May 28, 1971: A Letter, a Nap, and a Baby on the Way
Send us a text It’s May 28, 1971, and my mother Sarah is “seepy,” early in her pregnancy, and missing my father with every fiber of her being. In this letter, she shares the small details of her day: breakfast with Joy, a quiet trip to the BX, and the joy of finding a surprise she plans to send him. She writes about the baby they’re already imagining—guessing it might be a boy, but saying all that matters is that “it’s healthy.” She’s barely smoking, too tired for the club, and already drea...
It’s May 28, 1971, and my mother Sarah is “seepy,” early in her pregnancy, and missing my father with every fiber of her being. In this letter, she shares the small details of her day: breakfast with Joy, a quiet trip to the BX, and the joy of finding a surprise she plans to send him.
She writes about the baby they’re already imagining—guessing it might be a boy, but saying all that matters is that “it’s healthy.” She’s barely smoking, too tired for the club, and already dreaming about baby clothes.
But it’s not just the physical symptoms of pregnancy that fill this letter—it’s the emotional gravity of distance. She admits to talking out loud, hoping he can somehow hear her. It’s a beautiful and almost mystical moment, a reminder that love finds a way to travel beyond time zones and war zones.
In these early episodes, I want to be transparent—this is a long and emotional journey. There are over 1,500 letters, and I’ll be reading them one day at a time, just as they wrote them. Some days it feels impossible. But then I remember: if they had the courage to write to each other every day, I can have the courage to keep going.
Thank you for listening. This letter may seem small—but to me, it’s a lifeline between generations.
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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