March 4, 1954 Vieques, P.R. My Dearest Wanda, Back again and have two of your letters to answer but I'm not going to answer them tonight as we won't have any mail tomorrow. This will be another one of those short ones. Today we were running around the boonies picking out the positions for the landing that is coming up next week. That smear on the page was caused by coconut milk. Ryan gave me a swig - he is crazy about it. It is a lot cooler than water or beer. I'd give $5 for a hunk of ice (if I had it). This coconut milk is good but it gives you the running off. I bet I could SH_ _ on you at 20 yards through a screen wire. It is a number one laxative. One of the sound effects guys came over tonight. It is really interesting how they do that. He gave us a lot of dope about the actors and actress. All of that is interesting but it kinda pisses you off at the phoney ways they go about shooting them. Like in combat when all that shrapnel is flying around and smoke, all it is powder and hunks of cork. I got hit with a piece the other day - guess I'll have to put in for another purple shaft. He was telling about all the troubles they have in covering up in these gun smoke pictures. The kids are the biggest critics they have. When Roy Rodgers shoots his six shooter he never fires over five rounds because the kids raise hell about him shooting over six rounds. Wanda I'll be going to the boonies tomorrow. We get paid tomorrow. I'll send you some money. I just hope I get some extra pay, because we are hurting for money. We'll come out in the end - but believe me it is going to be rough for the next few months. I'd better close for now - these guys are talking like mad and I can't think, write and listen at the same time. Baby just remember I love you, need you and miss you more than ever. Please be mine forever Wanda. I'll see you tomorrow. Yours Forever, Dave P.S. Had one of those dreams last nite. Baby I need you! Brad Tesh - transcribed 2005-01-03