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In this letter dated May 20, 1971, my dad, Dick, writes to my mom, Sarah, from Vietnam on his 27th birthday. It’s not the birthday he hoped for, but her gifts — a photo album, a poster, cards, and her words — make their way to him across the world. He calls the album “the best gift you could’ve given me” and admits he looks at it every day.

He tells her about plans to grill steaks with the guys, share some shrimp from the coast, and maybe even celebrate with a little too much to drink — a makeshift party without the one person he really wants beside him. And tucked into the letter is something I never expected: a fruitcake sent by his mother. He mentions it casually, but knowing my dad, that small detail carries weight. He loved to cook — and even later in life, he always brought a fruitcake to gatherings. I never understood why until now.

This letter is full of love, longing, and everyday details from a war zone. It’s also a reminder of how much care my parents carried for each other, even in the smallest things — a recipe, a slice of cake, a photo taped to a wall.

More than 50 years later, I’m reading their words out loud. I lost both of my parents in 2020, and if either of them were still here, these letters would still be tucked away. But now, I’m learning who they really were — and I’m sharing their story one letter at a time.

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The Allgoods: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Love is a personal podcast project based on real letters exchanged between Capt. Richard Allgood and Capt. Sarah Allgood during the Vietnam War. Photos of the original letters, family snapshots, and behind-the-scenes commentary are available for supporters.
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