Episodes
September 21, 1971: Two Hearts Writing as One
Send us a text On September 21, 1971, both Dick and Sarah picked up their pens. Dick, writing from Vietnam, filled his pages with the word “love” over and over. Sarah, back in San Antonio, answered with her own letter — full ...
September 20, 1971: Parents, Plans, and Love Across an Ocean
Send us a text On September 20, 1971, Sarah writes from San Antonio and Dick from Vietnam, both anchored by family connections and their deep love for each other. Sarah talks about how Dick’s parents called her, and she shares that her doctor says she and the baby are in such good health she could …
September 19, 1971: Cookies, Champagne, and Cloud Nine
Send us a text On September 19, 1971, Sarah and Dick wrote from opposite sides of the world — she in San Antonio, he in Vietnam — and both still had their heads in the clouds, dreaming about their week together in Hawaii. Sarah bakes a batch of chocolate chip cookies and even jokes about maybe lear…
September 18, 1971: One Week Later, Worlds Apart
Send us a text One week after their reunion in Hawaii, Sarah and Dick are back in their separate worlds — she in San Antonio, he in Vietnam. Sarah’s letter aches with loneliness and frustration at the Air Force that keeps them apart, while Dick’s letter holds onto the joy of their week together and…
Untitled Episode September 17, 1971: Wishing We Were Back Together
Send us a text On September 17, 1971, Sarah and Dick wrote to each other from opposite sides of the world. Both were still aching from their goodbye in Hawaii. Dick, back in Vietnam, wrote about going on alert, balancing his checkbook, and hearing more rumors of bases closing. Sarah, back in San An…
September 16, 1971: From Hawaii to Heartache — Letters Across the Oce…
Send us a text On September 16, 1971, Dick and Sarah wrote to each other for the first time after their week of R&R in Hawaii. Dick was back in Vietnam, carrying the joy of their reunion and the sadness of parting. Sarah was back in San Antonio, still raw from saying goodbye, exhausted from her…
September 15, 1971: Heartbreak at the Hilton
Send us a text on the balcony of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, just hours after Dick flew back to Vietnam. She had gone with him to the airport but couldn’t bring herself to follow him all the way to the plane. Back in the room they had shared for a week, surrounded by his clothes, shoes,…
September 7, 1971: The Night Before the Plane
Send us a text On September 7, 1971, Sarah wrote her final letter before flying to meet Dick in Hawaii for R&R. Restless, anxious, and overflowing with love, she describes running errands, a scare with her missing travel orders, and the excitement of knowing she is just hours away from being wi…
September 4–5, 1971: “Saucy” Surprises and One Last Lonely Sunday
Send us a text In these letters from September 4 and 5, 1971, Sarah counts down the final days before flying to meet Dick on R&R in Hawaii. From shopping for a playful anniversary gift to packing her bags and feeling the weight of a holiday weekend alone, her words capture the excitement, longi…
September 6, 1971: Very Few People Are This Lucky
Send us a text On September 6, 1971, Sarah reflects on the extraordinary love she shares with Dick, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love she knows few people ever find. Just days away from leaving for Hawaii, she surrounds herself with friends while counting down the hours with anticipation, gratitude…
September 3, 1971: Fever Blisters, Surprises, and Packing for Hawaii
Send us a text On September 3, 1971, Sarah is back in San Antonio and counting the days until her reunion with Dick in Hawaii. She’s packing, shopping, and trying to shake off stubborn fever blisters that threaten to interfere with their long-awaited R&R. Dick has stopped writing full letters, …
September 2, 1971: Counting the Days, Filling the Hours
Send us a text In today’s episode, Dick writes a short but tender note, unsure if Sarah will even receive it before she leaves for Hawaii, while Sarah fills her lonely day with friends, errands, and small comforts. Their letters show two hearts just one week away from reunion, holding on in differe…
