school today… 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 February 5 Scope and Contents note

In Japan - Instructed about highly classified material "nuclear this and that". Met Jerry Bucchi, Brown Football captain 1963;

Seiple, Robert to All "We started school today…, 1968 February 5

Seiple, Robert to All 'Well, this little boondoggle to Japan has been good for me." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 February 8 Scope and Contents note

In Japan. Chance to act as a civilian. Called M.A. "great hearing her voice". Learned Lang Vei S.F. camp was overrun. "thought it was impenetrable" "Some of the tactical decisions that go on over here make me sick."

Seiple, Robert to All 'Well, this little boondoggle to Japan has been good for me.", 1968 February 8

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Once again, your favorite war correspondent," 1 13 1.0 page 1968 February 13 Scope and Contents note

flying north; opinions about war strategy

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Once again, your favorite war correspondent,", 1968 February 13

Seiple, Robert to Folks and Little Sisters "Looks like another long letter coming up…" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 February 17 Scope and Contents note

describes bombing run in North Vietnam --"an enjoyable hop and a productive one." Flying with pilot Satch Schedel. flew 97th mission and got 8th Air Medal last week. Issues between U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps. "So much of this war is political i

Seiple, Robert to Folks and Little Sisters "Looks like another long letter coming up…", 1968 February 17

Seiple, Robert to Seiples, "Just a short note - I'm going out to fly in support of Khe Sahn;" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 February 19 Scope and Contents note

Flew 100th mission.

Seiple, Robert to Seiples, "Just a short note - I'm going out to fly in support of Khe Sahn;", 1968 February 19

Seiple, Robert to All, "Well, if you're reading the papers… 1 13 1.0 page 1968 February 26 Scope and Contents note

Refers to bombing of Hanoi ; opinions on tactics; "I've probably told you that I don't think we are going to win this war." signed "A war despondent if there ever was one"

Seiple, Robert to All, "Well, if you're reading the papers…, 1968 February 26

Seiple, Robert to All "And happy one March!" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 March 1 Scope and Contents note

May have been on T.V. footage shown in States after rocket attack. 10th Air medal, 112th mission

Seiple, Robert to All "And happy one March!", 1968 March 1

Seiple, Robert to All "Well, I'm in one of my typically good moods." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 March 4 Scope and Contents note

"if I die over here, I'll die happy." Dick Pershing of Yale, killed. "We're the football in a huge political game…[between] a couple of bickering services."

Seiple, Robert to All "Well, I'm in one of my typically good moods.", 1968 March 4

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "You're reading words from one tired individual." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 March 10 Scope and Contents note

rebuilding bunkers; 12 March Air Force takes over the airways in I Corps.

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "You're reading words from one tired individual.", 1968 March 10

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "I guess I haven't written in awhile…" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 March 19

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "I guess I haven't written in awhile…", 1968 March 19

Seiple, Robert to All and Happy Birthday Bill, "First of all…." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 March 20 Scope and Contents note

."..can expect phase II of the Tet Offensive between now and 15 April" "It's a fun hop - anything that moves is fair game and we hit it." Khe Sahn in the daylight "looks like the moon -- cratered all over from thousands of tones of bombs."

Seiple, Robert to All and Happy Birthday Bill, "First of all….", 1968 March 20

Seiple, Robert to All "First of all - thank you for all those pictures…" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 March 29 Scope and Contents note

"Hell, they are keeping a lot of news from you people back home. They keep a lot from us too…" Written on United States Armed Forces - Vietnam Stationery which has a map image of North Vietnam, South Vietnam with cities, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia.

Seiple, Robert to All "First of all - thank you for all those pictures…", 1968 March 29

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "First let me thank everyone home there for all the goodies you sent." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 April 3 Scope and Contents note

"Well all you armchair politicians, what do you think about Johnson now? "still flying TH's in the first 60 miles of NVN." Squadron only flying 10 hops a day …[with] 18 crews to fly them. This means a lot of free time,.."

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "First let me thank everyone home there for all the goodies you sent.", 1968 April 3

Seiple, Robert to All, "First, Dad, I hope you are feeling better." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 April 6 Scope and Contents note

I have often thought that King was living on borrowed time…" in reference to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. sent audio tape

Seiple, Robert to All, "First, Dad, I hope you are feeling better.", 1968 April 6

Seiple, Robert to All " I haven't written in a while but as you know I spent a few days in the Philippines" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 April 13 Scope and Contents note

dog training in U.S.

