“27 May 1971: Letters from the Edge of Exhaustion and Love”
Send us a text On May 27, 1971, Sarah Allgood writes to her husband from San Antonio after a day that pushed her to the edge—physically and emotionally. Just a few months pregnant, she faints twice while scrubbing in for surgery, narrowly avoiding the floor thanks to a nearby sergeant. She’s frustrated, foggy, and overwhelmed—but still determined to reassure Dick that everything will be okay. A visit to her doctor confirms what her body’s been trying to tell her: her blood pressure is low, ...
On May 27, 1971, Sarah Allgood writes to her husband from San Antonio after a day that pushed her to the edge—physically and emotionally. Just a few months pregnant, she faints twice while scrubbing in for surgery, narrowly avoiding the floor thanks to a nearby sergeant. She’s frustrated, foggy, and overwhelmed—but still determined to reassure Dick that everything will be okay.
A visit to her doctor confirms what her body’s been trying to tell her: her blood pressure is low, her iron is depleted, and her baby is taking everything she’s got to grow strong. She’s advised to eat more protein, start vitamins early, and monitor how she feels. And through it all, she writes—honestly, lovingly, and with humor only Sarah could deliver.
She talks about quarters in the “sex bank,” getting “seepy,” and how everyone says pregnancy agrees with her. But more than anything, this letter is a promise: she’ll take care of herself and their child. All he has to do is keep loving her.
If you’re listening to The Allgoods: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Love, this episode captures the intimate reality of what it meant to be a pregnant military nurse in 1971—writing through fatigue, fear, and unshakable devotion.
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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