September 1, 1971: Counting the Days and Fighting the Pain
Send us a text On September 1, 1971, Dick writes from Vietnam with longing and playful teasing, while Sarah writes from San Antonio in pain after a brutal treatment for fever blisters — just one week before leaving for Hawaii to reunite with him on R&R. Both of them are simply counting the days…
Episode 218 — August 1971 Recap: Waves of Love, an Anniversary, and R…
Send us a text August 1971 brought milestones, longing, and the countdown to reunion. My mom spent the month in Miami, surrounded by friends like Judy, Terri, and Terri’s boyfriend, Bill Cobbs. She felt the first movements of her pregnancy. My dad kept flying HH-43 Pedro rescue helicopters with Det…
August 31, 1971: The Last Day of August, Counting Down to Hawaii
Send us a text On August 31, 1971, Sarah and Dick close out the month with two very different but connected letters. From Vietnam, Dick writes about Pie Hill’s leave troubles, reflecting that “love means a hell of a lot more to me than money to others,” while counting down the days until R&R in…
August 30, 1971: The Quarter Pot Bankroll
Send us a text Dick writes Sarah from Vietnam about his loneliness, his daily routine, and a steak dinner with Verl Diamond. But what stands out is the truth about the “quarter pot.” Since April 27, the very first day of these letters, Sarah and Dick had a private game: each time they acted on thei…
August 29, 1971: Waves of Love and Wasted Days
Send us a text On August 29, 1971, Dick writes of his doubts about the Air Force while Sarah dreams of waves of love stronger than hate. These letters reveal a side of Vietnam that’s rarely told — not the battles on the ground, but the long days of waiting, sitting alert, and holding fast to love a…
August 28, 1971: Love Letters, Family Ties, and Waiting for Hawaii
Send us a text On August 28, 1971, Sarah battles a nasty stomach bug alone in San Antonio while longing for Dick’s care, and Dick hosts a “party” at Bien Hoa that feels more like routine than celebration. In these letters, they both write about their parents — Sarah’s mother calling with excitement…
August 27, 1971: Love Letters Across Miles, Counting Down to Hawaii
Send us a text On August 27, 1971, Sarah and Dick wrote to each other from across the world — she in San Antonio, he in Vietnam. Their letters capture the closeness of their bond, even as they counted the days until their reunion in Hawaii. Dick dreams of love and intimacy, while Sarah shares her d…
August 26, 1971: From Miami Skies to San Antonio Nights
Send us a text On her final day in Miami, Sarah packs her bags, says her goodbyes, and flies back to San Antonio. A rain-soaked trip to the airport brings an unexpected farewell that leaves her touched, while Joy fills her in on the latest gossip back home. She also secures her ticket to Hawaii — m…
August 25, 1971: Monsoons, Tonk, and the Last Letter from Miami
Send us a text On August 25, 1971, Dick writes from Vietnam about monsoon rains, a trip to Saigon, and missing Sarah more deeply as R&R draws close. Meanwhile in Miami, Sarah writes what would be her last letter from the city before heading back to San Antonio — full of longing, humor, and play…
August 24, 1971: Cottage Cheese, Peaches, and a French Fuck Dream
Send us a text On August 24, 1971, Dick and Sarah write letters brimming with humor, longing, and intimacy. From Dick’s bowl of cottage cheese and peaches (with a cheeky pregnancy joke) to Sarah’s playful confessions and late-night dream, these letters capture the romantic, teasing side of their lo…
August 23, 1971: Happy First Day of Our Second Year
Send us a text On August 23, 1971, Dick writes to Sarah on the first day of their second year of marriage. From Vietnam, he reflects on the love they share, the ache of separation, and his longing for their time together in Hawaii. He admits to feeling depressed at times, yet his words overflow wit…
August 23, 1971: Two Letters and a Shack Full of Love
Send us a text On August 23, 1971, Sarah couldn’t stop writing to Dick. In the afternoon, she shares her Miami shopping adventures, buying a swimsuit and trying to look her best while pregnant. That night, she picks up her pen again, writing with longing, humor, and passion. Across two letters and …