Seiple, Robert to All " I haven't written in a while but as you know I spent a few days in the Philippines", 1968 April 13

Seiple, Robert to Folks "No, I don't have a new ribbon,…" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 April 15 Scope and Contents note

Bible, Phillips translation ; preparing for Hawaii to meet son. Tom Macy

Seiple, Robert to Folks "No, I don't have a new ribbon,…", 1968 April 15

Seiple, Robert to All "Well peace talks are still proceeding rather slowly." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 April 19

Seiple, Robert to All "Well peace talks are still proceeding rather slowly.", 1968 April 19

Seiple, Robert to Family "Excuse the stationery." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 April 25 Scope and Contents note

Getting uniform together for Hawaii. "I have a hop tonight but it's a milk run right here in the Danang area." 80 missions North

Seiple, Robert to Family "Excuse the stationery.", 1968 April 25

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I'm back in Danang" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 May 8 Scope and Contents note

After Hawaii meeting son

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I'm back in Danang", 1968 May 8

Seiple, Robert to All "Got your letter today and it was good to hear from you." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 May 10 Scope and Contents note

"Well we all will be watching the peace talks and also the increased infiltration from the North. I'm afraid that the commies will stall for time till they have all their troops resupplied…"

Seiple, Robert to All "Got your letter today and it was good to hear from you.", 1968 May 10

Seiple, Robert to Mamas and the Papas, and the girls "Gee is it ever hot here." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 May 21 Scope and Contents note

"92 missions North; threat of rocket attack here at DaNang is so strong that we have to divert after our normal mission. We've been going to Thailand."

Seiple, Robert to Mamas and the Papas, and the girls "Gee is it ever hot here.", 1968 May 21

Seiple, Robert to Peoples, "Heh, thank you very much for the book on anitiques [sic]" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 May 25 Scope and Contents note

I'll calm down after I get 100. Right now I have 94 [North], 175 all together. "Satch and I took a hit about a week ago." "Our sister squadron did lose an A6-A when I was in Hawaii."

Seiple, Robert to Peoples, "Heh, thank you very much for the book on anitiques [sic]", 1968 May 25

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Got the letter with the picture in it today…" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 May 31 Scope and Contents note

"Last night I flew my 100 mission North (180 altogether). There are only 2 other B/N's in the squadron with over 100 missions North and they both have les than 20 days to do. I have five months left." Description of a good 100th bombing.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Got the letter with the picture in it today…", 1968 May 31

Seiple, Robert to Folks "How about that." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 June 8 Scope and Contents note

I think I'll tell you a little about the air war up North.

Seiple, Robert to Folks, "How about that.", 1968 June 8

Seiple, Robert to Peoples "Glad to hear from you all," 1 13 1.0 page 1968 June 15 Scope and Contents note

The war goes on and the personality conflicts continue.

Seiple, Robert to Family "Glad to hear from you all,", 1968 June 15

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well I went over 200 missions a couple of nights ago." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 June 22 Scope and Contents note

I guess that means I'm 2/3 of the way home. Also well over 1000 tons and working on my 19th air medal.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well I went over 200 missions a couple of nights ago.", 1968 June 22

Seiple, Robert to Folks "No, I haven't been sending any tapes home lately." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 June 29 Scope and Contents note

Went to the 200 mission dinner last night. I guess you have to expect some discomforts over a 13 month tour.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "No, I haven't been sending any tapes home lately.", 1968 June 29

Seiple, Robert to All, "Just a short note." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 July 6 Scope and Contents note

describes planting mines along the Song Ben Hai, the river separating North and South in the DMZ. "I really have no hate in my heart for any of those people and really feel that the whole war has reached the absurd. Right now it is just senseless killing

Seiple, Robert to All, "Just a short note.", 1968 July 6

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, here I am, all tired out from a couple hours of handball..." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 July 10 Scope and Contents note

"all tired out from a couple hours of handball"

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Well, here I am, all tired out from a couple hours of handball...", 1968 July 10

Seiple, Robert to All " Well, glad to hear that they are finally getting to our class in the promotion room." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 July 16 Scope and Contents note

Things have been looking up this week in the squadron." New C.O. and new X.O.

Seiple, Robert to All, " Well, glad to hear that they are finally getting to our class in the promotion room.", 1968 July 16

Seiple, Robert to All "Heh, summer is almost over…" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 July 21 Scope and Contents note

I only have about 100 days of flying left.

Seiple, Robert to All "Heh, summer is almost over…", 1968 July 21

Seiple, Robert to All "Once again your favorite war despondent reporting from the Danang TAOR." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 July 27 Scope and Contents note

"Last night the MAG 11 flight line received an estimated 10 rounds of 144 mortar fire."

