Waiting: One Wife's Year of the Vietnam War

Chapter 34

{Chapter 34} Reveilee Ann Lanning was two weeks and one day old when I received the letter from Lee that told me he knew about her birth. The wait had been torturous, but when I opened the letter on December twentieth, the morning of our second wedding anniversary, I knew we had survived another phase of the war and the waiting. 7 Dec 69 My Darling Wife and Daughter— Got word on the radio from Battalion Commander at 1555 yesterday deep in the jungle. Radio congratulations came in from other companies, etc.—A very proud moment. All the word I got is: a girl 8 ½ lbs, wife and daughter doing fine—hope to get more word in on resupply tomorrow. My feelings are fantastic—unbelievable. I didn’t know how much I would want to see the baby—Send pictures as soon as possible. Word came at a hell of a time. The Co and Bn have been in nearly daily heavy contact for the last week—but we are fine and things have calmed down again. I think standdown has been put off till 16 Dec. My pride and love for you both is beyond words— Much to do I love you both Lee Is the name Reville Ann?—I don’t even think I know how to spell it. [264] chapter 34 At long last, I knew that he knew that he had a daughter. The letter was the most wonderful anniversary present I could have received. I was so excited by Lee’s letter telling me that he had been notified that I headed for the Lannings to tell them. When I turned into their yard, I saw Jim and Judy’s car and felt yet another boost to my spirits. That my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were already home for the holidays made the Christmas season feel real despite the eighty-degree weather. Iplayedoutthearrivalritual,andeveryonepiledoutofthehousetohelp me with the baby and accompanying paraphernalia. Once we were back inside, the greetings and conversations continued with hearty voices and exaggerated movements as I made a fuss over how big and healthy Jim David was and Judy sighed over the sweetness of a baby girl. The whole family kept up the momentum as though if we all talked loudly enough and moved quickly enough, no one would notice Lee was not among us. Such efforts, of course, only underscored his absence. And watching Jim hold his own child was almost my undoing. The time spent visiting that day put me into the Christmas spirit. Now that I had received the treasured letter from Lee and spent a congenial day with his family, I was ready to celebrate. While the Christmas season was filled with temptations to wallow in self-pity, I sternly reminded myself that I had a living husband and a healthy baby; wishing for anything more seemed greedy. Feeling lonely and apart from most of the festivities was simply something I had to endure, though I was grateful for any occasion that made me feel otherwise. Such was the occasion when one of mother’s friends knocked on the back door. “Come in,” I invited. “Mother’s in the kitchen.” “No, thanks, but I can’t stay,” she said standing in the doorway, selfconsciously straightening the scarf covering her curlers with one hand and holding out a package with the other. “I just wanted to drop off a little something for the baby.” “Thank you so much,” I said, taking the beautifully wrapped present. “Are you sure you can’t come in?” “No, I got to run,” she answered, waving out the door. I untied the white ribbon and loosened the heavy silver paper. When December 1969 [265] I opened the box, I found a frilly white dotted Swiss dress trimmed with lace and bows. I knew instantly that it would be the perfect dress for Reveilee to wear when her daddy first saw her. I was still determined the next day to be upbeat when I received a thick envelope from Lee. Expecting documents, I wearily peeled into the packet to find a six-page letter. Alarm bells went off. Counting the flowers, this was the second out-of-character action by Lee this week. I went to my bedroom , closed the door, and instinctively prepared myself for bad news. Lee’s handwriting was crimped as he began telling me about two...