Excerpts from The Seas of War

Repose History   June 12, 1967   April 29, 1967

May 24, 1967   March 3, 1967   Nov. 29, 1966

April 29, 1967:  Personal Feelings

We are back in Da Nang and discharged 150 patients.  We met our sister hospital ship, USS Sanctuary, in the harbor.  The captain said she was moving out of the harbor because of the danger of being fired on from the beach.  I suppose it was okay for us to be there because we anchored.  The army had moved up to Chu Lai and the Marines were moving further north in preparation for some big operation in the area.  It didn't appear that things were getting better.

I felt so depressed about saying goodbye to so many patients who had become my friends.  During the weeks they were on the ship, many had poured out their hearts and told me stories of combat, suffering, fear, and courage.  I had so much respect for the Marine Corp after getting to know these men.  I hated to think of them going back to the DMZ where they would be mortared every night and many would be wounded again or killed.

There was always such a void when they left because I had seen them on ship every day, talked with, and played games with many.  I got frequent letters from former patients thanking me and telling me that I reminded them of a sister, daughter, wife, or sweetheart.  It was hard not to be depressed, but we had to move on because new patients were arriving daily.  I always felt like I was needed and appreciated and felt guilty about complaining about little inconveniences.