“I Don’t Want to Be Apart Anymore” — June 9, 1971
Send us a text In this letter from June 9, 1971, my dad writes one of the most vulnerable and pivotal letters of his deployment. He’s just been selected for a Regular commission — a path that would keep him in the Air Force for several more years, requiring more flying, more moves, and more time apart from my mom. But instead of deciding alone, he turns to her with deep love and respect and asks: What kind of life do you want? “Would you like a life in the Air Force and all the things t...
In this letter from June 9, 1971, my dad writes one of the most vulnerable and pivotal letters of his deployment.
He’s just been selected for a Regular commission — a path that would keep him in the Air Force for several more years, requiring more flying, more moves, and more time apart from my mom.
But instead of deciding alone, he turns to her with deep love and respect and asks: What kind of life do you want?
“Would you like a life in the Air Force and all the things that go with it,” he writes, “or would you be more happy on the outside?”
Beneath the career questions, this letter is ultimately about love, partnership, and longing. “You are the most important thing in my life,” he tells her. “I don’t want to be apart anymore.”
It’s a powerful window into how my parents made decisions together — even in the middle of a war — and how they built a marriage grounded in honesty and trust.
You can follow along and see photos of these original letters at theallgoodslove.com
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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