Seiple, Robert to All, "Once again your favorite war despondent reporting from the Danang TAOR.", 1968 July 27

Seiple, Robert to All "Captain Robert A. Seiple, in all his glory, here at the keyboard." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 August 2 Scope and Contents note

240 missions, 140 North, 21 Air Medals

Seiple, Robert to All "Captain Robert A. Seiple, in all his glory, here at the keyboard.", 1968 August 2

Seiple, Robert to All "Wow I know I haven't written in a while…" 1 13 4.0 pages 1968 August 12 Scope and Contents note

Last full day in the Philippines [2 days of Jungle training, rest is R&R]

Seiple, Robert to All, "Wow I know I haven't written in a while…", 1968 August 12

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Got back yesterday, read all the mail…" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 August 14 Scope and Contents note

Orders in to Wing - I'm going back to Cherry Pit.

Seiple, Robert to Folks "Got back yesterday, read all the mail…", 1968 August 14

Seiple, Robert to All "Well I talked to Greg Gobel last night." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 August 20 Scope and Contents note

"Flew number 250 last night." Going to Penang next month for R&R. [G. Gobel is related to Uncle Les and Aunt Ruth]

Seiple, Robert to All, "Well I talked to Greg Gobel last night.", 1968 August 20

Seiple, Robert to Folks (and the girls) "Greetings once more from the war zone. 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 August 26 Scope and Contents note

"no rocket attacks in the last 4 days" "A week from today I'll be in Japan."

Seiple, Robert to Folks, (and the girls), "Greetings once more from the war zone., 1968 August 26

Seiple, Robert to All "Happy September" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 September 3 Scope and Contents note

"I have 263 missions now."

Seiple, Robert to All "Happy September", 1968 September 3

Seiple, Robert to All (all that's left), "Glad to hear that all the hustle and bustle of summer is over..." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 September 13 Scope and Contents note

"…second R&R canx." "Satch and I are going to Japan…another nuclear refresher school."

Seiple, Robert to All (all that's left), "Glad to hear that all the hustle and bustle of summer is over...", 1968 September 13

Seiple, Robert to Grandparents and aunts "Got a letter from M.A. today" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 September 19 Scope and Contents note

still need 21 more missions for 300; on around October 12th going to Iwakuni, Japan

Seiple, Robert to Grandparents and aunts "Got a letter from M.A. today", 1968 September 19

Seiple, Robert to all "I guess I'm not writing enough, but you know, the war has become a little bit routine." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 September 25 Scope and Contents note

"we are doing the same things that we were doing 5 months ago, the objectives are still clouded, the end along, long way in the future."

Seiple, Robert to all "I guess I'm not writing enough, but you know, the war has become a little bit routine.", 1968 September 25

Seiple, Robert to All "Not a whole lot of news …" 1 13 1.0 page 1968 October 5 Scope and Contents note

"I will only fly 4 more hops, which will give me 300"

Seiple, Robert to All "Not a whole lot of news …", 1968 October 5

Seiple, Robert to All again "How about that, two letters in two days." 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 October 6 Scope and Contents note

"I realize these last two years have been hard on all of you, but perhaps you'll be able to breathe a little easier now."

Seiple, Robert to All again "How about that, two letters in two days.", 1968 October 6

Seiple, Robert to All "I could have written sooner but…" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 October 17 Scope and Contents note

from Japan - "greatest time I've ever had on an out-of-country save Hawaii!"

Seiple, Robert to All "I could have written sooner but…", 1968 October 17

Seiple, Robert to All "I wrote (dictated) about 25 letters tonight --" 1 13 2.0 pages 1968 October 25

Seiple, Robert to All "I wrote (dictated) about 25 letters tonight --", 1968 October 25

Seiple, Robert to all "Greetings from a real short-timer." 1 13 1.0 page 1968 October 27 Scope and Contents note

"I will be leaving this place of the eternal summer on the 3rd of November." "Guess what. I got a Distinguish Flying Cross!""...It's been a wonderful year though, like I've said many times, and I'll have experiences that will last a lifetime."

Seiple, Robert to all "Greetings from a real short-timer.", 1968 October 27

Envelopes 1 15 1966-1968 Scope and Contents note

Envelopes for letters sent by Robert Seiple to his parents that got separated from the letters. None of the envelopes have postmarks on them because they were sent for free through the military postal system so they cannot be reunited with their original letters.

Reel-to-Reel Tapes Series 5 5.0 reels circa 1967 Scope and Contents note

Recorded messages Seiple sent home to his family. Contents were about care packages he received and enjoyed, descriptions of missions flown, and discussion of his daily life as a soldier. Total of five tapes.

Seiple, Robert to all "#1 Reel-to-reel narration of experiences" Second roommate killed. 1 14 1.0 reel 1967 October (circa) Processing Information note