Nov. 2, 2025

November 1, 1971: Step Ladders, Snakes, and Seventeen Wake-Ups

November 1, 1971: Step Ladders, Snakes, and Seventeen Wake-Ups

Send us a text It’s the first day of November 1971, and the countdown is officially on. Sarah is sixteen days away from seeing Dick again, and she’s doing everything she can to make the time move faster — cleaning, sewing, laughing, and writing through the waiting. Her humor shines in this letter, even when she’s low, with lines like “I couldn’t climb a step ladder and shake hands with a snake” and “my face looks like five miles of bad track.” Dick’s reply, as always, is steady and full of lo...

Send us a text

It’s the first day of November 1971, and the countdown is officially on. Sarah is sixteen days away from seeing Dick again, and she’s doing everything she can to make the time move faster — cleaning, sewing, laughing, and writing through the waiting. Her humor shines in this letter, even when she’s low, with lines like “I couldn’t climb a step ladder and shake hands with a snake” and “my face looks like five miles of bad track.” Dick’s reply, as always, is steady and full of love — counting down “seventeen wake-ups” until he’s home in her arms.

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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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