June 18, 1971: The Harder Road, for Love
Send us a text In this letter from June 18, 1971, my dad, Dick, has just received a bundle of mail from my mom — three letters, a card, and a poem book — and he reads and rereads every word. It’s been days since he heard from her, and nearly two weeks since they’ve been able to talk on the phone — a gap that feels unimaginable today. In this quiet moment of reflection, surrounded by war, he makes a decision that will shape the rest of his life — and mine: he’s going to leave the Air Force. ...
In this letter from June 18, 1971, my dad, Dick, has just received a bundle of mail from my mom — three letters, a card, and a poem book — and he reads and rereads every word. It’s been days since he heard from her, and nearly two weeks since they’ve been able to talk on the phone — a gap that feels unimaginable today.
In this quiet moment of reflection, surrounded by war, he makes a decision that will shape the rest of his life — and mine: he’s going to leave the Air Force.
He could’ve stayed in. He could’ve retired after 20 years with security, a pension, and steady promotions. But that path meant more time away from my mom, more remote tours, more lonely stretches without letters or calls. And he couldn’t accept that.
So he chose the harder road — civilian life. Uncertainty. Starting over. All because he loved my mom so much, he couldn’t imagine spending one more day apart than absolutely necessary.
He writes about wanting to work hard, raise a family, and build a life they would choose together. Not one assigned by the military.
It’s a quiet letter on the surface — but underneath is the weight of a life-altering decision, made not for ambition, but for love. The kind of love that sacrifices comfort for closeness. The kind that chooses presence over promotion. The kind that builds a future.
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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