Written from a relay station on Relay Mountain, from which Marvin could see both FSB Fontaine and FSB Mace and the South China Sea 10–15 miles off. Seventeen days before the April 20 contact and twenty-one before the April 24 crash at FSB Fontaine. Family: "Shirley" is Shirley Miller, wife of Don ("Buss") Miller; "Pat" is Pat Smith, Marvin's second-oldest sister.
3 Apr 71
Dear Mom,
I'm up on Relay Mountain yet and probably will be for the next eight days or so. I can see Fontaine from here and also the South China Sea. I can see Mace too. I can't ever remember seeing so much from one place before. The view's tremendous! The South China Sea is about 10 to 15 miles away and I can see the white surf. I'd like to take some pictures from this place.
I got a letter from you today. It was the first one in about 4 or 5 days. Every time you move it takes awhile for the mail clerks to figure out where you're at. I hope you're not having any trouble getting the letters I write from here.
Well April's here at last and before I forget I want to wish everyone a happy Easter. I hope I can get a chance to get caught up.
I'm sure spring has come by now with no regrets by anyone.
I got a letter from Shirley with some nice pictures too. I owe Pat a letter from a week or so back.
I just filled out a paper for a two week leave to go home around the end of June but I'm not sure I really want to. It would cost me about $600. round trip. I'm not obligated so I thought it wouldn't hurt.
Well I'll try to write as often as I can.
Love, Marv
